PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Mateo Cruz, Clark Fork
Owen Howard, Clark Fork
Brayden Arambula, Genesis Prep
Benjamin Conser, Genesis Prep
Tyson Charley, Lakeside
Hallah Peone, Lakeside
Hank Larson, Wallace
Cooper Miller, Wallace
Written by: Brandon Baney
Since the 2A Scenic Idaho Conference took on its current form in 2020, the Lakeside Knights are a perfect five-for-five in claiming the conference title. Across those five seasons, the Knights are 21-1 in SIC contests, and their last (and only) loss came during the first season in 2020-21.
So it’s no surprise that the Knights are once again the topic of conversation in 2025-26. Lakeside (16-7 overall last year) boasts one of the state’s best returning players in senior Tyson Charley, and an offense that averages north of 70 points per game will once again try to push the pace. The question is: can anyone keep pace?
Wallace (14-9 last season) and Genesis Prep (14-14) each had their moments last year, while Clark Fork (4-13) is adjusting to its second season as a 2A school before they move back down to the 1A classification next season.
LAKESIDE
The Knights welcome back perhaps the best player in all of 2A basketball, senior guard/forward Tyson Charley. A year ago, the 6-foot-3 senior averaged 23.8 points per game, 8.7 rebounds per game, 7.7 assists per game, 2.3 steals per game, and 1.7 blocks per game. Those totals were the best on the team in every category.
Four other starters from a year ago also return, as Preston Spotted Horse was the only senior lost to graduation. Coach James Twoteeth is looking for further development from senior point Hallah Peone, junior shooting guard Furyous Louie and junior post Jaydin Pluff.
“It’s all about ‘next player up’,” explains Twoteeth. “We try to play the same up-tempo, run and gun style each year, but we have a lot of new faces we need to integrate.”
Among the newcomers that are expected to shoulder more of the load this year are sophomores Jose Ramirez, Dre’don Sines, Brayden Greensky and Trenton Samuels, along with freshman point guard Teagan Brown. Sines and Greensky are guards, Samuels is a wing, and Ramirez is a post.
“We’re very fast, but not very tall,” says Twoteeth. “Tyson Charley will be our tallest player at 6-foot-3.”
Despite their favored status in the SIC, Twoteeth says for Lakeside to compete at the state level once again, “We need the group to click. I’m excited to see how young guys step into roles.”
WALLACE
Wallace was a remarkably young team a year ago, losing just one senior to graduation. But that lone senior was a significant one: 6-foot-3 Julian Davis. “He averaged 20 points per game last year and was All-League,” says Miners coach Jared Young. “He could do anything he wanted to on the court.”
But let’s not focus on the bad news. There’s several talented players that return for Wallace this season, and Young is excited about their offensive potential.
“We will have a free-flowing style of offense that will allow us to create open shots with off-ball movement,” says Young. “(Sophomore guards) Cooper Miller and Lennox Radford will be the catalyst for us, and lead us in most offensive categories as they can create and make shots.”
Miller started every game for Wallace last season as a freshman, while Radford played for the Coeur d’Alene High JV team during his freshman season in 2024-25. Radford moved to Wallace during the summer, and along with junior newcomer Simon Sodbat, gives Young some more options in the backcourt.
“Our guard play should be much improved with the addition of Lennox and Simon,” says Young. “We should have some additional scoring options this year, which will make us a tough matchup.”
A smaller team will be led in rebounding most nights by junior forwards Emmitt Myles and Henry “Hank” Larson. “We need to be better rebounders and just play team defense, and try to create turnovers,” says Young. “We need to force more turnovers and be tenacious rebounders.”
GENESIS PREP
It’s an interesting year for Genesis Prep’s basketball program. The Jaguars have a new head coach in Arty Warren, their third coach in as many years. And just one player, sophomore Jacob Harris, returns from last year’s team.
So Warren is relying upon a group of five freshmen, and four upperclassmen that weren’t part of the program a year ago to fill in the gaps.
Senior Benjamin Conser and freshman Mason Hernas bring decent size and rebounding as the starting posts. Freshmen Matthew Green and Brayden Arambula will start at guard, and senior Ty Van Meeteren will play on the wing.
Competing for playing time off the bench are Harris, senior Trevor Walsh, junior William Hernas, and freshmen Logan Siahava and Reilly Martin.
CLARK FORK
Second-year head coach Stillman Berkley has a solid group of upperclassmen ready to lead the Wampus Cats into battle this season.
The list is headlined by senior forward Owen Howard, a double-double machine who more than holds his own against taller opponents inside. Junior Mateo Cruz is another forward that thrives operating underneath, and between Cruz and Howard, the Cats should have ample opportunities for offensive rebounds and second-chance points.
Seniors Westin Caven and Payton Stevens bring playmaking chops and speed to the backcourt, while freshman Bode Scarlett and sophomore Ryder Gustafson show promising potential early.
If Clark Fork’s newcomers can coalesce with the returning talent, and if everyone can stay healthy, Clark Fork will improve as the season moves along. And perhaps, the Wampus Cats will hit their stride just in time for the district tournament.