Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Rigby
2. Thunder Ridge
T-3. Idaho Falls
T-3. Highland
5. Madison
Players to Watch
Aspen Caldwell, Thunder Ridge
Kennedy Stenquist, Thunder Ridge
Grace Dow, Madison
Charli Cook, Madison
Calyn Wood, Idaho Falls
Kylie Dansie, Rigby
Mylee Graham, Rigby
Written by: Keller Sherman
After two straight conference titles for Rigby, it may finally be the year for someone to unseat the Trojans in the High Country Conference. Rigby lost more seniors than most teams do in a season and are bringing in a new head coach. While Rigby could figure things out quickly and run away with the conference for the third straight year, there are plenty of reasons to believe the other teams have a shot. Thunder Ridge is fresh off a 2nd place finish at state last season and Madison and Highland are ready to put struggling seasons behind them and make some noise in the conference again.
Rigby could not have been hit harder by losses due to graduation. “We lost 8 seniors off the team from last year,” Rigby head coach Todd Barber said of the departures. “That means we only have a very few returning players. All of that leadership and talent will be missed.”
With those losses, Barber will look to some of his younger players to step up in a big way. He states, “We have 2 great sophomores in Kylie Dansie and Mylee Graham who will have an impact on our team. We are looking toward our senior point guard Kamrin Nelson to lead the team as we take the floor.” This will be the first year for Rigby under Barber and as such, he brings along a brand new coaching staff to the program.
Rigby will once again host the East Idaho Shootout which is raising excitement for the team. “We are looking forward to the East Idaho Shootout where we will get to play the Dixie Fliers and possibly other good teams from Utah,” Barber said of the tournament.
Idaho Falls struggled mightily in their first season at the 5A level finishing 3-18 overall and 0-8 in conference. Shane Seeley is another 1st year coach and will look to turn things around for the Tigers. They do return one All-Conference selection with Calyn Wood being an honorable mention from last season. One notable player lost from last season is Kennedy Robertson, who Seeley says was a “versatile guard who could do a lot of different things.” The team will look to two incoming varsity players to step up in Lillie Duffin, a “post player who can play both inside and outside,” and Kara Stohl, a “guard (with) long arms. (She) can shoot, (and is) versatile.” Megan Hurst and Abbey Corgatelli will also be key returners for the Tigers.
Thunder Ridge comes into the 2021-22 campaign as the favorites to dethrone Rigby as the Trojans will have to find their footing after losing several seniors. The Titans are the defending state runner-ups after losing 62-55 to Mountain View in the state championship game last season. All-Conference selections Aspen Caldwell and Kennedy Stenquist come back as Thunder Ridge now looks to take the next step and not just make the state championship game, but win the title.
Madison finished right in the middle of the conference and while they posted a 3-5 conference record, the Bobcats were able to finish above .500 overall at 13-12. The Bobcats were swept by Rigby and Thunder Ridge in conference play, but split the regular season series with Highland and swept Idaho Falls. Madison brings back all-conference selections Grace Dow and Charli Cook. The Bobcats will be led by first-year coach Luke Sutton.
Highland had a very similar season to Madison posting an identical 3-5 conference record while doing just enough to finish above .500 overall at 12-11. The Rams were able to knock off their crosstown rival Century early on in the season 41-37 for their signature win of the 2020-21 campaign. The Diamondbacks went on to be the state runner-ups at the 4A classification. They’ll get two shots to do it again this season when the Rams and Diamondbacks go at it on November 23rd and December 10th. Beating Century again this season could give the Rams the spark they need to go further in conference play in 2021-22.