PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Mark Yenor, Ambrose
Zane Gammon, Ambrose
Moises Montes, Marsing
Juan Ponce, Marsing
Tavin Heritage, Melba
Isaiah Shoemaker, Melba
Brayden Ganino, Nampa Christian
Ben Knudsen, Nampa Christian
Cohen Evans, New Plymouth
Ashton Robinson, New Plymouth
Nathan Compas, Parma
Rommie Lewis III, Parma
Logan Soule, Vision Charter
Payton Williams, Vision Charter
Written by: Will Hoenike
If there’s a buzzword in the 2025-26 Western Idaho Conference, it could be “big.”
After reaching the 3A state tournament last season, New Plymouth brings back athletic 6-foot-6 forward Ashton Robinson. The Pilgrims also bring back 6-foot-10 post Cohen Evans. The Ambrose Archers, who also qualified for the state tournament, bring back senior Mark Yenor, who stands 6-foot-7. Nampa Christian has senior Landon Skogsberg, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs over 230 pounds, and was a member of the school’s state-championship football team.
Perhaps not coincidentally, those teams each figure to be a viable contender for a trip to the state basketball tournament this winter, though some of the conference’s perimeter players – like Marsing’s Juan Ponce and Parma’s Nathan Compas – will be heard from before the brackets are set in March.
Last season, Ambrose reached the semifinals before falling to Declo and Firth to close the season. Meanwhile, New Plymouth reached the classification’s consolation final, where it was bested by Soda Springs. Both teams look to flip the script this season to finish their campaign with wins.
NEW PLYMOUTH
The Pilgrims won 18 games last season and, beyond Robinson and Evans, the team brings back plenty of talent for first-year head coach Brad Adolfson. While it’s his first year in New Plymouth, he has nearly 30 years of coaching experience, adding to the program’s strong resume.
“We have the ability to be very balanced this year with scorers inside and outside,” Adolfson said. “Cohen Evans and Ashton Robinson provide us with a great ability to create mismatches inside, while Ethan Meyer and Josiah Gustin can fill it up from the perimeter.”
The team also returns Carter Ziemer and should get a boost from juniors Blake Arritola and Andrew Torrey as well.
“We have a core group that is returning, and that is hungry for success,” Adolfson said. “They have done a great job learning the new system and becoming a team.”
AMBROSE
Travis Yenor, an accomplished player from the Ambrose program, ascends to the top seat after serving as an assistant coach last season. And while he returns his younger brother, Mark, in the post, his biggest questions revolve around replacing the conference’s player of the year, Lincoln Mathis, and all-conference guard Tristan Trevino.
One key piece of the puzzle is junior guard Zane Gammon, who Yenor says might be the best defender in the conference. Another big piece of the puzzle is freshman Brenden Campbell, a forward who figures to move right into a key role for the Archers.
“I’m excited to see how Brendan impacts winning and culture with his work ethic and skill,” Coach Yenor said. “He has the chance to be the best player in the state in 3A as a freshman.”
Gammon, Campbell, and the younger Yenor form a nice nucleus as Ambrose looks to repeat as conference champs.
“I believe the toughest, most ‘together’ team wins,” Yenor said. “The test for our guys will be, can we be the toughest, more ‘together’ ball team.”
MARSING
On paper, the Huskies appear to rise and fall with dynamic senior Juan Ponce, a first-team all-conference guard who led the team in scoring (20.9/game) and was among the team’s leaders in assists (2.7/game) and steals (2.7/game) as a junior.
Of the 60.9 points per game that Marsing scored last season, Ponce (20.9) and senior Moises Montes (2.9) are the only two returners. So the ultimate task for head coach Lamon Loucks is to replenish the squad. Seniors Caleb Smith and Jaxon Astorquia will vie for playing time in the post, while senior Brody Bowers and sophomore Spencer Vanosdall will look to contribute to the backcourt for the Huskies.
“One area we expect to be especially strong in this season is our defense,” Loucks said. “We have multiple players who can guard the full length of the floor, pressure the ball, and recover quickly on rotations.”
PARMA
The Panthers return arguably the conference’s top pure scorer in senior guard Nathan Compas, who, like Ponce, averaged more than 20 points per game last season. He can finish on the drive, but if defenses give him space, he’s got as much range as anyone in the conference from the perimeter. The team returns senior wing Trevor Mann, who averaged nearly eight points per game last season, and welcomes junior forward Rommie Lewis III to the roster.
Lewis, a transfer from McCall-Donnelly, brings an element of size and good athleticism to a roster that lost physical low-post presence Jacob Mikelson from last year’s team. His ability to contest shots will help the Panthers’ team defense.
Head coach Tanner Kramer, who is in his third season leading his alma mater, must replace five other role players besides Mikelson, so curating depth will be critical if Parma hopes to return to the State Tournament for the first time since winning 22 games in 2018 as a member of the Snake River Valley Conference.
MELBA
The Mustangs must replace all-conference performers Rylan Frank and Carsten Volkers this season, but veteran head coach David Lenz has a bevy of young, talented players ready to step into larger roles.
“We have a group of kids who have been practicing very hard and are focused on doing the right thing and are trying to get better every day,” Lenz said. “I feel like our team chemistry has been great so far, and we only see that getting better as the season progresses.”
Leading the way is senior guard Isaiah Shoemaker, a solid shooter who creates havoc on the defensive end of the court. Another defensive factor is senior Tavin Heritage, an incredible leaper who can protect the rim. Garth Spence and juniors Owen Hansen and Rhett Franklin add to Melba’s rotation. Juniors Elias Shoemaker and Ryker Oakes also bring intriguing skills to the floor for the Mustangs.
NAMPA CHRISTIAN
The Trojans opened last season with five consecutive losses, but surged down the stretch to win nine conference games under head coach Matthew Gregory. The strong finish could lead to a strong start in 2025-26 as the team returns several contributors.
Senior guards Dylan O’Brien and Brayden Ganino each received all-conference recognition last season and will be joined in the backcourt by junior Ben Knudsen, who has tremendous shooting range. Senior Riley Schafer brings solid athletic ability and a defensive presence, and, as mentioned above, the team has some size with players like Landon Skogsberg and Carter Compton.
VISION CHARTER
Fifth-year head coach Jason George doesn’t have the size that many of his conference rivals have, so a lot of responsibility could fall on post Logan Soule. The 6-foot-2 senior averaged about four rebounds per game as a junior, and the Eagles will need Soule to continue to contribute around the rim.
However, the team’s strength is on the perimeter. Seniors Paul Williams (7 points, 5 rebounds per game), Jace Duffel (6 points, 3 rebounds), and DJ Garcia (4 points, 2 rebounds) return to the team’s backcourt.
George praises his team’s chemistry and toughness, but knows to compete in the WIC, his team will have to improve its rebounding.