PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Jake Infanger, American Heritage
Teage Erickson, Challis
Ramey Rhoades, Challis
Stockton Cross, Clark County
Brandom Medel, Clark County
Garrett Grayson, Grace Lutheran
Ely Sauer, Grace Lutheran
Porter Mayo, Leadore
Dane Piippo, Leadore
Jesse Barger, Mackay
Ryker Summers, Mackay
Parker Hill, North Gem
Craig Yost, North Gem
Woodrow Lowder, Rockland
Xavier Parrish, Rockland
AJ Graves, Sho-Ban
Kennion Martin, Sho-Ban
Isaiah Ellis, Taylor’s Crossing
Sergio Salinas, Taylor’s Crossing
Ryan Demkowicz, Watersprings
Korban Nelson, Watersprings
Written by: Brandon Baney
The 1A Rocky Mountain Conference boys basketball race was wild and downright wacky at times last season. Rockland, Watersprings and Mackay all tied for first place with identical 9-1 records. Challis took fourth at 7-3, while Taylor’s Crossing finished fifth with a 5-5 mark. Then, more craziness: a three-way tie for sixth between Grace Lutheran, Sho-Ban and Leadore (all 4-6), then a two-way tie for ninth between North Gem and American Hertitage (both 2-8), and finally Clark County in last with an 0-10 mark.
Ultimately, Watersprings nipped Rockland for the district title, 51-49. And in a wild back-half of the bracket, Challis held off Grace Lutheran 47-36 for third place, good enough for the third and final bid to state.
The Vikings kept the momentum rolling with a 56-54 win over Watersprings in overtime in the opening round at state, and a tight 52-49 win over Rockland in the state semifinals. Challis ultimately ran out of steam in the championship against Dietrich, 58-36, while Rockland won the third place game over Cascade. Watersprings also went home with hardware, as the Warriors sprinted past Garden Valley to claim the consolation title.
This year, only two state tournament bids are available from this district, which only heightens the intensity around what should be another fascinating RMC race.
WATERSPRINGS
The Warriors said goodbye to three impact starters from last year’s squad: 6-foot-9 post Titus Driver, do-everything wing Matt Kinoshita, and shooting guard Jonny Thienes.
But head coach Evan Bindenagel does have senior guards Korban Nelson and Ryan Demkowicz returning this season, and senior wing Isaac Klosterman saw lots of playing time last year, too.
Senior guard Jacob Gardner, junior guard Sean Perry and junior wing Wyatt Iraola will have larger roles this season, and their development could determine which direction things go.
“We are fast and line up in a lot of different looks,” says Bindnenagel. “We need to shoot better on offense, and defend the three-pointer better on defense.”
ROCKLAND
Rockland coach Shae Neal will have to figure out how to replace the defensive chops of guard Aiden Radford, and the rebounding abilities of post Hayden Smith. Both departed via graduation.
But three starting guards (seniors Woodrow Lowder and Xavier Parrish, and sophomore Zach Permann) all return. That continuity will help on offense.
“We run a very unique offense,” says coach Neal. “It’s old-school offensive looks combined with the new-day offensive scheme. We can create mismatches and attack at various parts of the floor. We also run a position-less offense where we may have a 5-foot-10 ‘post’ while our 6-foot-3 ‘guard’ is playing on the outside of the offense. This allows us to make substitutions and create mismatches.”
That trio of “guards” will be counted on to bring newcomers like senior Ethan Permann, junior Brayzen Gibbs and senior Isaac Held along. Held will mostly play in the post, while Permann and Gibbs will join a deep group of guards.
Overall, Rockland will once again count on its defense to carry the day, while the offense gels over the course of the season.
“This is where we love to put the Bulldogs on the map,” says Neal. “Defense is what starts our offense. Once we get going defensively, our offense flows. All five guys will be working on defense the entire time or else they will find themselves on the bench and another player doing the job. As a team, we learn to love the defensive grind and challenge of every possession from start to finish.”
After falling short to district rival Challis in last year’s state semifinals, Neal says Rockland is ready to atone for that loss.
“This team is motivated,” he says. “They want to get back on top and have put in the work in the offseason to give themselves a chance, and at the end of the day, that’s all you can ask for. We are deeper this year, even though we only have 12 players in the whole program. From top to bottom, they make each other work and hold each other accountable. Once we heal up from football injuries and build the chemistry, it will be fun to see what this team can do.”
MACKAY
The Miners are team most coaches are wary of ahead of the 2025-26 season. Several coaches pointed to Mackay as a team that is ready to take the next step, and it’s easy to see why.
It’s true that forward Kaizer Summers and his 20-point, 15-rebound per game state line will need to be replaced. But junior Cooper Holt and senior Ryker Summers can tackle that total together, and junior guard Jessie Barger has the ability to heat up from the outside.
Barger will be asked to bring along a green group of guards that includes freshmen Carter Ivie and Peyton Teichert, and sophomore Roylee Jones.
CHALLIS
As Justin Farr enters his fourth season as Challis’ head coach, he’ll have to find a new point guard after Brayden Ollar graduated. He also needs to replace power forward Jacen Farr, who scored more than 1,000 points in his high school career.
Three other starters return from last year’s state runner-up, though: seniors Ramey Rhoades (forward) and Teage Erickson (guard), and junior Parker Webster (forward).
Who ultimately handles the point guard position is still being determined, but sliding into Farr’s spot inside will be senior Garrison Applegate. “He’s only in his second year of playing basketball, and he’s moving up to full-time varsity-level play,” says coach Farr. “But he’s athletic!”
Farr says Challis fans can expect a barrage of three-point shots from the outside, as four of the five starters have the green light to fire away from deep. On defense, Farr says the Vikings will employ “all-out hustle, quickness, and in-your-face defense.”
“Our team is returning for the state championship game, and they’re very hungry to get back,” says Farr. “Several players have matured into the team concept of offense. Our X-factor will be how we build on our defensive strategy from last season.”
TAYLOR’S CROSSING
After finishing in fifth place a season ago, the Eagles are primed for another step forward, thanks in part to the return of all-conference junior guard Isaiah Ellis.
Seniors Korbin Russum-Stubbs and Sergio Salinas will also provide steady leadership for Taylor’s Crossing, and juniors Hunter Jaramillo and Axton Stone are other players to keep an eye on this year.
GRACE LUTHERAN
Looking for a sleeper in the RMC this year? Look no further than Grace Lutheran’s Royals.
Head coach Jeremy Hess welcomes back a pair of All-Conference performers in senior point guard Ely Sauer and senior center Garrett Grayson.
“We are going to be big,” says Hess. “We have three big posts that will all rotate through. It’s going to be tough to stop two bigs at a time. Our guard play and shooting are also strengths. The offense is well-rounded and should be tough to stop.”
Among the newer players that will see expanded roles in 2025-26 are junior center Rylan Ward, junior guards Damon Schmidt and Ethan Dillon, and sophomore guard Jaxon Miller.
“We’re deep, big, hard-working, and talented,” says Hess. “I think we’ll be able to get after teams, turn them over, and score. We’ve been bitten by the injury bug for the last couple of years, but if we stay healthy, I think we’ll be a dangerous team and have a chance to go to our first state tournament.”
SHO-BAN
The Chiefs are always a difficult opponent to prepare for. They’ll routinely deploy 12 or 13 players at will, trying to speed up the game and force the opponent into turnovers.
Third-year coach Pam Coby will lean on senior center Kennion Martin to control the boards and kickstart Sho-Ban's transition offense.
Other key players for Sho-Ban this year include junior Tyson Brunette, and sophomores AJ Graves and Sky Cree Medicine.
LEADORE
There are 13 players on this year’s Mustangs team, and nary a senior can be found.
Instead, Leadore will deploy a starting lineup consisting entirely of juniors.
Dane Piippo and Porter Mayo have been varsity contributors since their freshmen years, and will now be asked to lead as juniors. Junior post Jake Herbst will anchor the inside game, while Darrell Peterson and Braxton Marxer are also juniors projected to start.
Five freshmen and one sophomore comprise most of Leadore’s bench, and if the Mustangs’ crop of juniors can bring the other diaper dandies along, Leadore has a shot to reach the upper stages of the RMC standings.
NORTH GEM
Last year, North Gem struggled with low numbers, as they finished the season with just five players total. It’s a continual problem for one of Idaho’s smallest high schools, but veteran coach Tracey Corta has a good nucleus of six talented players to build around this year.
It starts with returning senior starters Craig Yost and Parker Hill. Yost is a 5-foot-8 guard, while Hill is a 6-foot forward. Fellow 6-foot seniors Hyrum Barnes and Haydn Frandsen will split reps at center, and 6-foot junior William Wakely is another standout forward.
The point guard duties could fall upon freshman Jeremiah Perry.
Staying healthy and out of foul trouble will be critical for North Gem to compete this season.
AMERICAN HERITAGE
The Patriots, in their second full season as a member of the RMC, are coached by Jason Bell. And with four players standing six-foot or taller, American Heritage will have a chance to out-rebound their opponents each time they step onto the floor.
6-foot-2 seniors Jaxon Powell and Ayden Garcia will be key cogs to the engine this year. Freshman guard Jake Infanger has also shown early promise. If he and sophomore point guard Jimmer Dalton can develop throughout the year, the Patriots could be a spoiler when the district tournament rolls around.
CLARK COUNTY
Clark County High School, with one of Idaho’s lowest student enrollment totals, is marching on with eight players on this year’s team. The roster is made up of one senior, one junior, five sophomores and one freshman.
Sophomore point guard Stockton Cross is the most seasoned player returning for the Bobcats, and sophomore center Brandom Medel will be important this year, too. Junior Fernando Avila projects as a starting guard, as does freshman Isaac Arteaga. Sophmore Israel Ruiz, a tad undersized, will have to play big against taller opponents underneath this year, also.