Players to Watch:
Paige Black, Carey
Andie Simpson, Carey
Emma Mitton, Castleford
Reata Severe, Castleford
Aleigha Robertson, Dietrich
Kaitlyn Wanamaker, Dietrich
Kenadi Stimpson, Hansen
Aspyn York, Hansen
Kallee Hendren, Richfield
Malia Kent, Richfield
Written by: Brandon Baney
The Sawtooth Conference has undergone a significant face-lift this offseason. What was, in 2023-24, a cozy, four team conference consisting of Camas County, Dietrich, Hagerman and Richfield, the Sawtooth has now swollen in size to six members. Carey, Castleford and Hansen all dropped down from the Class 2A ranks, and Hagerman actually moved up to the 2A classification.
No matter how you arrange the chairs in this Sawtooth semi-circle, though, it’s probably going to boil down to the usual suspects: Dietrich and Richfield.
The Blue Devils went 20-4 a season ago, and nearly came home from the state tournament with a first place finish. Alas, Kendrick nipped the Devils 55-53 in overtime, and the heartbreak didn’t end there, as head coach Rick Astle passed away last spring after a prolonged illness.
After six years as Astle’s top assistant, Charley Bingham slides one chair over on the Blue Devils’ bench. But head coaching isn’t new to Bingham, as she spent six years as Dietrich’s head volleyball coach.
“We lost six core seniors from last year’s group,” says Bingham. “But we have girls in all positions who can shoot the ball well from outside, and are able to get into the paint effectively. They like to run and push the ball but can slow it down and player a slower style when needed as well.”
Bingham will look to a troika of seniors in guards Aleigha Robertson and Paje Van Tassell, along with post Katilyn Wanamaker. Those three will pair with newcomers like sophomore guard Ada Bingham and senior post Kathy Vargas.
“We have a lot of speed with very quick girls, so we are hoping to be able to bring a lot of pressure defensively,” says Bigham. “Aleigha and Paje do a great job up top pressuring the ball and getting steals for quick baskets. Katilyn brings a big presence inside so we are hoping to use her to cause problems in the paint.”
“We need to more consistent with our pressure, talking more on defense, and working on making it really tough for teams to score,” she adds.
“Hansen might be a team that comes in and surprises some people,” says Bingham. “They have good athletes, worked well together during volleyball, and if all of those girls play basketball it seems that they have good team chemistry.”
Richfield went 15-6 last season. Three of the six setbacks came against Dietrich (once in the regular season, twice at districts). Veteran coach Buck Hendren, entering his 13th season on the Richfield sidelines, knows his team has work to do after losing Sawtooth Conference Player of the Year Kasey Hendren and three-year starting center Shelby Jones. Hendren is now playing at the University of Montana-Western in Dillon.
But the roster isn’t completely devoid of returning talent. Senior Kallee Hendren and juniors Malia Kent and Bella Race are all returning starters and All-Conference performers. After those three, though, the drop-off is steep.
“We only have one senior and three players total with much varsity experience,” says coach Hendren. “We need to use the early part of the season to see who is going to step up and be ready to compete at the varsity level.”
“We need to have a more balanced attack on offense instead of leaning on one or two players,” Hendren adds. “And on defense we have to work together, and make teams work for a good shot. For us to be successful in our defensive scheme we have to talk to each other.”
Camas County is the other holdover from last year’s Sawtooth Conference. Second-year coach Denise Whittemore has little wiggle room, as the Mushers have struggled to produce enough players to even field a team in past years. The Mushers went 2-3 a year ago in limited action before too many players were lost to injury and the season had to be folded.
Then there’s the dropdowns. Carey, Castleford and Hansen will each present unique challenges, although most Sawtooth coaches agree that it’s the Panthers who will be the toughest opponent.
Carey went 10-11 a year ago in the 2A Snake River Conference, but veteran coach Merrilee Sears has several talented athletes back this year. The list starts with sophomore Andie Simpson, an All-Conference performer a year ago. Simpson will be joined in the backcourt by fellow sophomore McKenzie Hennefer. Seniors Heidi Rojas and Paige Black are also experienced leaders for the Panthers.
Hansen finished 6-13 last season, and will be led by senior wing Kenadi Stimpson. Juniors Apsyn York and Peyton Bevacqua are also expected to produce, and sophomore Kambree Stimpson has potential as well.
Castleford struggled a year ago, finishing 3-15 overall and 0-8 in Snake River play. First year head coach Madison Brubaker is optimistic that a drop back down to the Class 1A level will help the Wolves find their footing a little easier in 2024-25. Junior Reata Severe has been Castleford’s starting point guard since her freshman season, and sophomore Emma Mitton also earned valuable varsity experience a year ago.