Players to Watch:
Sarina Schiebout, Ambrose
Cali Tadman, Ambrose
Adyson Chadez, Marsing
Raylynn Vanosdall, Marsing
Tariah Carter, Melba
Ellie Johnson, Melba
Darby Lowber, Melba
Taylor Davy, Nampa Christian
Kate Jensen, Nampa Christian
Hope Hailey, New Plymouth
Sam Withers, New Plymouth
Rylie Calkins, Parma
Haylee Gentry, Parma
Aarey Harris, Parma
Written by: Will Hoenike
With Christmas approaching, there may have been coaches in the 3A Western Idaho Conference who celebrated their placement on Santa’s “nice” list when one of the conference’s perennial powers, Cole Valley Christian, moved up to the 4A Snake River Valley Conference with the IHSAA’s enrollment re-alignment earlier this year.
That sentiment was quickly doused with the appearance of a lump of coal in their stockings as Parma – a perennial power from the SRV – moved down a classification to join the WIC.
The Panthers, led by veteran head coach Mike Calkins, have won 118 games over the past six seasons and have routinely qualified for the state tournament. And after winning 19 games last season and reaching the now-4A state semifinals, the Panthers bring back their entire varsity team except for one player – speedy and aggressive guard Sidney Jackson – and bring back senior guard Kaidence Kaiser, one of the team’s top players.
“We lost our first-team All-Conference point guard, Kaidance Kaiser, to a knee injury early last year. Getting her back, along with keeping everyone else healthy, will be the ‘X factor,” said Calkins. “We play one of the toughest non-conference schedules that we have ever played, and staying healthy will be key.”
That includes a contest against 4A Teton, coming off a 24-win season. It also includes a matchup with 6A Mountain View, reigning SEIC conference champ Soda Springs, and 18-win Malad. And that’s just the non-conference portion of the schedule.
Along with Kaiser, Parma will be led by senior Rylie Calkins, a tremendous shooter who earned SRV Player of the Year honors as a junior, and post players Haylee Gentry (senior) and Aarey Harris (junior).
Once the Panthers dip into WIC play, the path doesn’t necessarily get easier. Parma will square off twice with Melba, coming off of a state-trophy season that included 18 total victories. While guard Brooklyn Dayley has graduated after earning 2A (which is now called 3A) Player of the Year honors, the Mustangs bring back first-team All-Conference forward Tariah Carter, who has committed to play college basketball at Idaho State University, along with juniors Elle Johnson and Darby Lowber. Showcasing that the team won’t simply fade into obscurity following Dayley’s departure, the Mustangs opened the season by defeating 5A Columbia High School, 58-45.
Dennis Lenz, another long-time coach who has ascended to the top job in Melba, says he has several incoming players who will compete to earn playing time and roles as the season goes along.
The Ambrose Archers will be looking to replace three key seniors from last season’s team, including the program’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder Cate Perrigo. Krystin Collingwood and Inara Ries both graduated as well after all-conference-level performances for the Archers last season. In their stead, head coach Kelly Barbour will lean on a solid but young core of players.
“We will be aggressive in attacking the rim and shooting the ball,” Barbour said. “It will be a team effort, as we have a lot of young players getting varsity experience for our team.”
It’s a sophomore-heavy group, led by guard Cali Tadman and post Serena Shiebout. They’ll receive help from guard Ella McNicholas, another sophomore, and freshmen Amelia and Claire Johnston.
“This team is young and hungry, and eager to build off the success that they have seen their predecessors experience the last two years,” Barbour continued. “We need to be more active on the glass to help get us into transition on offense.”
Head coach Tara Lake brings back an experienced group in New Plymouth as the Pilgrims welcome back senior guard Hailey Oxnam and senior forward Sam Withers. That pair will be supported by a trio of juniors – Hope Hailey, Maycee Christiansen, and Kadence Withers – to help replace departed senior Zavier Lake, an All-Conference point guard.
“I have a group of girls that believe in the process, put in the effort and have a want to win,” Lake said. “We have good team chemistry and I have a lot of returners this year which helps us carry over from our growth last season.”
An important newcomer for the Pilgrims is Middleton transfer Laci Eagy, a senior forward who should be a key piece of the puzzle as New Plymouth looks to move back up the WIC standings and compete for a spot at the 3A state tournament.
Junior guard Adyson Chadez is coming off a second-team All-Conference performance last season for the Marsing Huskies, who are also looking to move up the standings after a one-win conference campaign last season. Head coach Jake Duggar’s team fared well last season in non-conference play, winning six of its 11 contests, but struggled in WIC play. Fast forward to this season, the Huskies split a pair of season-opening non-conference games against 4A SRV opponents, dropping a tight contest against Homedale before winning their home opener against Payette.
Multi-sport standouts Ashlyn Porter (G, Sr.), and Bailey Daugherty (F, Jr.) will be among the players Dugger looks for to contribute on both ends of the court.
The Nampa Christian Trojans could wear the cape of “darkhorse” in the WIC this year. The team won seven games last season and returns a number of talented players, including juniors Taylor Davy and Halle Kren. Sophomore forward Kate Jensen adds to the team’s size for head coach Randy Brothers, which looks to replace departed senior Jordan Blenker. Nampa Christian will open WIC play on December 10 when they host rival Melba.