PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Addie Hull, Cascade
Lauren Taylor, Cascade
Hailey Hove, Garden Valley
Holley Hove, Garden Valley
Lili LaFleur, Garden Valley
Sarah Browne, Greenleaf Friends
Kimber Jones, Horseshoe Bend
Taylor Ewing, Salmon River
Rylee Walters, Salmon River
Kennedy Wilson, Salmon River
Lola Warren, Tri-Valley
Written by: Zac Dean
The Long Pin Conference was long run by the small-school girls basketball heavyweight of Council. With its reclassification to the 2A Western Idaho Conference last season, that gave everyone else the chance to stake their claim as the new cream of the crop. Tri-Valley did just that in 2024-25 before an upset loss to Salmon River in the district tournament championship.
Now the Savages look to take over as the conference’s top team. They return last season’s conference most valuable player and almost all of their roster. The Titans, meanwhile, return just one of their five all-conference stars from last season.
But darkhorses Garden Valley and Cascade should not be overlooked. Both teams have the underclassmen talent and on-ball defense to challenge anyone, setting up a potential 4-team collision course for conference supremacy.
TRI-VALLEY
The Titans held a 12-game winning streak and perfect conference regular season record before losing to Salmon River in the district tournament championship. That sent Tri-Valley to the conference second-place game, eliminating Garden Valley before narrowly losing to Carey in the 1A state play-in game.
Now the Titans turn to fresh faces after the departure of four all-conference seniors, including the conference defensive most valuable player in Stella Warren. 2025 first-team all-conference selection and junior Lola Warren is the star returner, but will need reinforcements in order to stay atop the conference standings.
No other information was provided.
SALMON RIVER
Salmon River avenged their two conference regular season losses to Tri-Valley by upsetting the Titans in the district tournament championship. The win jumped Salmon River to the No. 5 seed in the 1A state tournament, eventually outlasting Dietrich in the state quarterfinals.
The Savages are poised for another great season, as reigning conference most valuable player Rylee Walters returns for her senior year. She’ll have plenty of backcourt help with Taylor Ewing, Audrey Tucker, Kennedy Wilson and newcomer Poppy Harper. The depth of the team and variety of scorers gives 2024-25 conference coach of the year Levi Tucker confidence that they’ll be the team to beat this season.
GARDEN VALLEY
The Wolverines’ young core gained valuable varsity experience last season after a deep district tournament run and falling one game short of the 1A state play-in game. Head coach Joel LaFleur says the growth from last season should spark an “exponential leap” in 2025-26.
LaFleur points to four sophomores as key players returning this season, led by the twin sisters of Hailey and Holley Hove. Hailey was the lone freshman on the conference’s first-team all-conference list last season, with LaFleur saying that both sisters have relentless on-ball pressure. Add that with athletic wings Lili LaFleur and newcomer Lacey Tucker and the defense could be a nightmare for opponents.
CASCADE
Seniors Kielee Mack, Claire Pierce and Allysin Bailey have all graduated, making way for the younger Ramblers to lead the team. 2025 second-team all-conference selection and sophomore forward Addie Hull will headline the group with Lilah Olson, Charlotte Dunn and Lauren Taylor in the backcourt. Junior Nova Guest is listed as the team’s center, creating the perfect one-two punch with Hull down low.
Head coach Linzie Green says the x-factor for this season will be their two incoming freshmen in Lauren Davis and Madison Pratchett. Even with the team’s depth, the freshmen will be asked to step up in what could be a surprise team in the conference.
HORSESHOE BEND
Despite the graduation of senior Ashlyn Wolsleben, she was the only senior on last season’s roster. 2025 second-team all-conference selection and junior Kimber Jones returns for the Mustangs and she’s the leader of a junior-heavy squad. The team chemistry should result in more wins for head coach Kenny Beckman’s team this season.
No other information was provided.
GREENLEAF FRIENDS
Head coach Ashley Rule and her team look to rebound after going winless in the conference last season. Senior Sara Browne will lead a Grizzlies team that features five sophomores and only two other upperclassmen.
No other information was provided.