PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Sydney Brixey, Camas County
McKenzie Hennefer, Carey
Andie Simpson, Carey
Reata Severe, Castleford
Ada Bingham, Dietrich
Lily Hanson, Dietrich
Aspyn York, Hansen
Bella Race, Richfield
Malia Kent, Richfield
Written by: Dallin Fryar
Last season proved to be a wide range of different results throughout the Sawtooth Conference. Both Carey and Dietrich only had one loss in conference play, Richfield and Castleford finished with identical conference records, Camas County forfeited the season midway through, and Hansen finished with zero conference wins.
Most all of the 1st Team-All Conference honorees graduated last year, so that opens up a lot of spots throughout the conference. Will we see a Carey and Dietrich battle once again? Or will some other teams step up?
CAREY
After losing the state semifinal matchup to ultimate champion Rockland, the Panthers were able to secure the third place trophy at the 2025 1A State Championships. Sawtooth Conference Offensive Player of the Year Andie Simpson returns to lead the Panthers for her junior season.
2nd Team All-Conference fellow junior McKenzie Hennefer will look to take her game to another level with the graduation of 1st Team All-Conference members Paige Black and Heidi Rojas Esparza. As head coach Merrilee Sears enters her 17th season, you know she will ensure the Panthers are a tough matchup every game.
DIETRICH
Dietrich finished the season as strong as one would want with an 18 point victory over Carey for their third straight district championship. However, a heartbreaking two point loss to Salmon River in the first round of the state tournament ended any chance of a state championship for the 2024-25 Blue Devils.
With the graduation of conference MVP Paje Van Tassell and defensive player of the year and point guard Aleigha Robertson, head coach Charley Bingham will have her work cut out for them to fill the shoes left by last year’s squad.
Juniors Ada Bingham and Lily Hanson are two of those players that are expected to take on bigger roles this season. However, Bingham says she wants to see everyone being a threat on offense and not rely on just one or two scorers each game.
She added, “We have five players on the floor that have pretty good fundamentals with girls not afraid to shoot the ball. We hope to have some motion offenses looking to get every girl having the confidence to either pull up and shoot or drive to the rim. Ada Bingham will lead our offense, but Lily Hanson and Amory Shaw will play key roles in scoring for us this year.”
The Blue Devils are a little undersized this year, so an x-factor for the team will be making sure to be physical and box out on every shot attempt. However, with a culture of winning and hard work, expect big things from the Blue Devils again this season.
RICHFIELD
Last season, Richfield only played six games with their starting five. Injuries proved to be the determining factor in a very up and down season for the Tigers. They scored as many as 47 and as few as 8 in a game last season.
1st Team All-Conference member Malia Kent will look to lead an upperclassman heavy roster. It will be her job each night to generate offense for herself and her teammates. Kent’s ability to create for her teammates is what head coach Buck Hendren is especially interested in as he enters his 14th season leading the charge at Richfield. He hopes that the extra experience that the younger players were able to get last year, due to all the injuries, will come together with their veterans.
Other players to watch for on the Tigers include sharpshooters Bella Race and Whitney Marquez and young posts Bella Jones and Josslyn Long. “We have a lot of players with varsity experience,” Hendren said. “I’m excited to see if we can get it all put together with our 2 young posts.”
CASTLEFORD
Castleford matched Richfield with a 3-5 conference record last season, and could surprise some teams this season purely based on one thing, experience. Last year’s squad was littered with freshman and sophomores, who will need to take a leap this season to contend in the Sawtooth Conference.
Senior Reata Severe will lead the Wolves as one of the only seniors on this young squad. Matt Severe takes over as head coach; he will be the Wolves third head coach in the last three seasons, hoping to turn the tide for Castleford.
CAMAS COUNTY
The 2024-25 season was much like the 2023-24 season for Camas County, as they were not able to field a team for the entire season. The 2025-26 season starts with five players and coach Jon Botz knows that the x-factor for the season is being able to make it through the season. In his previous stint as Camas County’s head coach, Botz successfully led a program small on numbers to the state tournament.
Of his squad, Botz said, “I am excited to be back coaching in a community I love. These are great kids. I am very much looking forward to the vast improvements and growth they will have.”
Senior Sydney Brixey will be one to watch for the Mushers. Look for the Mushers to be scrappy and physical every game, using their quickness as much as they can to push the ball.
HANSEN
Hansen is another team that only had one senior, and despite finishing 0-8 in the conference, gained a lot of experience last season. Despite going winless in the conference, they did have a couple close losses in conference play, and could be a tough opponent in 2025-26. 2nd Team All-Conference member Aspyn York returns for her senior season, hoping to guide her team to a competitive season.