PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Finn Wilkins, Cascade
Owen Hatfield, Council
Garrison Zielinski, Council
Madix Miller, Garden Valley
Maxon Yearsley, Garden Valley
Lukken March, Horseshoe Bend
Jake Miller, Greenleaf Friends
Blake Shepherd, Salmon River
Gage Crump, Salmon River
Written by: Zac Dean
No other 2024-25 boys basketball conference had a three-headed monster like the Long Pin Conference. Cascade, Council and Garden Valley all finished the regular season conference standings at 10-2, with the Ramblers narrowly escaping with the conference’s regular season and conference tournament titles. But it was Garden Valley who delivered the biggest blow, rallying from conference No. 3 seed to a second-place finish in the conference tournament and a state quarterfinal win over the Rambers.
The Wolverines’ late-season momentum should spill into this season, as the reigning conference defensive most valuable player in Max Yearsley returns. He leads a quartet of guards that are sure to give opponents fits. Cascade and Council, however, have the pieces to challenge anyone in the conference this season, setting up what could be another slugfest for conference and state bragging rights.
CASCADE
The Ramblers enjoyed plenty of success in 2024-25, including an 18-8 season and the conference tournament championship. Now they look to repeat that success without reigning conference coach of the year Josh Hurley and player of the year Cole Olson. Hayden Hull and Davis Taylor are also gone due to graduation. They return, however, 2025 first-team all conference selection Finn Wilkins for his senior year. That should keep the team steady under new head coach Zack Redmon.
No other information was provided.
COUNCIL
The Lumberjacks were one basket away from winning the conference tournament championship and a bid to the state tournament. Instead, they fell to the second-place game and got upset by Garden Valley to end their season.
This season, they’ll need to replace their backcourt tandem in 2025 first-team all-conference selection Decker McLinn and Tucker Laine. The frontcourt will also look different with the losses of 2025 second-team all-conference selections Andrew Mendenhall and Wade Vining. The offense will now turn to their top three guards in Garrison Zielinski, Owen Hatfield and Jim Tucker. Backcourt is the big question, as Mendenhall and Vining provided the defensive presence and size down low.
GARDEN VALLEY
The Wolverines surprised many with their postseason run last season. After losing to Council in the conference tournament semifinals, they followed up with three straight wins and an upset over Council to steal the conference’s spot in the state play-in game. They advanced to the state tournament with a win over Camas County before upsetting conference champion Cascade in the state quarterfinals.
Now Garden Valley has the returning stars to contend again. Last season’s conference defensive most valuable player in Max Yearsley returns for his senior year. He’s joined by fellow senior guards in Madix Miller and Cody Perrin, with newcomer and sophomore Payson Kelly completing the dynamic backcourt group. Head coach Heather Kelly says the team shoots well and plays high-pressure defense, making her confident that they’ll take over as the new conference favorite.
GREENLEAF FRIENDS
The Grizzlies ended the 2024-25 season with four losses in their final six games. Despite the 11-14 overall record, head coach Eric Christianson returns all but one player from last season. 2025 second-team all-conference selection and senior Jake Miller returns as the leader of the team and one of six seniors on the roster.
No other information was provided.
TRI-VALLEY
The Titans found late-season success with three straight wins to wrap up the 2024-25 regular season. However, the team will need to improve defensively after losing by an average of 15.5 points per game last season. Head coach Lee Nichols also has to replace last season’s star player in Moyne Ingram.
No other information was provided.
SALMON RIVER
The Savages return their top duo in junior Blake Shepherd and sophomore Gage Crump. Shepherd was a 2025 second-team all-conference selection, giving the team a clear go-to guy as they hope to contend more with the conference juggernauts.
No other information was provided.
HORSESHOE BEND
The Mustangs have plenty to improve on after a lackluster 2024-25 season. Offense will be a big point of emphasis after averaging 35.7 points per game last season. They also need to replace their top player in Trey Bauer.
No other information was provided.