PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Sahira Arevalo, Glenns Ferry
Natalie Truesdale, Glenns Ferry
Abbagayle Coit, Hagerman
Annalise Coit, Hagerman
Kierstley Roseborough, Murtaugh
Peyton Stanger, Murtaugh
Taylin Beck, Oakley
Livee Berlinguet, Oakley
Addy Maseda, Oakley
Makenna Durfee, Raft River
Melinee Durfee, Raft River
Amy Regalado, Shoshone
Matea Thomas, Shoshone
Alora Godfrey, Valley
Hailey Malone, Valley
Written by: Tyson Chapman
The 2A Snake River girls basketball Conference has always been competitive. Select years schools have had runs with great groups making it to the pinnacle of 2A Basketball.
This year is no different, as the Oakley Lady Hornets look to defend their state championship from last year. Other teams in the Snake River Conference will look to use their coaching experience and athletic prowess to come away with their own championship this season.
Statewide, largely Districts 2 and 4 have dominated the championship scene. The only other time Districts 2 and 4 did not win a championship were in 2024 and 2021. In both of those seasons, Grace High School from District 5 became champion.
It will be exciting to see these teams compete and accomplish goals for getting better each day of the 2025-2026 season.
OAKLEY
The defending state champions are back in action. 2024-25 Snake River Coach of the Year Kristin Jones states, “I am extremely excited about this year’s team. We have a great combination of experience as well as new talent to add to the mix.”
The players returning are: senior point guard Livee Berlinguet, Player of the Year senior guard Taylin Beck, senior post Addy Maseda, and senior guard Camila Magana.
These experienced players will be vital for the talented new pieces added to the team. Senior post Brooke Mabey suffered from an injury that kept her out of the game for a while last season. Strong and healthy this year, she will be a big presence inside the key. Junior guard Kandace Jones will help fill the gaps in perimeter shooting, as well as contributing to defensive efforts. Junior guard Kinslee Matthews brings an arsenal of skills from shooting to posting up.
This group looks to fill the shoes of last year's seniors that were instrumental in winning a state championship. Guard Dakota Wadsworth was a versatile weapon, from her attack game to her dynamic shooting. She scored 31 points in the state championship game before departing via graduation. They also lost Chloe Berlin who was a huge presence both offensively and defensively in the post. Makaye Cranney also graduated, leaving holes to fill in the defensive game.
As a team this year their ability to shoot and run the floor will be huge for piling up results in the win column this season and defensively always communicating along with attention to detail hounding offensive opponents will be the recipe for success.
VALLEY
Head coach Derek Malone of the Lady Vikings is looking to find a new identity for this team after losing key players to graduation like Lexi Huettig, an all-around leader, All-Conference, and All-State type of player. Joanie Lewis was an aggressive defender who enhanced their full court defense and was an offensive threat. Arellie Juarez was a ball-smart guard with a wealth of experience. Afton Godfrey was a tough-as-nails player who played bigger than she was. She won the battle of the boards and was a great defender with quick speed.
Going into this year's season Coach Malone states, “This is a brand-new team who has to identify themselves. There is new leadership that needs to step up, and a completely different style of play than what they’ve been used to.”
Players that will strive to get this done for the Vikings will be senior guard Seleni Sanchez, junior forward Alora Godfrey, junior Guard Hailey Malone, sophomore Post Emily Huettig, and junior forward Dakota Vansickle. The ‘X’ factor this season will be team buy-in and playing together. No individual is greater than the whole.
RAFT RIVER
The Raft River Lady Trojans under head Coach Bart Deters are in action. Adjusting to the new season will have growing pains after losing Ryan Udy, Brooke Bingham, and Amy Stanger to graduation. The athleticism does not falter with this group known for their speed and ability to run the floor. Defensively, they are similar with the speed available to harass offensive opponents, which turns into fast paced transition offense off turnovers. Using these skills and pace will be valuable for winning games this season.
GLENNS FERRY
The Glenns Ferry Lady Pilots under head coach Karli McHone are ready for the new season with a few new faces after losing talented players to graduation.
Maddie Spriggs, point guard, playmaker and scoring threat, along with fellow guard Taylor Martinez (“the IT piece” according to McHone) will be missed.
Returning back to the program is senior guard/forward Sahira Arevalo, senior point guard Zeidy Reynaga, and senior post Natalie Truesdale. These players will be the foundation for the newcomers to make a successful season happen.
Players like junior guard Peyton Stewart, sophomore guard Svady Juarez, and sophomore guard Madi Fisher will be a part of making and maintaining winning for the program.
Offensively Glenns Ferry will look to improve on their shooting and running the floor to create more opportunities to score. Coach McHone states, “Our offense really just feeds off defense. We have a couple of girls that we run set plays for, but other than that we are a ‘go go go’ team.”
On the defensive side rebounding and blocking out will help strengthen defensive efforts. As McHone puts it, “We preach you don’t have to be good at basketball to be good at defense, it’s all about effort and heart.” The ‘X’ factor this season for the Lady Pilots is trusting one another in the roles they have.
MURTAUGH
The Murtaugh Lady Red Devils are ready to fire up the 2025-26 season under head coach Kristan Young. The Lady Red Devils have plenty of weapons coming back for this season to continue and expand upon the team's chemistry. Senior Camila Rojas, senior Kierstley Roseborough, junior Peyton Stanger, and junior Bristyl Perkins made up most of the point totals from last season. Do not be surprised if that same storyline continues with this group.
SHOSHONE
Head Coach Heather Holston of the Lady Indians is looking to improve from last year's 1-11 season. It will be tough as they graduated their top players Cynthia Collis, and Melina Tellez. Holston expressed the ‘X’ factor for this year's team is, “Being a family on and off the court. Having the team chemistry all the time. Being able to mold these young athletes into young women.”
Although some talent has graduated there are still weapons on Shoshone’s squad. Senior post Mattea Thomas and junior guard Amy Regalado will look to help Coach Holston be the best team possible this season with their output and experience. Junior Guard Jacca Welborn will be another option for the Indians this season in creating success.
It’s not about one player for this team, as Holston states, “Having everyone be comfortable playing with each other and allowing them to feel like it is not just my program but their program as well. Getting everyone to buy in to EAT. Effort, Attitude and Teamness.”
HAGERMAN
The Lady Pirates are ready for a new season under head coach Brenna McLean after finishing last season 1-11. Hagerman did not lose any key players to graduation and will use their experience to create an exceptional season. Players like senior wing/post Abbagayle Coit, senior wing/post Annalise Coit, sophomore guard Ellie Coit, and sophomore guard Kaitlynn Kendall are all expected to take a step forward.
Coach McLean’s offence will have a few different options for success. She states, “Offensively, we have a very well-balanced team. We have multiple players who can consistently knock down three-pointers, which helps stretch the floor and open our offense. At the same time, our post players work extremely well in the paint – sealing defenders, finishing around the rim, and creating high percentage opportunities.”
The same could be similarly said about defense for the Lady Pirates with their strength being how active and aggressive they are to their opponents. The struggle from last year was finding defensive consistency which will be a big focus this season to create further improvement and success. The ‘X’ factor will be the ability to play as a team. They have talent that can be molded together for team success through greater consistency that Coach McLean will implement and execute this year.