Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Middleton
2. Bishop Kelly
3. Columbia
4. Nampa
5. Emmett
6. Vallivue
T-7. Caldwell
T-7. Ridgevue
Players to Watch
Casidy Fried, Middleton
Payton Hymas, Middleton
Reesa Whitworth, Middleton
Addie Hiler, Bishop Kelly
Mylie Mills, Columbia
Ellie Robertson, Columbia
Lexi Robertson, Columbia
Layci Andrews, Emmett
Codi Child, Vallivue
Alondra Osuna, Vallivue
Jasmin Villa, Ridgevue
Written by: Brandon Baney
When assessing this year's Southern Idaho Conference, Ridgevue coach William Rodgers put it best: "After Middleton, I believe it's anyone's game."
The Vikings went 12-1 in the SIC a year ago, and carried a 17-2 overall record into state, where they surprisingly went two-and-out. Head coach Trent Harrison welcomes back the SIC Player of the Year in senior guard Payton Hymas, along with a slew of other varsity contributors from a year ago.
Senior shooting guard Reesa Whitworth and senior center Casidy Fried also earned All-SIC honors a year ago, while seniors Sheridan Mortensen and Jensyn Maughan also return. Those seniors will be paired with sophomores Robynn Woods, Laney Leavitt and Kylie Landis to form the Vikings' varsity nucleus this year.
"We ran the floor really well last year and will continue to do so this season," Harrison says. "(But) we struggled to shoot the ball consistently, which I believe we will be much better at this season with our new additions and our returners. Our defense was one of the top in the state but will need to be much improved to make a run at a title."
Harrison knows how wide open the SIC is this year, and is looking forward to Middleton's rigorous schedule. "(We) always look forward to BK and this year to get to know some of the 5A teams we will join next year like Boise, Borah, Rocky, and Eagle," Harrison says. "We also have a match up with a former assistant of mine at Vallivue."
That assistant is Andrew Lopez, who enters his first season as head coach at Vallivue. Lopez and Harrison coached together at Caldwell, and Lopez is excited for the meeting as well. "I’m looking forward to the Middleton vs Vallivue matchup," Lopez said. "I was Trent Harrison's assistant when he was at Caldwell high and it will just be fun to coach against one of my mentors."
Vallivue is one of many teams who could break through in 2021-22. Senior Codi Child and junior Alondra Osuna are returning All-SIC guards, and will be joined by seniors Skylie Stump, Olivia Hale, Janie Haskell and Daisha Kiester. Junior Jaimee Cagle will run the point for the Falcons this year. "We are bringing back 9 seniors," Lopez says. "The girls are bought in and motivated to make a big leap in conference."
Bishop Kelly went 11-3 in the league last year to finish in second place. But back-to-back losses to Columbia and Emmett at districts sent the Knights home early. If that wasn't bad enough, Bishop Kelly also watched team leader Allie Chatterton graduate and move on to play soccer at Boise State.
Juniors Addie Hiler, Logan McCarthy and Caroline Knothe are the only returning players with varsity experience. "We have 7 new kids this season," BK head coach Derek McCormick says. "We are looking forward to seeing what they bring as the season starts. Madison Hutchinson is a junior who brings a lot of basketball IQ to our team, and Jordyn Carnell is a sophomore, an athletic guard who can get the basket and defend."
With so many new faces on this year's team, McCormick knows Bishop Kelly will be a work in progress. "New team, new season," McCormick says. "We are working really hard at forming an identity with this group."
When asked which team could surprise in the SIC this year, almost every coach had a different answer. Middleton coach Trent Harrison answered, " Emmett looked very good at some tournaments this summer and I believe they will surprise a lot of teams."
Bishop Kelly coach Derek McCormick had a different answer: "I think Ridgvue has a shot to surprise some people. They have a couple kids who have been around now for awhile and bring some experience and hunger to win."
Both the Huskies and Warhawks are trying to establish winning mentalities. Second-year Ridgevue coach William Rodgers will build around senior wing Jasmin Villa and senior post Sarah "Soup" Campbell. " This team will be totally different than last year, but we will stillbe aggressive on both ends of the court," Rodgers says. "We lost 6 seniors that played lots of minutes. We also lost our 1st team all-conference guard (Sarah Means) to an out of state move."
At Emmett, Amos Lee steps into the head coaching role for his first season with the Huskies after previously serving as the Athletic Director at Cascade High. Like Rodgers at Ridgevue, Lee will be starting from scratch after losing All-State performer Jazzy Jenkins to graduation. "New team, new hopes, our key is setting a new standard for greatness in Emmett," Lee says. "We have to build a lot of ability this year to deepen the pool, but there is a ton of desire and dedication in the players here." Layci Andrews is a returning All-SIC performer for Emmett this season.
The fact that we've gotten this far into the SIC preview with nary a mention of Columbia speaks to the depth of the league this year. The Wildcats joined Middleton at state for the first time in program history last year after compiling a 13-12 overall record. Head coach Neal Robertson brings back an experienced roster that features junior Lexi Robertson. Robertson started as a freshman but has missed the last two seasons with an ACL injury. "She will be our floor general and motor," coach Robertson says.
Lexi's younger sister, sophomore Ellie Robertson, will also start in the backcourt, while junior Mylie Mills will start down low in the paint. That trio will be counted on to replace the production of Mia Nottingham, who graduated in the offseason. Nottingham led Columbia in points, rebounds and steals last year.
Nampa is an unknown, led by first year coach Erica Weissenbuehler. The Bulldogs went 14-6 last year and lost to eventual state champion Blackfoot in the state tournament play-in game.
Caldwell went 8-13 last year. Head coach Ashley Green will rely upon junior guard A'Mya Gonzalez to lead the Cougars this season.