PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Anna Hayek, Centennial Baptist
Katie Oostra, Centennial Baptist
Sophia Deasy, Compass Charter
Elysa Lorentz, Compass Charter
Eliza Bingham, Council
Kassidy Iveson, Council
Holli Kirschbaum, Gem State
Taylor Vigeant, Idaho City
Sophie Criddle, Liberty Charter
Addison McCain, Liberty Charter
Josie Bennett, North Star Charter
Fatima Alvarez, Notus
Libni Vagara, Notus
Paisley Prow, Rimrock
Vera Brooks, Riverstone
Trinity Voss, Treasure Valley Classical
Leah Ray, Victory Charter
Mikayla Zink, Victory Charter
Raelynn Nickel, Vision Charter
Aubrie Parrish, Vision Charter
Natalie Escutia, Wilder
Nancy Ramirez, Wilder
Written by: Zac Dean
The 2A’s largest conference is one of the deepest in Idaho girls basketball. Six teams had a winning record in conference regular season play last season, with Wilder and Liberty Charter exchanging blows for the regular season and district tournament titles.
The Wildcats and Patriots are primed to headline the conference again, but the returning talent of both Compass Charter and Vision Charter could provide a reshuffle to the standings.
Council and conference newcomer Treasure Valley Classical, on the other hand, will play on independent schedules this season. That means no regular season conference games and both teams will compete for a low seed in the district tournament. It opens the door for plenty of postseason surprises. Last season, the No. 12-seeded Lumberjacks upset multiple teams as part of their rally to a state play-in appearance.
WILDER
The Wildcats were perfect in conference play last season before a surprise loss to Liberty Charter in the district tournament championship. The team still qualified for the 2A state tournament but were knocked out in two games.
Reigning conference coach of the year Juan Arias returns 2025 first-team all-conference star Nancy Ramirez for her senior year. Senior Natalie Escutia is another all-conference performer back this season. The Wildcats, however, lost the dynamic duo of Kenia Morales and Emely Ramirez to graduation.
No other information was provided.
LIBERTY CHARTER
The reigning district tournament champions lost conference player of the year Jennabelle Reece to graduation. Now they turn to senior post Sophie Criddle and junior guard Aveyah Flores to lead the Patriots, and head coach Brad McCain says this season’s team chemistry is better than in years past.
Now in his 12th season at the helm, McCain pointed to the defense as a strength of the team. That includes senior post Kyla Stimpson anchoring the defense and the entire team protecting the basket.
Junior guard Addison McCain also returns to the fold after missing her entire sophomore season with an injury.
COMPASS CHARTER
Head coach Tyrone Kerby took over the program last season after the Aviators finished 5-14 in 2023-24. The arrival of Kerby resulted in a 16-8 overall record, a third-place finish in the regular season conference standings and one game away from the 2A state play-in game. Now he enters year two with a lot to be excited about.
Despite junior guard Sophia Kartchner being out for the season due to injury, the Aviators are still rich with backcourt talent. Leading the way is 2025 second-team all-conference selection and sophomore Sophia Deasy. Senior Izzy Brizendine, sophomore newcomer Lydia Brasher and senior newcomer Natalie Swift provide quality depth.
Senior Elysa Lorentz headlines the frontcourt group, with Swift able to shift to forward as needed.
VISION CHARTER
The Golden Eagles return two 2025 first-team all-conference stars in senior Raelynn Nickel and junior Aubrie Parrish. Junior Angel Gutierrez also returns to give Vision Charter a dangerous trio.
No other information was provided.
RIMROCK
The Raiders finished regular season conference play with a strong 7-4 record but were eliminated by Council in the district tournament play-in game. The team will need to replace their top player from last season in Alia Aquiso.
No other information was provided.
VICTORY CHARTER
The Vipers started last season with nine losses in their first 10 games before rallying to win six of their final eight and finish sixth in the conference standings. But 2025 second-team all-conference point guard and team leader Keanna Gibbs graduated, signaling a fresh look for head coach Sally Ray’s squad in 2025-26.
Sophomore guard Leah Ray is the team’s strength on offense, while senior forward Mikayla Zink provides the spark on defense. Newcomers Tamaya Rogers and Taliah Rogers look to make an immediate impact.
CENTENNIAL BAPTIST
The Mustangs return their top player from last season in senior Katie Oostra. That bodes well as they look to climb the conference ladder this season.
No other information was provided.
IDAHO CITY
The Wildcats look to turn things around after losing nine of their final 11 games last season. The team will also need to replace last season’s star player in Makayla Barber.
No other information was provided.
RIVERSTONE
No team went through more turnover than the Otters, as only three players are set to return from last season. But head coach Scott Baer says the youth of the team will be both an offensive and defensive strength, giving plenty of newcomers the chance to step up.
Junior wing Vera Brooks is the key returner and focal point of the offense.
NOTUS
New head coach Kristin David brings 28 years of basketball coaching experience to the Pirates, and she inherits a young team with loads of potential.
Sophomores Libni Vagara and Fatima Alvarez will lead the way. David stresses the offensive and defensive fundamentals as what she’s most excited about with this team, saying accomplishing these will help them reach their season goals.
GEM STATE
The Jaguars played the least amount of games in the conference last season, playing only 13 total games and finishing eleventh in the conference regular season standings.
No other information was provided.
COUNCIL
The Lumberjacks played zero regular season conference games due to their independent schedule last season. They automatically took the No. 12 and lowest seed into the district tournament, with their “Cinderella run” to the 2A state tournament falling just short in the state play-in game.
The team will continue to play on an independent schedule this season, but head coach Paula Tucker continues to keep season expectations high. She says they’ll have more competition for positions this season, particularly at the post position that features Eva Warner and newcomers Lilly Veselka and Ella Fontana. Junior point guard Kassidy Iveson leads a quintet of speedy guards ready to exhaust opposing defenses.
NORTH STAR CHARTER
Marina Miller takes over as head coach of the Huskies after finishing last in the conference regular season standings last season. A roster low on numbers is also low on upperclassmen.
No other information was provided.
TREASURE VALLEY CLASSICAL
The Timberwolves join as the newest member of the conference, becoming an official Idaho High School Activities Association member this season. Like Council, they will play with an independent schedule and can compete at the district tournament. Tony Cade will coach the team.
No other information was provided.