PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sophia Clark, Boise
Kaity Haan, Boise
Avery Howell, Boise
Avery Patricco, Boise
Kya Davis, Borah
Brook Gardiner, Borah
Carrie Cutler, Capital
Paige Edmunds, Capital
Jada Ojukwu, Centennial
Netta Tia, Centennial
Paige Cofer, Eagle
Molly Johnson, Eagle
Sarah Walker, Kuna
Makayla Wilson, Kuna
Josie Rowbury, Meridian
Brooke Watson, Meridian
Zoey Blackwell, Middleton
Aysha Fried, Middleton
Quincy Keller, Mountain View
Josie Davis, Owyhee
Sydnie Rodriguez, Owyhee
Anna DaBell, Rocky Mountain
CeCe Legaspi, Rocky Mountain
Emmi Swillie, Timberline
Written by: Lucas Gebhart
The 5A Southern Idaho Conference (SIC) should once again feature some of the best teams and players in the state.
Headlined by Boise High’s Avery Howell, the conference returns four of its five all-conference players from the 2022-23 season. The list includes Howell, Eagle’s Page Cofer, Owyhee’s Syd Rodriguez and Rocky Mountain’s CeCe Legaspi.
The Brave won both the regular season and tournament championships last year, but it was Rocky Mountain that stole the show in the state tournament, as the Griz made a run to the state championship game as a 7-seed.
BOISE BRAVE
2022-23 Record: 23-3
Head Coach: Kim Brydges
It’s been nearly two decades since Boise's last state title, but there is reason to believe that this could be the year.
The Brave enter the new campaign with one of the best rosters and coaching staffs in the state. The star-studded roster is headlined by the reigning 5A Gatorade Player of the Year, an annual award handed out to the best player in the state, Avery Howell.
Howell is one of the best Idaho high school players in recent history. The five-star recruit is currently ranked 23rd on ESPN’s top 100 recruits for 2024, and has already committed to USC.
The Brave also return junior Kaity Haan, an all-conference selection from a year ago, along honorable mentions Sophia Clark and Patricco.
OWYHEE STORM
2022-23 Record: 20-6
Head Coach: Jordan Ax
10 players are back for another season at Owyhee, including many of last year’s top performers.
The Storm return their top four scoring producers from a year ago, including senior Syd Rodriguez (12.6 PPG) and junior Jose Davis (8.8 PPG).
The production helped lead the Storm to their first 20-win season in their short program history and a state tournament appearance.
Most expect the Storm to be in a similar boat this season, but the schedule is loaded with many of the state’s top schools listed in November and December.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRIZZLIES
2022-23 Record: 18-9
Head Coach: BJ Humphreys
The Cinderella story from last year’s state tournament, the Grizz should once again contend for another spot at state.
Head Coach BJ Humphreys says as many as five Grizz scorers could hit double digits on any given night. Among them are Cece Legaspi, Anna DaBell, Averee Osterhout and Logan Sailors.
The Grizz should be one of the better shooting teams in the SIC this year, something that boded well for them when they won not one, but two games in the state tournament last year, heading all the way to the state championship game as a 7-seed.
EAGLE MUSTANGS
2022-23 Record: 14-14
Head Coach Jeremy Munroe
Eagle’s .500 record was just good enough to sneak into last year’s state tournament.
After losing its first six games of the year, the Mustangs then rolled off five straight wins and closed the year with a 10-2 conference record.
Led by all-state selection Page Cofer, the late-season rally landed Eagle in the 8th and final state tournament slot, but the Mustangs didn’t have much luck once in the state tournament as they went two and out.
The good news for Eagle is Cofer is back for another season along with all-conference honorable mention Molly Johnson.
TIMBERLINE WOLVES
2022-23 Record: 21-7
Head Coach: Andy Jones
Timberline added another 20-plus win season and deep tournament run to its impressive resume last year.
The Wolves have now made the state tournament in five straight seasons and appeared in the state semifinals in all but one of those seasons. But getting back to the state tournament this season may be more difficult as the Wolves lost the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year and all-conference selection Lauren McCall.
MOUNTAIN VIEW MAVERICKS
2022-23 Record: 12-14
Head Coach: La’Cale Pringle
The 2021 state champions are now in year two of the La’Cale Pringle era and are looking to return to the top of the SIC standings after finishing below .500 a year ago.
But they will have to do it without one of their best players in Demi Thompson. The second-team all-conference selection is no longer with the program.
Quincy Keller, a sophomore guard who averaged over 10 points per game as a freshman is back and will look to lead this young Mavs team back to the state tournament.
MIDDLETON VIKINGS
2022-23 Record: 13-11
Head Coach: Marianne Blackwell
The VIkings were a 4A powerhouse, but missed out on the 5A state tournament during their first year at the 5A level. Still, Middleton finished with a record over .500 and will now look to climb the SIC standings in year two.
Helping the Vikings take the first few steps is sophomore Zoey Blackwell, who is one of the best defenders in the entire state. Not only did Blackwell lead Middleton in points per game (14.6), but she also led the state in steals as a freshman.
Head coach Mariane Blackwell also says Robyn Flowers and Elsie Wyatt should make Middleton one of the better defensive teams in the conference.
KUNA KAVEMEN
2022-23 Record: 11-13
Head Coach: Katie Holmes
Kuna’s 11-wins weren’t enough for a state tournament bid, but head coach Katie Holmes has the program moving in the right direction.
Last year’s 11 wins were the most in a season since Kuna joined the 5A level in the 2020-21 season and the program won nearly four times as many games last year than it did the season before.
CAPITAL EAGLES
2022-23 Record: 10-12
Head Coach: Matt Creech
Led by Saioa Sarria, Capitol won 10 games a season ago and bounced around the .500 mark for most of the season.
Sarria was one of the better players in the conference and led the Eagles in scoring, but is now lost to graduation. Head coach Matt Creech will look to his returning players to fill the void.
MERIDIAN WARRIORS
2022-23 Record: 6-15
Head Coach: Marcus Campbell
It's a new era at Meridian as Marcus Campbell takes over the reigns. Campbell’s coaching resume consists of a few stops with out of state schools, making Meridian his first Idaho coaching gig.
He takes over a Meridian squad that didn’t have a whole lot bounce their way a season ago. The Warriors won just six games and lost Jose Rowbury to a season-ending knee injury a season ago. This year Rowbury is back along with guard Brooke Watson. Both enter their senior seasons.
CENTENNIAL PATRIOTS
2022-23 Record: 5-17
Head Coach: Kerry Angelos
Two transfers and a player returning from injury could help Centennial rebounds from last year’s five-win season.
Head coach Kerry Angelos says he has two guards transfering in this season that could make an immediate impact in Jada Ojukwu and Julia Lechuga while junior Ellie Tia returns from a season-ending knee injury. The Patriots also return Netta Tia, an all-conference honorable mention from a season ago.
BORAH LIONS
2022-23 Record: 3-19
Head Coach: Ebony Norman
Borah might be one of the younger teams in the conference this season as head coach Ebony Norman says five freshman guards could see some early playing time. Kya Davis, Rylees Hale, Nakiyia Percell, Brook Gardiner and Kamryn Krasselt are all expected to have significant playing time for the Lions this season.
The youth movement could put some longevity and confidence into the program moving forward.
NAMPA BULLDOGS
2022-23 Record: 2-19
Head Coach: Erica Weissenbuehler
The Bulldogs struggled to adjust to the 5A level a season ago and have since decided to go independent from the SIC.
The move means Nampa will not be playing as many 5A SIC schools this season and will be ineligible for postseason play. Typically, schools decide to make moves like this in an effort to put more competitive games on the calendar. Nampa won just two games a season ago and only beat one 5A school.
This year’s schedule only has 8 5A schools on it.