PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Libby Nelson, Boise
Nya Pellant-Latham, Boise
Brinley Chase, Borah
Kya Davis, Borah
McKenna Chavez, Capital
Miriam Stafford, Capital
Adee Babiak, Centennial
Ileeyah Soon, Centennial
Trinity Holsinger, Eagle
Berkley Jones, Eagle
Jazmine Colunga, Kuna
Jaeda Morrison, Kuna
Kiet Martinez, Meridian
MK Puello, Meridian
Zoey Blackwell, Middleton
Dawn Holman, Middleton
Quincy Keller, Mountain View
Addie Lee, Mountain View
Aubree Hamilton, Owyhee
Audrey McKenna, Owyhee
Bella Corona, Ridgevue
Kaitlyn McGee, Ridgevue
Addy Osterhout, Rocky Mountain
Liv Sangsland, Rocky Mountain
Lexi Moore, Timberline
Emmi Swillie, Timberline
Written by: Lucas Gebhart
The 6A Southern Idaho Conference got a little tougher and a bit deeper this offseason as Middleton comes up from 5A, a school many of the league’s coaches expect to contend for the district title.
The move means this year’s league will be even deeper and more talented.
The Vikings bring one of the state’s best players in Wyoming signee Zoey Blackwell and a roster that beat its 5A opponents by nearly 40 points per game.
In all, the 6A SIC will feature five teams who took home trophies from last year’s state tournaments, including the defending 6A champions (Owyhee), last year’s 6A runner-up (Boise), last year’s 6A consolation champions (Borah) and last year’s 5A runner-up (Middleton).
OWYHEE
2024-25 Record: 11-0 (25-2) – Won State
Head Coach: George Rodrugiez, 2nd Season
Just three players return from last year’s state championship roster, but head coach George Rodrugiez is confident his group can quickly reload.
The Storm loses their entire starting five, including the league’s Player of the Year, Riley Beck and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, Josie Davis.
The loaded, senior heavy roster propelled Owyhee to a 25-win season, including a perfect 11-0 record in the SIC play, and ended with school’s first girls’ basketball state championship.
Now, as the Storm prepare their title defense, new faces are stepping into the star roles, including freshman wing Siena Area, who Rodruguez says is “well above her years.”
“We are looking to get better every day and hope to be playing our best basketball come January,” Rodriguez said. “The state championship team set the bar high on both ends of the floor.”
MIDDLETON
2024-25 Record: 14-0 (25-2) – State Runner-up (5A)
Head Coach: Marianne Blackwell, 3rd Season
Middleton jumps up to 6A after dominating Idaho’s 5A class.
The Vikings finished as state runners-ups but were the only team in 5A to score more than 60 points per game and were the only team in their class to give up less than 30.
Despite being new to the 6A ranks, most of the league’s coaches expect Middleton to be in the mix for the district championship, as the Vikings return plenty of talent, including state player-of-the-year candidate, Zoey Balckwell, who recently signed to play at Wyoming.
The Vikings also return senior Aysha Fried, sophomore Dawn Holman, the league’s Co-6th Woman of the Year, and Olivia Blackwell and Miley Steele, who were both all-conference selections.
BOISE
2024-25 Record: 9-2 (23-4) – State Runner-up
Head Coach: Seth Newville, 1st Season
New head coach Seth Newville takes over a program coming off a state runner-up finish following Kim Bridges’ retirement.
Bridges spent the last 20 seasons leading the Brave and built Boise High into a 6A power, but Boise loses its top three scorers from last year in Kya Davis, Avery Patricco and Kaity Haan. Haan averaged over 10 rebounds per game and all three averaged over 11 points per game, leaving the Brave searching for new key players.
“I’m excited to watch some of the girls step up and play roles they haven’t played in the past,” Newville said. “I loved our leadership this summer and can’t wait to get to the season.”
BORAH
2024-25 Record: 9-2 (21-6) – Consolation Champion
Head Coach: Ebony Norman, 4th Season
A young Borah team is bringing back most its roster after winning the state consolation championship, including Kya Davis who averaged nearly 16 points per game as a sophomore.
The quick-paced offense was one of three SIC teams to eclipse the 20-win mark last season. With Davis and all-conference honorable mention Brinley Chase back, Borah is returning the most talent of those 20-win teams, placing them in firm contention to return to the state tournament.
“We are just focused on us,” head coach Ebony Norman said. “Nothing any other team does will ruffle our feathers.”
EAGLE
2024-25 Record: 8-3 (19-7) – Two-and-Out at State
Head Coach: Jeremy Munroe, 5th Season
Eagle is a popular pick to win the district as they return Idaho’s second leading scorer from last season in junior Berkley Jones.
Jones helped lead Eagle to the state tournament last season where the Mustangs finished as Idaho’s second highest scoring offense at nearly 57 points per game.
Guards Taya Nelson and Bella Thompson are also back for Eagle this season, who both played key roles in Eagle’s 19-win season.
TIMBERLINE
2024-25 Record: 7-4 (15-11) – 6th at Districts
Head Coach: Andy Jones, 8th Season
After missing last season with a torn ACL, Timberline gets senior Emmi Swille back but lost seven seniors to graduation.
Swille averaged 14 points per game prior to the injury and was one of the state’s best players as a sophomore.
“It will be great getting her back,” said head coach Andy Jones, the league’s reigning Coach of the Year.
Jones adds it may take some time for Timberline to find its rhythm offensively with its roster turnover.
The Wolves were just a couple points away from a state play-in game last year, falling to Capital in the district tournament, 42-40.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN
2024-25 Record: 6-5 (13-11) – Two-and-Out at Districts
Head Coach: BJ Humphries, 6th Season
The Grizz lose one of Idaho top scorers in Logan Sailors but return a group of upperclassmen that will add more balance to Rocky’s offense.
Point guard, Addy Osterhout is back after missing last season with an injury and will control Rocky’s fast-paced, but undersized offense.
“I expect our team to score more this season,” Humphries said. “We will have a more well-rounded set of weapons on offense.”
Rocky also returns one of the state’s leading rebounders in Mckenzie Bybee and return junior forward Liv Sanglsand.
Humphries added that a pair of freshman, Gemma Liotta and Kerrington Kolman, could see early playing time.
KUNA
2024-25 Record: 6-5 (9-13) – Lost in District Play-in Round
Head Coach: Katie Holmes, 5th Season
Senior Jaeda Morrison is stepping into the star role at Kuna after the Kavemen lose all-conference guard Sarah Walker, now playing at the College of Southern Idaho.
Morrison averaged 14 points per game as a junior and can score from all three levels with her elite athleticism.
“She is quick off the dribble and is deadly from the three,” head coach Katie Holmes said, “As a three-year starter, her experience and leadership will be key for our team.”
Kuna also returns senior guard Jazmine Colunga to the starting lineup and is asking two sophomores, Isabella Ysais and Ophelia Robinson, to step into bigger roles.
CAPITAL
2024-25 Record: 4-7 (13-15) – Two-and-Out at State
Head Coach: Matthew Creech, 4th Season
Capital returns McKenna Chavez after returning to the state tournament for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
Chavez is a multi-sport athlete at Capital, and has signed to play softball at BYU, but she is also a standout on the court. The senior finished last season as an all-conference honorable mention along with Eden Francis and Miriam Stafford who are also back this season.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
2024-25 Record: 3-8 (7-15) – Lost in District Play-in Round
Head Coach: Derek Pegram, 2nd Season
A young Mountain View team took its lumps last season, but the Mavs are looking to take a step forward.
The Mavs carried six freshmen on its varsity roster last year and lost four seniors, including their leading scorer, Kendrie Judd.
“Our experience and overall team chemistry should be improved,” Pegram said.
Mountain View returns seniors Quincy Keller, an all-conference honorable mention, and Addie Lee.
RIDGEVUE
2024-25 Record: 2-9 (10-14) – Two-and-Out at Districts
Head Coach: John Walker
The Warhawks graduated several seniors and are looking to replace one of Idaho’s leading scorers in Myra Martinez and one of the state’s leading rebounders in McKenna Durrant.
Martinez was one of the state’s scorers at over 13 points per game and finished the season as a second-team all-conference pick.
CENTENNIAL
2024-25 Record: 1-10 (7-15) – Lost in District Play-in Round
Head Coach: Amelia Delgado, 1st Season
Head coach Amelia Delgado begins her first season at Centennial trying to figure out how to replace senior leader Pepper Smith.
Smith was one of the state’s leading rebounders and was an all-conference honorable mention last season.
MERIDIAN
2024-25 Record: 0-11 (3-19) – Lost in District Play-in Round
Head Coach: Todd Anderson, 1st Season
New head coach, Todd Anderson, is looking to tap into Meridian’s skillset.
The Warriors had Idaho’s worst scoring defense last season, giving up over 57 points per game. Despite last season’s struggles, Anderson sees potential.
“I believe we have good talent on this team and can be successful if we figure out how to play together better,” he said. “I am excited to see how we gel.”
Meridian gets most of its starting lineup back, including seniors Kiet Martinez and Olivia Fluckiger, junior Sara Voegele and sophomore MK Puello. Sophomore Nya Hancock-Lynch is expected to see playing time in the post as well.