Players to Watch:
Brooke Hutchinson, Bishop Kelly
Tamar Callender, Caldwell
Addy Bayne, Columbia
Natalie Goslin, Emmett
Zoey Blackwell, Middleton
Giada Armbrust, Nampa
Kaylee Brown, Skyview
Gracie Mower, Vallivue
Written by: Lucas Gebhart
Middleton returning to the 5A Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) gives the league a clear-cut favorite as many of last year’s contenders are looking to continue their momentum despite losing some of their top players.
Bishop Kelly is looking to replace four starters while Columbia needs to replace the program’s all-time leading scorer.
Meanwhile, schools like Emmett, Skyview and Caldwell return some of their key pieces and will look to jump into state tournament contention.
THE FAVORITE
Middleton Vikings
2023-24 Record: 20-6, Two-and-Out in State Tournament (5A Tournament)
Head Coach: Marianne Blackwell, 2nd season
Idaho’s latest classification reshuffle sends Middleton back down a class and the move makes the Vikings an early favorite to win another district and state championship.
The Vikings spent two seasons in Idaho’s largest class, finished over .500 in both seasons and made last year’s 5A state tournament while returning most of last year’s core, including junior Zoey Blackwell.
Blackwell is now a three-year starter for Middleton and was last year’s 5A SIC Defensive Player of the Year. Seniors Elise Wyatt and Miley Steele are also back along with Olivia Blackwell who enters her sophomore season.
Middleton has made 8 of the last 9 state tournaments and made 7 straight 4A state tournaments before moving up.
The Vikings last won state in 2017.
STATE TOURNAMENT CONTENDERS
Bishop Kelly Knights
2023-24 Record: 20-5 – State Consolation Champions
Head Coach: Derek McCormick, 17th Season
BK lost four starters to graduation, leaving what was the SIC’s deepest and most dangerous line-up with some unknown firepower.
Among last year’s graduates were the league’s best defender in Jordyn Carnell, BK’s leading rebounder in Addie Laible and Keira Lizama, a 2nd team all-conference selection.
What’s left from last year’s 20-win team is one starter, Brooke Hutchinson, and a few role players in Mary Behrend and Abby Swan.
Despite losing so much firepower, long-time head coach Derick McCormick has seen this before.
“For the first time in a couple seasons we only return one starter,” McCormick said. “There are a lot of unknowns but our kids are gritty and will get their jobs done.”
McCormick says it could take time to find BK’s next line of impact players, but few programs around Idaho reload as quickly as Bishop Kelly.
The Knights last missed the state tournament in the 2020-21 season but still finished with a record above .500.
Columbia Wildcats
2023-24 Record: 13-14 – Two-and-Out at State
Head Coach: Neal Robertson, 7th Season
Columbia graduated the SIC’s Player of the Year in guard Ellie Robertson and will look to reinvent its offense heading into the new season.
Robertson finished her career at Columbia as the program’s all-time leading scorer, shooting over 40% her senior year. She led the ‘Cats in scoring by a wide margin last season which ultimately led Columbia back to the state tournament.
Despite losing Robertson, the Wildcats do get some key pieces back and enter the year as a contender in the SIC.
Forward Addy Bayne is back for her senior year and looks to lead Columbia’s post play, which head coach Neal Robertson says will be an important element as Columbia tries to add more balance to its offense.
Guards Yani Lincoln and junior Gabby Nabors also return to the starting line-up.
“It will be important for us to come together at the middle of the season as we prepare for playoffs,” Neal Robertson said.
Emmett Huskies
2023-24 Record: 11-14 – Finished 4th in District Tournament
Head Coach: Mark Priano, 3rd season
Some around the league expect Emmett to make a jump, pointing to a number of returning players and an unusual playing style.
The Huskies run a variety of motion sets on offense that result in quick buckets and manage both zone and man defensive sets, making them one of the more difficult teams to prepare for.
“We have multiple players back,” head coach Mark Priano said, who is entering his third season. “We have shown improvement in competing against the top teams.”
Senior Natalie Goslin is one of the top returning players in the league, averaging 16 points per game last year, and the Huskies also return senior Erin Hadley and junior Riley Smith to the line-up.
Emmett’s 11 wins last year are the most since the Huskies jumped to Idaho’s second highest classification in the 2016-17 season, but Emmett still has not made a state tournament since making the jump, a trend the Huskies hope to break this season.
LOOKING TO MAKE A JUMP
Caldwell Cougars
2023-24 Record: 7-15 – Two-and-Out in District Tournament
Head Coach: Emilie Eckhart, 1st season
Three-year starter Tamar Callender returns to the line-up as one of the SIC’s most dangerous returning players coming off a second-team all-conference selection.
Callendar is one of two returning seniors with center Payton Garcia back, but much of Caldwell’s depth are juniors or underclassmen.
“We have a great group of young players coming into our program that will help our program be successful for the next few years,” first-year head coach Emile Eckhart said.
Eckhart takes the reigns as head coach after serving as an assistant at Caldwell last year.
Skyview Hawks
2023-24 Record: 6-14 – Two-and-Out in District Tournament
Head Coach: Joe Betancourt, 2nd season
After winning just six games last season, the Hawks are looking for its next star and head coach Joe Bentancourt says they may have one in junior Kaylee Brown.
Brown is coming off an all-conference honorable mention campaign, started for the Hawks as a sophomore and has improved nearly every facet of her game.
“Kaylee Brown is ready to have a breakout season,” Bentancourt said. “She’s improved on both ends of the floor and rebounds everything.”
With some seniors back, Skyview is also adding some new players to the rotation in junior Janessa Pridgen and freshman Marylee Freeman, who Bentancourt says could contribute early in the season.
THE UNDERDOGS
Vallivue Falcons
2023-24 Record: 3-15 – Did not qualify for District Tournament
Head Coach: Sean Upson, 2nd season
Vallivue loses its leading scorer in Paige Upson (9.8 PPG) but brings in new head coach Sean Upson from the boys basketball program to lead a new era at Vallivue.
The Falcons return junior power forward Gracie Mower and sophomore guards Julian Kiester and Joslyn Rhoton and add Ariana Cervantes to the rotation as well.
This new coaching staff is tasked with putting a charge into a struggling Vallivue offense, which averaged just 28 points per game last season, finishing as Idaho’s lowest scoring offense.
Nampa Bulldogs
Head Coach: Erica Weissenbuehler, 4th season
2023-24 Record: 0-14 – Independent
Nampa transitions back to Idaho’s second highest classification after short stints as an independent and with Idaho’s big schools.
The Bulldogs graduate three starters and hope some fresh talent can put a spark into a program that hasn’t seen much success lately. The Bulldogs went winless in 2023-24 with mostly former 4A (now 5A) schools on the schedule. Their last win came in January 2023.