Players to Watch:
Katie Oostra, Centennial Baptist
Reanna Byers, Compass Charter
Ava Eppich, Council
Kassidy Iveson, Council
Ava Miller, Gem State
Makayla Barber, Idaho City
Jennabelle Reece, Liberty Charter
Kyla Stimpson, Liberty Charter
Parker Hamett, North Star Charter
Victoria Zamora, Notus
Alia Aquiso, Rimrock
Presley Bergman, Riverstone
Kianna Gibbs, Victory Charter
Raelynn Nickel, Vision Charter
Kenia Morales, Wilder
Nancy Ramirez, Wilder
Written by: Brandon Baney
It finally happened. The Class 6A Southern Idaho Conference is no longer the largest in the Gem State.
That distinction now belongs to Class 2A’s Western Idaho Conference, which boasts a staggering 13 teams among its members this season (the 6A SIC has only 12 teams this season).
It’s a loaded, messy, downright unpredictable league, full of outstanding individual performances and surprising upsets each and every winter.
The conversation always begins in the same way, though. Until someone actually knocks Liberty Charter from atop their WIC perch, the Patriots will always be listed first when discussing the league’s hierarchy.
Brad McCain returns for his 11th season on the Liberty bench, and he welcomes back the WIC Player of the Year in guard Jennabelle Reece. “Jenna will undoubtedly be a leader on the floor for us as this is her fourth year in the program, and she is playing a game she loves,” says McCain. “She has amazing footwork and can attack the basket with a ferocity that is hard to stop.”
Reece was supposed to pair nicely with fellow All-WIC performer Addison McCain, but the standout guard is out for the season with an injury. “Addison has a very high IQ on the floor. She understands the game well and helps improve those around her,” says coach McCain. “Unfortunately, knee surgery has taken her off the floor for the season, but her IQ and positive spirit will still be a key to our success.”
In McCain’s absence, the Patriots will rely more on guards Aveyah Flores and Kyla Stimpson. “We are looking to be fast-paced on offense and beat our opponents down the floor in transition,” coach McCain concludes.
Wilder was picked to finish second in our preseason coaches poll, and for good reason. “We lost two great players to graduation, but I have all five starters from last year returning,” says 7th year Wilder coach Juan Arias.
Senior Emely Ramirez and juniors Nancy Ramirez and Natalie Escutia start at guard for the Wildcats, while seniors Abby Scott and Kenia Morales will play the forward position. “We have three great shooters on our team in Nancy, Emely and Natalie, but I fell that the other girls need to step up and help score points,” says coach Arias. “We finished third in districts last year and we are looking for the next step up.”
The Rimrock Raiders joined Liberty Charter at state last year. It doesn’t seem that long ago that Kyla Jewett was a standout player for Rimrock, but she’s now entering her 7th season as the Raiders’ head coach. Senior Alia Aquiso and sophomore Lainee Raymond will start at guard for the Raiders, while senior Jade Reisinger will be counted on down low.
Notus went 13-8 a season ago, good enough for a fourth place finish. Dennis Harting is a first year head coach, taking over for Brad Huter, who is now coaching the Notus boys. Senior Victoria Zamora could be joined by as many as four freshmen in the Pirates’ starting lineup this year, so growing pains are to be expected in Notus.
Victory Charter has a new coach as well, as Sally Ray takes the reins of the Vipers. Senior Kianna Gibbs will provide leadership at the guard position while sophomore Libby Stockett and junior Mikayla Zink will start at forward. Also, keep an eye on promising freshman Leah Ray.
Vision Charter was supposed to move up to the Class 3A level, but petitioned with the IHSAA to stay among their 2A peers. That request was granted, and coach Billy Lamitina will look to senior Shaely Vollmer and junior Raelynn Nickel to lead the way for the Eagles in 2024-25.
Idaho City is another team breaking in a new head coach, as Taylor Barnhill takes over for Tim Brown, who lasted just one season with the Wildcats. Senior guard Makayla Barber is a returning All-Conference talent for Idaho City.
North Star Charter is adjusting to life without Chloe Ballhagen. “She accounted for probably 60 or 70 percent of our scoring and rebounding, and was just an overall complete player for us,” says second-year head coach Claire Bonnet. “She helped facilitate our offense, so we’re going to need other players to step up this year.”
Among the players Bonnet is counting on are junior guards Kaya Scott and Josie Bennett, along with sophomore point guard Parker Hammett and sophomore forward Hazyl Poole. “Parker, Josie and Kaya are all great defenders for our team and tend to force turnovers, which we hope will lead to more transition baskets,” says Bonnet.
Gem State has been singled out by several coaches as a potential sleeper team in the WIC this year. Ava Miller earned All-WIC honors as a freshman a year ago, and a young Jaguars team could continue to make strides this season.
Compass Charter is a league newcomer, dropping down from the Class 3A level. Yet another team with a first year head coach, the Aviators will be coached by Tyrone Kerby, who’s spent the past two seasons as an assistant at Vision Charter. “After the season last year, a number of our girls played together in a club basketball league,” says Kerby. “We had what I would call a successful summer, and a number of girls worked out really hard this fall. With that being said, I am excited to see the fruits of their labor come to fruition and hopefully they have a great year.”
Senior wing Reanna Byers, senior wing/post Carlee Lashaway, and junior point guard Sophie Kartchner will lead a high-octane offense. “We’re going to play a general motion offense and try to get shots up early in the shot clock,” says Kerby. “We have a couple of girls who can hit threes and we want to take advantage of that.”
Centennial Baptist went 2-12 a year ago, but only two seniors graduated. Mustangs coach Jason Oostra will try to build some continuity with Katie Oostra and others.
Riverstone wasn’t able to field a team in 2023-24, but after a one-year hiatus, the Otters are back under the direction of first-year head coach Scott Saer.
Finally, Council is in a bit of a sticky spot. The Lumberjacks are a 1A school in every spot except for girls basketball. Council tried to petition the IHSAA to allow them to remain at the 1A level in girls basketball as well, but was denied. Due to travel considerations, and having to craft an entirely separate schedule from their boys program, Council has decided to play an independent schedule.
The Lumberjacks will compete at the district tournament, but will automatically take the 13th and final seed into districts. 4th year head coach Paula Tucker will have to replace Long Pin Conference MVP Rhianna Iveson and guard/post Hope Zollman.
“We are young and have not developed enough yet to know what our strengths will be, but we will build around Kassidy Iveson, Ava Eppich and Eliza Bingham,” says Tucker.
Iveson, a sophomore, is expected to handle point guard duties, while Eppich, a senior, will play on the wing. Tucker is also high on junior guard Eliza Bingham. “She’s only 5-foot-2, but she’s quick and plays with a little razzle-dazzle,” says Tucker.
Playing up a level has narrowed Council’s margin for error, but Tucker is ready. “With only eight players we will need to be tough and stay out of foul trouble,” she says. “But I’m excited for the challenge of taking a young, inexperienced group and seeing how far we can go.”