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Conference Preview

2A Southeast Idaho Conference

PRESEASON COACHES POLL

1. West Side
2. Bear Lake
3. Soda Springs
4. Malad
5. Aberdeen

Written by: Katie Knight

West Side High School was voted to finish atop the Southeast Idaho Conference and is looking to make a return trip to the state tournament in 2020.

Bear Lake finished as the consolation champions at the state tournament last season and are working towards another deep postseason run. Having a roster with quality varsity experience will help Head Coach Brandon Carlsen’s squad.

Senior guards Ashton Carlsen and James Allemon will team up with junior posts Owen Tuescher and Briston Schrieber. Bear Lake lost Trey Shaul and Zack Peterson, but Carlsen’s crew is ready to fill the void.

“We are going to play tough defense and rebound and get the best shot for our team,” Carlsen said. “Always excited for a new year to see what we can become by the end of the year.”

Soda Springs graduated seven seniors and has a lot of sophomores and juniors competing for those varsity spots. With little varsity experience, the Cardinal squad is still athletic and competitive. Junior Brittan Bergholm and sophomores Wade Sims and Hayden McWilliams return to lead their team.

“I look forward to a renews excitement and commitment to being a team that works together,” said Head Coach Greg Bergholm.

This season, Soda Springs might be inexperienced, but Bergholm knows what his team does well.

“We have always played hard on the defensive end and I don’t see that changing. We are pretty athletic and want to play an up-tempo game,” he said.

Malad and Aberdeen round out the remaining two spots of the SIC.