Players to Watch:
Jaeli Oerke, Challis
Callyn Zollinger, Challis
Kirsten Krause, Grace Lutheran
Samantha Moretti, Grace Lutheran
Lexi Bird, Leadore
Kaylee Kesl, Leadore
Mylee Drussel, Mackay
Alyssa Pehrson, Mackay
Sage Daniels, North Gem
Katelyn Whiting, North Gem
Alexa Permann, Rockland
Calyn Permann, Rockland
Caroline Combs, Watersprings
Ally Zellner, Watersprings
Written by: Brandon Baney
The sprawling Rocky Mountain Conference once again promises to be diverse, varied, and exciting as ten teams take aim at earning one of the three bids available to the Class 1A State Tournament in February.
The Mackay Miners ran the table in 2023-24, finishing a perfect 8-0 in league play and 16-8 overall. But an 0-2 showing at the state tournament has fueled coach Josh Pehrson’s team throughout the offseason. Mackay welcomes back junior Alyssa Pehrson, an All-Conference performer, along with junior Danika Seefried and senior Mylee Drussel. That trio will likely be joined in the starting lineup by a pair of sophomores, Jaida Rodriguez and Trista Hawley.
Leadore finished second in the RMC last year, at 7-1 in conference and 17-6 overall. Like Mackay, Leadore’s stay at state was short, as the Mustangs went 0-2. The Mustangs said goodbye to four seniors this offseason, and then said farewell to coach Janet Proulx, also. Deena Shiner takes the reins of the Mustangs program, and she’ll have three All-RMC players to build around in senior point guard Kaylee Kesl, senior wing Katie Mackay and junior center Lexi Bird. Junior Azelynn Jones will also play inside, and senior Mesa Herbst brings athleticism to the perimeter.
Rockland was the third team from the RMC to advance to state in 2023-24. Despite their third place finish in the regular season standings, rookie head coach Jordan Black navigated the Bulldogs all the way to the consolation title over Salmon River at the state tournament. Back for her second year on the bench, Black will turn to Alex and Callen Permann, a pair of 5-foot-8 seniors that earned All-Conference honors last year. If 5-foot-7 senior Sidney Freeman can solidify the center spot, Rockland will be a tough out again in 2024-25.
The Grace Lutheran Royals took fourth a year ago, falling to Rockland in the Third Place Game at the District Tournament to finish 12-6 overall. But optimism at the private Christian school in Pocatello is sky high, as only one senior departed via graduation. Fifth-year head coach Ryan Strehlow will rely on senior combo guard Kirsten Krause, who averaged 15.6 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game in 2023-24. Senior shooting guard Sam Moretti averaged 10.1 PPG and shot 33% from the three-point line, and sophomore point guard Olivia Bloxham notched 10.4 PPG, 2.5 assists per game, and 3.3 steals per game.
North Gem went 11-12 overall and 4-4 in RMC play last year, good enough for a fifth place finish. New head coach Stephinie Scott will lean on senior Katelyn Whiting and junior Sage Daniels to lead a young team that features three freshmen and two sophomores.
Sho-Ban, Taylor’s Crossing and Watersprings all went 2-6 a year ago in the conference, and all three teams find themselves in different positions as the 2024-25 season begins. Sho-Ban is welcoming in a new coach, former Chiefs player Sincere Martin. Taylor’s Crossing has the most seasoned coach in fourth-year mentor Staci Piquet, but the roster is fairly green. And second-year Watersprings coach Heidi Olson lists three freshmen and three sophomores among this year’s list of returnees.
American Heritage competed in varsity basketball for the first time last year, albeit in an “unofficial” capacity. The Patriots didn’t play in any official league contests, and went 1-12 overall. American Heritage’s only win came against fellow varsity newcomer Alturas Prep (a 2A school), but head coach Hillary Congdon and the Patriots will compete as a full-fledged conference member this season.
Lastly, the Challis Vikings successfully petitioned down due to competitive reasons. Typically a 2A school, coach Jordan Oerke’s Vikings have a real chance at toppling the RMC hierarchy in 2024-25. Seniors Jaeli Oerke and Callyn Zollinger each earned All-Conference honors at the 2A level a year ago, and sophomore Lilly Stebbins has great potential, as well.
All told, this league tends to be somewhat stable at the top, and wildly unpredictable towards the middle and end of the standings. Will someone be able to supplant Mackay, Leadore, or Rockland at the top? The last team to advance to state besides those three was Sho-Ban, five years ago in 2019.