Preseason Coaches Poll
T-1. Ririe
T-1. West Jefferson
3. North Fremont
4. Firth
5. Salmon
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Breyer Newman, Ririe
Skylee Coles, Ririe
Maggie Ball, Ririe
Kimbur Mecham, West Jefferson
Eliza Anhder, West Jefferson
Cambree Hall, West Jefferson
Mariya Hoffner, North Fremont
Graycee Litton, North Fremont
Last second shots, decisive free throws and overtimes have defined 2A Nuclear Conference girls basketball games over the last decade. The fast paced, elite level of play has resulted in district and state trophies and spots in the media and coaches polls for the teams in this conference and college basketball opportunities for the players.
Ririe has held reign over the Nuclear Conference as of late, winning a record five consecutive district titles since 2017. Prior to Ririe, the only Nuclear Conference team to have such an impressive district title streak in girls basketball was Butte County from 2005 to 2007. The Bulldogs graduated five from last season's 23-4 team which reached the 2A state consolation final, including conference co-player of the year Dallas Sutton and all-conference first teamer Sara Boone.
The Bulldogs return all-conference players Breyer Newman, Skylee Coles and Maggie Ball, and third year head coach Jake Landon said he is also looking forward to the additions of Brianna Scott, who was named all-conference volleyball player of the year, and McKinley Kimp. Landon said the Bulldogs shared the ball well last year, and being more consistent offensively is a goal for this season.
A Ririe graduate himself, Landon said he looked forward to all of the Bulldogs' upcoming conference games. "Our league is fun and there is great competition," Landon said.
Firth was senior laden last year, graduating conference co-player of the year Hailey Barker (now at Columbia Basin Community College), Cassi Robbins, Nicole McKinnon, Kiley Mecham and Megan Jolley from its team that went 13-11 and handed Ririe its lone loss to a conference opponent last season.
Salmon, which has gone winless versus Nuclear Conference opponents since the 2013-14 season, graduated three-sport athlete Mackay Williams from last season. Williams continued her athletic career in volleyball, and is now a setter for Century College, a junior college in Minnesota.
West Jefferson, which fell to Ririe in last season's district title game, went 15-8 last season. The Panthers graduated point gaurd Lacey Dalling, described as the 'glue' of the team by head coach Jalena Dixon. West Jefferson returns Kimbur Mecham, Cambree Hall and Eliza Anhder to varsity.
Dixon described her team as very coachable. Consistency and finishing games will be priorities this season.
She said her team looks forward to their games versus Ririe. "They are a well-coached team that always plays hard and intense," Dixon said.
North Fremont, whose returning players include multi-sport athletes and first team all-conference volleyball players Mariya Hoffner and Graycee Litton, is a team Dixon said will surprise people this season due to how well the Huskies peak by February. "They are well coached and always improve tremendously by districts," Dixon said.