PLAYERS TO WATCH
Addi Jensen, American Falls
Jade Smith, American Falls
Shelby Smith, American Falls
Brooklynn Foster, Marsh Valley
Lydia Howell, Marsh Valley
Reese Baldwin, Snake River
Taylee Carlson, Snake River
Camden Dunn, Snake River
Rylie Edlefsen, Snake River
Written by: Brandon Baney
Coaches in Class 3A’s South East Idaho Conference are honest when assessing the three-team league in 2023-24: any discussion starts and ends with the Snake River Panthers.
And why shouldn’t it? The Panthers have claimed the regular season conference title in each of the past five seasons, and this year’s group of seniors are 67-17 in their varsity careers. Coach Jeff Steadman has built Snake River into a program that is capable of not just winning district championships, but a team that’s competing for state hardware, as well.
A year ago, it was Snake River turning back Timberlake inside the Idaho Center for the Class 3A championship. Coach Steadman retired in the offseason, and has turned the reins over to assistant coach Lincoln Driscoll. Driscoll knows a thing or two about winning; just two years ago, Driscoll led the Aberdeen girls to the Class 2A championship game.
“This year’s team will be a fun, fast-paced team that can run the floor with a lot of quick offense,” Driscoll says. That high-octane offesne starts with senior point guard Rylie Edlefsen. The reigning 3A Player of the Year recently signed with Northwest Nazarene University, and is capable of attacking a defense in multiple ways.
Inevitably, when opposing defenses crash on Edlefsen, she can then pass off to senior posts Taylee Carlson and Reese Baldwin. Baldwin was named the Defensive MVP of last year’s state tournament, while Carlson served as Snake River’s 6th Man in 2022-23.
So the Snake River offense is in good hands. Coach Driscoll is more concerned with the Panthers’ defense. “We lost Abby Gilbert and Jackie Steadman to graduation,” he says. “Abby was a key defensive player that could shut down the other team’s best player, while Jackie was a strong post presence and was a defensive and rebounding force with her size and strength.”
Carlson and Libby Gilbert are expected to slot into Steadman’s old slot down low, while Maddi Watt and Hailey Nash will try to replicate Gilbert’s defensive skills. “Maddi will bring strong defensive pressure with her speed and athleticism and is also a scoring threat that can hit the three,” Driscoll says. “Hailey is a great defensive threat that has great speed, and Libby brings more post play strength and is a great defender, also.”
Expect to see a starting lineup of Edlefsen at the point, flanked by wings Camdyn Dunn and Maddi Watt, and Baldwin and Carlson anchoring the inside game. “We’ll have real good overall balance of outside shooting with Riley, Camdyn and Maddi,” Driscoll says. “And we’ll have a strong inside presence with Reece and Taylee.”
American Falls and Marsh Valley will both be lined up to take their best shot at Snake River this season. Marsh Valley was the last team not named Snake River to win the regular season conference title, and will feature a younger team this year. Coach Ashley Baker will lean on guard Lydia Howell and post Brooklynn Foster to lead the way. “Marsh Valley is young, but very well coached,” Driscoll noted.
As for American Falls, coach Stephen Grigg said goodbye to six talented seniors over the offseason: Zoie Grigg, Sienna Cox, Paige Adair, Halee Bolgen, Macy Hall and Kaylee Hunt. All were talented multi-sport athletes that will be difficult to replace. “They were all valuable in their own way,” Grigg says. “They will all be missed as they were very dedicated to the program.”
Junior guard Addi Jensen will key the Beavers’ attack in 2023-24, while senior posts Shelby Smith and Jade Smith will give American Falls a strong inside presence as well. “We have a team that can really push the ball up the floor,” Grigg says. “We also have several girls that will be able to score the ball this year.”
That trio of players will be joined by sophomore point guard Ali Cruces, along with junior Leila Jackson and freshman Eden Jensen. “Eden will play significant minutes for us this year,” Grigg says. “She will be a huge benefit to us with her court vision and her shooting ability. Ali has the ability to handle the ball and push it up the floor for us. She will be a great floor general for us this year.”
For American Falls to take that next step into Snake River’s realm, coach Grigg says all of the new faces have to mesh together. “Chemistry is our biggest x-factor,” Grigg says. “We need to be connected as a team this year.”
With Snake River firmly planted at the top of the District 5 standings, the battle for second place will be crucial. The district receives 1.5 bids to state this year, with the second-place finisher facing the second-place team from District 6 in a State Tournament Play-In Game.