PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Brycen Anderson, Firth
Wyatt Killpack, Firth
Bryce Nedrow, North Fremont
Owen Reid, North Fremont
Thomas Henderson, Ririe
Kody Landon, Ririe
Clayton Allen, Salmon
Broc Matthews, Salmon
Justus Burtenshaw, West Jefferson
Canon Calder, West Jefferson
Written by: Marlowe Hereford
A long established reality in the Nuclear Conference, for both boys and girls basketball, is that it will always be competitive, and whoever advances out of the district tournament will represent well at state. Look no further than the consistently packed gyms, tight win margins and state trophy haul of recent seasons for proof of this reality.
The former 2A District 6 Nuclear Conference, which became the 3A District 6 Nuclear Con-ference last season, has been especially competitive as of late with three different teams winning boys
basketball district championships in the last three seasons.
Firth won its first district championship since 2016 last year, going on to win the state third place trophy. A total of 15 athletes graduated from last year’s Nuclear Conference teams.
With numerous returning athletes on varsity, the early consensus from coaches is that this will be an especially competitive season in the Nuke.
“I believe our conference is going to be pretty competitive this year and it’s going to be one of those seasons, on whoever shows up that night is going to win,” Firth head coach Shaun Ellsworth said. “Anything can happen in the Nuclear Conference this season.”
FIRTH
Firth went 20-6 overall and 7-1 in conference play last season, coming home with the 3A state third place trophy. Only one player, All-Conference Player of the Year and shooting guard Michael Adams, graduated from that team.
Ellsworth, who is starting his first year as varsity head coach after 14 years of being an assistant coach for Firth’s varsity and JV programs, said Adams was an excellent example for his younger teammates.
“He was the true definition of a leader,” Ellsworth said. “Luckily for me, Michael showed the guys returning how to be effective leaders on and off the court. Hopefully that will help some of the returning players step up and be the leader Michael was for our team.”
Returning on varsity for the Cougars will be Second Team All-Conference senior shooting guard Ricky Arriaga, Honorable Mention All-Conference senior shooting guard Madex Howell, First Team All-Conference junior forward Brycen Andersen, First Team All-Conference junior forward Wyatt Killpack and junior shooting guard, All-Conference Sixth Man of the Year Quinton Hall.
Senior shooting guard AJ Flores, senior small forward Kamden Bott and senior center Hay-den Trent are in line for bigger roles this year, also.
Ellsworth described the Cougars as an experienced team that will have five players on the floor that can all score. He added that Firth will strive to get more second chance scoring opportunities and limit opponents to one shot.
“These guys play as a team and want everyone on the team to succeed,” Ellsworth said. “They are just a great group of young men that make it fun to coach.”
He added that the X factor for Firth will be playing for one another and playing together.
“When this group does that, they are fun to watch and make it tough for other teams,” Ellsworth said.
WEST JEFFERSON
West Jefferson went 13-13 overall and 5-3 in conference play last season. Four graduated from that team - Walt Pancheri, Rawley Calder, Tate Simmons and Boone Burtenshaw. Calder received First Team All-Conference and Simmons received Second Team All-Conference.
Canon Calder received First Team All-Conference last season as a sophomore and Justus Burtenshaw was named All-Conference Defensive Player of the Year last sea-son as a junior.
RIRIE
Ririe went 11-14 overall and 4-4 in conference play last season. Five graduated from that team, including Second Team All-Conference selections Brady Barber and Owen Moss and Honorable Mention All-Conference selection Rafe Newton.
Returning for the Bulldogs are senior guard Kody Landon, senior guard Thomas Henderson, senior post Austin Landon, senior guard Cooper Brown and senior guard Ian Johnson. Jun-ior guard Dayton Yeck, junior guard Bryce Barber and junior guard Camden Stosich are joining varsity this season.
NORTH FREMONT
North Fremont went 9-15 overall and 4-4 in conference play last season. One player, Roy Wynn, graduated from that team. The Huskies had nine juniors on varsity last season.
Among the returning athletes for North Fremont are senior guard Owen Reid, senior guard Travis Marshall, senior forward Bryce Nedrow, senior forward Cam Shuldberg, junior forward Dodge Wynn and senior guard Gibson Allen.
Coaches have tabbed the Huskies as a team to watch due to the fact that they, like Firth, on-ly graduated one varsity player from last season.
SALMON
Salmon went 6-16 overall and 0-8 in conference play last season. Four graduated from that team—Travis Crofoot, Brenden Bradley, Wyatt Nelson and Britton Hansen.