Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Cole Valley Christian
2. Melba
3. New Plymouth
4. Nampa Christian
5. Marsing
6. Ambrose
7. Compass Charter
Players to Watch
Hallie Arnold, Melba
Kendall Clark, Melba
Brooklynn Dayley, Melba
Keylee Wilson, Melba
Ellie Fraas, Cole Valley Christian
Hadley Fraas, Cole Valley Christian
Lyndsie Krogh, Cole Valley Christian
Eboni Shaw, New Plymouth
Olivia Irwin, Nampa Christian
Emily Vanosdall, Marsing
Elise Folk, Compass Charter
Written by: Brandon Baney
At the outset of the 2021-22 season, the Western Idaho Conference appears to be a two-horse race. Melba and Cole Valley Christian received all of the first place votes in this year's preseason coaches poll. The Chargers edged out Melba as the favorites by just a single point in the poll, as well.
Cole Valley Christian went a perfect 10-0 in WIC play last year, and 17-3 overall. But Melba (7-3 in WIC, 22-4 overall) had the better showing at state. Cole Valley went two-and-out with losses to Grangeville and Ririe, while Melba made it all the way to the 2A state title game. The Mustangs fell to Bear Lake 51-40.
Both teams are locked and loaded for postseason runs again. Cole Valley Christian returns All-WIC performers Ellie Fraas, Lindsie Krogh and Hadley Fraas. The other spots in the starting lineup belonged to seniors that have since graduated. "Desirae Kingery and Anna Veeck were both starters and vital to our success last year," Cole Valley coach Matt Beglinger says. "Desi was our non stop motor on defense and in rebounding. Anna was a natural scorer who could get to the hoop or hit from distance. Both will be missed greatly."
Seniors Julie Caven and Riley Traxler are expected to slide into the starting lineup for the Chargers. Traxler is a transfer from Juneau, Alaska. "She has great court sense and leadership abilities," Beglinger says. "She will make an immediate impact." Braelyn Waldeck is expected to anchor the bench crew for the Chargers. Another new face to the Cole Valley sidelines this year will be a familiar one. Annie Mintz was the Chargers' head coach before Beglinger took over two years ago, and she has rejoined the staff as an assistant.
As for Melba, head coach David Lenz welcomes back four returning starters from a year ago: juniors Kendall Clark, Keylee Wilson, and Hallie Arnold, along with sophomore point guard Brooklynn Dayley. All four earned All-WIC honors. The one starter that graduated, though, was a big one. "Kate Clark was the State Player of the Year last year and the school’s all-time leading scorer," Lenz says. "We will have to find ways to fill her absence not only offensively, but with her defense and leadership as well."
Melba also said goodbye to sixth man Faith Svedin, but is calling up five seniors who played JV last year in Laura Forsgren, Erika Hunter, Alivia VanSchoiack, Daisee Crossley and Cali Sjostedt.
The Mustangs will be without Kendall Clark for roughly the first month of the season as she continues to recover from knee surgery. Otherwise, Melba appears to be a team ready to make a run at the 2A state title again.
New Plymouth finished third in the conference last year, and even defeated Melba in a regular season contest. The Pilgrims became the third WIC team to qualify for state after they defeated West Jefferson in a play-in game. New Plymouth even made it further than Cole Valley Christian, defeating Valley in a first round game before falling to Melba in the semis. New Plymouth rebounded to take third with a win over Grangeville, then said goodbye to four of their five starters.
"We graduated 4 starters so we have lots of work to do," head coach Denise Oliver. "We lost Alyssa Christensen, who is now playing for the College of Southern Idaho. She led us in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and assists." Post Eboni Shaw is the only returning starter at New Plymouth. She was an All-WIC selection last year.
Nampa Christian doesn't have a go-to player like the three teams ranked above it in the preseason poll. But head coach Rebecca Wilson is relying on solid depth to keep the Trojans competitive. "(Last year) our strength was in our numbers," Wilson says. "We received contributions from all parts of the lineup with 10 different girls leading the team in scoring or rebounding in at least one game. I hope we can again get quality minutes from our entire roster."
Seniors Liberty Wiles, Olivia Irwin and Grace Reeves will lead Nampa Christian this year. Beyond that, Wilson says there are lots of eager newcomers. "Like all of Idaho, we have experienced a lot of growth at our school this year, and I am excited to see what some of the new ladies will be able to contribute. Of these, junior guard Sophia Ganino definitely made an impression during the summer," WIlson says. "We also have some young players who have been putting in a lot of very hard work over the off season and might surprise us all in how far they have come since last year and push some of those returning varsity players."
Marsing was picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll. Second-year coach Michael Swanson will lean on juniors Emily Vanosdall and Mila Astorquia.
Ambrose has a new (old) coach. After a two-year hiatus, Jordan Tucker has returned to lead the Archers.
Compass Charter is still adjusting to the 2A level after making the jump from Class 1A Division 1. "Most of the team is new to varsity," head coach Richard Malm says. "Elise Folk played both JV and Varsity last year. She is a shutdown defender and team captain. Rianna Byers is a standout freshman with great ball skills and she is an amazing shooter."
Due to low numbers, Vision Charter will not compete at the varsity level this season. They will be moving down to 1AD1 next season. "We are playing a JV schedule this year with 2A teams," head coach Nic Marmon says. "This year we have scheduled a few varsity games with some of the 1AD1 schools so it will be exciting to see how we match up and will give our girls some insight to how good some of these 1AD1 schools are."