PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Matthew Louwien, Clearwater Valley
Timuni Moses, Clearwater Valley
Blake Clark, Deary
Jaymon Keen, Deary
Noah Bollman, Genesee
Slater Kuther, Nezperce
Brennen McLeod, Nezperce
Tommy Rose, St. John Bosco
Cody Weckman, St. John Bosco
Korbin Christopherson, Timberline
Ares Mabberly, Timberline
Written by: Brandon Baney
Starting with the 2024-25 school year, the Idaho High School Activities Association began allowing schools to request a petition up or down a classification level in individual sports. Previously, a school had to petition up or down in all sports, but this new rule allows schools that struggle in one specific sport the chance to move down and revitalize the energy and enthusiasm in that particular activity.
The Clearwater Valley boys basketball team is a prime example of how the program is supposed to work. The Rams successfully petitioned down after years of struggling in the 2A Whitepine League. Their first year in the 1A Whitepine League? The Rams finished with a 12-10 record overall, and a 10-2 record in the WPL, and the number one seed at districts.
By the time the district tournament rolled around, the rest of the league said, “We’ve had enough.” The Rams dropped a thrilling district championship to Nezperce 77-68 in double overtime, and just two nights later, Deary ended the Rams’ season with a 42-28 win in the second place game.
Deary’s season ended with a 54-42 loss to Coeur du Christ in a state tournament play-in game, while Nezperce’s stay at state also ended early with two consecutive losses to Rockland and Watersprings.
Needless to say, all three of those teams feel like there’s unfinished business to attend to in 2025-26. Genesee, St. John Bosco and Timberline will all try to move into the upper half of the league standings. And Highland, which went 2-17 a season ago, didn’t have enough players try out this year, forcing the Huskies to cancel their season.
CLEARWATER VALLEY
A year ago, junior Hyson Scott handled most of the scoring load for Clearwater Valley, but he is not available this season. Third-year head coach Alana Curtis and the remaining Rams will press on, though.
“I think our offensive strength this season will be balance,” says Curtis. “This came out of necessity after losing our main scorer and rebounder from last season (Scott). Our underclassmen have improved tremendously and will complement Matthew Louwien’s outside scoring and Tmuni Moses’ muscle in the key.”
Louwien and Moses are a pair of senior guards that score in vastly different ways. They’ll be joined in the backcourt by junior point guard Harvey Wellard. Junior Cason Curtis is a stretch forward who can also step out and hit a perimeter shot, if needed.
With all of that talent outside, the development of new starting center, junior Alex Paradise, will be critical. “Alex will add some much-needed height to this year’s team,” says Curtis.
Injuries ultimately derailed what was a promising season for Clearwater Valley a year ago, and the injury bug has already bitten the Rams early this year. But coach Curtis is optimistic that the Rams can weather the storm.
“Our X-factor will be getting healthy and staying healthy,” Curtis says. “We are already dealing with significant injuries that occurred during the offseason in other sports. This has limited practice and playing time for these players. Hopefully by the middle of the season, all the players will be 100 percent. Last year, we battled illness throughout the latter part of the season. With small numbers, losing one player makes a huge difference.”
NEZPERCE
The Nighthawks aren’t the tallest team around, but what they lack in height, they make up for in toughness.
6-foot-1 junior Brennen McLeod is Nezperce’s tallest starter, but 5-foot-10 juniors Jace Cronce and Jadin Williams are burly forwards that can hold their own inside the paint.
5-foot-7 senior Blayne Mosman sets the table at guard, and 5-foot-10 sophomore Slater Kuther might be the most explosive scorer in the league.
6-foot-2 sophomore Kyler Brinkerhoff is a key bench piece, as are sophomore Keezen Grant and junior Forrest Nelson.
After qualifying for state a season ago, Nezperce brings back several players with valuable postseason experience, which will only help as the Nighthawks try to run it back in 2025-26.
DEARY
It wasn’t that long ago that Emiley Proctor was a student-athlete at Deary High School. The Class of 2020 graduate now returns to her alma mater as the Mustangs’ new boys basketball coach.
She’ll have a strong group of athletes to lean on. Seniors Jaymon Keen, Jacob Mechling and Nolan Hubbard can all lead the team in scoring on any given night. That trio will be joined by sophomore guard Jarrett Keen and junior center Blake Clark most nights in the starting lineup.
Juniors Rowdy Stettler and Cooper Heath are ready for bigger roles in 2025-26, and sophomores Koehn Griffin shows real potential, also.
Overall, Deary will rebound well, defend even better, and hopefully find enough balance on offense to emerge on top of the Whitepine League.
TIMBERLINE
The story is the same as it always is at Timberline. The Spartans have talented athletes, but not much depth. At least, according to head coach Pat Christopherson, not yet.
“The X-factor for our success this season will be our bench,” Christopherson explains. “Their energy, depth, and ability to contribute in key moments will allow us to maintain intensity, keep starters fresh, and sustain pressure on both ends of the floor.”
Junior Clayton Hunter returns to orchestrate the attack at point guard. He’s joined by a trio of seniors in the backcourt: Ares Mabberly, Caleb Marshall and Terrin Hueth.
Inside, senior Parker Hodges and junior Korbin Christopherson bring size and rebounding abilities.
“Offensively, we lean on a balanced attack featuring strong outside shooting and the ability to get to the rim,” says coach Christopherson. “With multiple players who can stretch the floor and create off the dribble, our offense is actually anchored by a versatile big man who can score from the post or step out and make plays.”
Defensively, the plan is to disrupt opposing guards with constant in-your-face pressure. “Our focus this season is developing the mindset to play a full 32 minutes, not just a strong half – by staying connected, disciplined, and committed to competing together from start to finish,” says Christopherson.
After finishing 7-5 in the Whitepine (8-8 overall) a year ago, Christopherson thinks this could be a special season in Weippe.
“I’m most excited about the growth and versatility of our key players, who have stepped up in bigger roles this season,” he says. “The team’s chemistry has really come together, and I love seeing how unselfish they are on both ends of the floor. When everyone plays hard, shares the ball, and trusts each other, this group has the potential to be very special.”
GENESEE
A young Bulldogs team finished 6-15 overall a year ago, but 5-7 within the Whitepine. Genesee pushed Nezperce as far as they could in their district tournament opener, before ultimately falling by just nine points.
Four seniors graduated, including do-it-all forward Vince Crowley. But several talented playmakers return for coach Tyler Bollman this season.
The list is headlined by junior guard Noah Bollman, an All-League performer a year ago. He’s joined in the backcourt by his younger brother, freshman Miles Bollman, along with juniors Reggie Granlund and Jackson Banks.
Genesee’s true potential, however, lies with the development of several tall trees underneath. 6-foot-2 sophomore Preston Cass and 6-foot-4 junior Isaac McGlothen will get the first crack as the starting forwards, but 6-foot-5 junior Ryker Uhlenkott and 6-foot-4 sophomore Braxtyn Chapman are lurking on the bench. If those four bigs can combine to give the Bulldogs a productive 32 minutes inside, Genesee could nudge over the .500 mark in WPL play this season.
ST. JOHN BOSCO
The Patriots finished 3-9 in the WPL and 4-14 overall a year ago, and head coach Alex Frei is hoping that another strong offseason of dedicated work will help lift St. John Bosco higher in the standings this year.
Sophomore Cody Weckman has been identified by several opposing coaches as a player that could make a leap this year. Weckman is joined by fellow sophomore Nathan Wassmuth in the starting lineup.
Also starting for St. John Bosco this year are three seniors with plenty of experience: guards Tommy Rose and Henry Baldwin, and center Connor Nuxoll.
Pierce Frei, Ignatius Parmentier and John Seubert will also be key members of this year’s squad.