PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Nash Brower, South Fremont
Cy Hill, South Fremont
Ace Clark, Sugar-Salem
Jack Larson, Sugar-Salem
Bradley Brown, Teton
Luke Nelson, Teton
Written by: Marlowe Hereford
The move from the 3A to 4A classification last season for the first time in the history of the Mountain Rivers Conference did not detract from the intensity of a consistently competitive district.
Sugar-Salem went undefeated versus conference opponents to win the district championship for the first time since 2023, which was the year of its last state title. The Diggers won every game versus Teton last season by 10 points or fewer, continuing an intense series between the teams that have won a combined three state trophies and reached a combined two state title games in the last five seasons.
A total of 16 athletes graduated from last year’s Mountain Rivers Conference teams. Who will be the new leaders this year in one of Idaho’s historically most competitive leagues?
SUGAR-SALEM
Sugar-Salem went 19-7 overall and 4-0 in conference play last season, reaching the 4A state consolation final before falling to Kimberly. Guard Riley Williams, post Hank Carter, guard Tyler Williams, wing Ky Peterson, wing Kace Malstrom and wing Abe Baldwin graduated from that team.
Returning on varsity for the Diggers are senior guard/wing Ace Clark, senior guard/wing Jack Larson, senior post Kaden Nate, junior wing/guard Frank Fillmore, junior guard Kolter Harris, junior wing Josh Peterson, senior post Dax Rowbury, junior guard Teig Gehmlich and junior wing Layton Gillette.
Head coach Shawn Freeman described the 2025-26 Diggers as a ‘cohesive, fun group’ that is athletic, quick and strong on offense and competitive and physical on defense. He added that the Diggers seek to improve their communication and their offensive and defensive rebounding.
Freeman said Sugar-Salem’s X factor this season will be ‘efficiency on both ends of the floor.’
“I am excited about the team chemistry and cohesiveness,” Freeman said. “A real fun group of boys to coach.”
TETON
Teton went 17-10 overall and 2-2 in conference play last season.
Four players—forward Burke Nelson, guard Isaac Thomas, forward Bridger Hawkins and guard/forward Jake Streit—graduated from that team.
Sugar-Salem head coach Shawn Freeman said the Timberwolves are a team to watch in the conference this year due to their returning varsity athletes such as senior guard/forward Bradley Brown, junior guard Canon Kunz and senior guard Luke Nelson.
“They bring back a lot of key players from last year,” Freeman said.
SOUTH FREMONT
South Fremont went 7-16 overall and 0-4 in conference play last season. Ethan Woodbury, Creed Crapo, Hudson Miller, Ethan Allen, Tyce Poulsen and Bryce Johnson graduated from that team.
Juniors Cy Hill and Nash Brower are among the returning athletes for the Cougars.