Players to Watch:
Addi Jensen, American Falls
Eden Jensen, American Falls
Tayzlee Neal, Bear Lake
Saydee Shaul, Bear Lake
Tayzlee Belnap, Marsh Valley
Olivia Campbell, Marsh Valley
Written by: Brandon Baney
Snake River has been the gold standard when it comes to girls’ basketball at the Class 4A (previously 3A) level, as the Panthers enter the 2024-25 as the two-time defending state champions.
Attaining a third consecutive title will be somewhat difficult, though, as Snake River said goodbye to eight seniors via graduation: Reese Baldwin, Addie Campbell, Taylee Carlson, Daisy Dance, Camdyn Dunn, Rylie Edlefsen, Hailee Nash, and Madi Watt. All played pivotal roles on the back-to-back title teams, and five of them (Baldwin, Carlson, Dunn, Edlefsen, and Watt) earned All-Conference honors. Edlefsen was also named the South East Idaho Conference MVP and the 3A State Player of the Year.
But the turnover doesn’t end there. For the third consecutive season, Snake River will have a new head coach patrolling the sidelines. After longtime coach Jeff Steadman retired after the 2022-23 season, top assistant (and former Aberdeen head coach) Lincoln Driscoll took the reins and led the Panthers back to the top of the championship mountain.
But Driscoll is gone after just one season, and now Cass Baldwin inherits a program that is light on varsity experience. Baldwin was an assistant coach from 2018-22, and led the team’s summer weight-room workouts. But there’s no denying that the first several practice sessions have been more about getting to know the players rather than drilling down on X’s and O’s. “I’m not sure (who will emerge as leaders),” says Baldwin. “I was hired in mid-August and don’t know the players well (yet).”
“It is possible we don’t have a single player with more than half a minute’s experience at the varsity level,” Baldwin adds.
Snake River’s conference rivals are in a decidedly different boat this season. Marsh Valley, American Falls, and 4A newcomer Bear Lake all boast experienced returnees up and down their respective rosters, which puts Snake River in the unusual position of being an underdog.
American Falls went 11-16 a season ago under veteran coach Stephen Grigg. Six of the eight varsity members were underclassmen a year ago, so excitement is building. Grigg welcomes back the Jensen sisters (senior Addi and sophomore Eden) to the Beavers’ backcourt. Eden Jensen earned 1st Team All-Conference honors a year ago as a freshman.
While the guard spots are solidified, there are some unknowns inside the paint. American Falls lost both starting posts (Jade Smith and Shelby Smith) to graduation. Junior Berklee Fehringer now steps into the starting center role, and her development will be critical to American Falls’ success this season.
At Marsh Valley, third-year head coach Ashley Baker welcomes back 1st Team All-Conference guard Tayzlee Belnap (a junior). Junior Maddison Foster will handle the point guard duties, and junior Olivia Campbell is a versatile athlete, as well. Like American Falls, the development of 5-foot-11 sophomore center Zayli Merzlock will be crucial to Marsh Valley’s fortunes this year.
And then there’s Bear Lake. The Bears have moved up a classification level thanks to a rise in enrollment numbers. Usually when a team is moving up to a new level, some growing pains are expected, but this particular group is smarter than the average bear (pardon the pun).
All jokes aside, Bear Lake won the Class 3A (formerly 2A) championship a year ago, blitzing opponents on their way to a 23-3 record overall. Only two seniors departed, so in a bit of a quirk, it’s actually the 4A newcomers from Bear Lake that find themselves at the top of our preseason coaches poll in the South East Idaho Conference.
Third-year head coach Ken Wells welcomes back four of five starters from last season: senior guards Saydee Shaul and Tayzley Neal, senior forward Emyri Walker, and sophomore forward Halle Wells. “We have played together for two years now, and we are unselfish on offense,” says coach Wells.
“We have players who know their role and how to get the most out of it on the defensive end of the court,” he adds.
The lone starter Bear Lake will have to replace is post Lily Crockett. “We will really miss Lily’s rebounding and defensive presence,” says Wells. “How well we rebound as a team will be the x-factor to our season.”
Overall, the South East Idaho Conference is flush with experienced players, outside of Snake River, which could make for a fascinating dynamic this season. Can the Panthers chase down their more season opponents, or will a new contender emerge? How will Bear Lake handle the rigors of playing up a level this season? Can American Falls and Marsh Valley continue their program development and reach the state tournament? The answers to these questions may not be answered until late February.