Players to Watch:
Olivia Christenen, Firth
Shelbie Perry, Firth
Peyton Lenz, North Fremont
Taylor Sessions, North Fremont
Liza Boone, Ririe
Shae Sutton, Ririe
Kyla James, Salmon
Abby Williams, Salmon
Maggie Barrientos, West Jefferson
Shaylin Hillman, West Jefferson
Written by: Brandon Baney
In 2023-24, the North Fremont Huskies found out the hard way that basketball can be a gruel game.
With less than ten seconds to play, the Huskies found themselves trailing Grangeville in the state semifinals by two points, 42-40. That’s when Josie Richardson scored to tie the contest at 42-42. And, with just 1.3 seconds remaining, she was fouled. Her subsequent free throw gave North Fremont a thrilling 43-42 win.
The next day, North Fremont held a 23-18 lead midway through the third quarter of the state championship game against Bear Lake. But after an 8-0 Bears run, the Huskies never led again. Bear Lake won 41-35, and North Fremont had to settle for second place.
Richardson returns for North Fremont in 2024-25, as does veteran coach Ben Lenz. Otherwise, it’s a fairly young team. But don’t mistake young for inexperienced. Sophomore guards Peyton Lenz, Taylor Sessions and Yadira Patino all saw playing time a season ago, and junior Grace Heiner is ready for an expanded role this year, as well.
North Fremont was the only representative of the Nuclear Conference at state a year ago, although West Jefferson got close, falling to Soda Springs in a state tournament play-in game, 49-39. The Panthers entered districts as the number four seed but toppled both Firth and Ririe in loser-out contests to earn their spot at the play-in game.
Coach Jalena Dixon is back for another season on the West J. sidelines, and boasts five seniors in her starting lineup. Maggie Barrientos is one of the best guards in the conference, and she’s flanked in the backcourt by Shaylin Hillman and Kayhl Campbell. 5-foot-9 Zaylee Neville and 6-foot Hailey Perkins handle the inside game for the Panthers.
Firth took second in the regular season standings a year ago, but their district tournament stay was short, thanks to a loss to West Jefferson on the consolation side of the bracket. Coach Jana Sorenson will have to replace six departed seniors. Seniors Olivia Christensen and McKenna Erickson are the only varsity returnees this year, although sophomores Baylie Mecham and Shelbie Perry have great potential.
Ririe is aiming for a higher placement in the standings after finishing 4-4 in Nuke play and 8-16 overall. Senior guards Liza Boone and Shae Sutton were All-Conference selections last season. Junior Lauren Robson figures to be the third guard in the Ririe lineup, although players like Brinley Taylor, Lucy Boone and Hailey Robson are all capable of stepping in and making plays as well. The Bulldogs will lean on junior McKall Marsh and sophomore Jayden Nelson down low.
“This is a very deep team,” says coach Jake Landon. “I can go to any of our ten girls and get good production from them. I think this has the potential to be one of the best shooting teams I have coached. Everyone on the roster has the green light to shoot.”
“We played with a very young team last year,” he adds. “Most of these girls got valuable varsity experience last season that hopefully pays off this year. We are not happy with the way last year went so we are motivated to bounce back. I think that extra motivation could be the x-factor.”
Salmon limped to the finish line last year, as the Savages only had six players by season’s end. Most of those six are back, though, and coach Camille Williams will lean on seniors Kyla James and Abby Williams. Both earned All-Nuke honors a year ago. Freshman Ashley Phillips will serve as Salmon’s point guard, while Williams and junior Autum Schewe will play on the wings. James and junior Abby Jackson will start at post for Salmon.