PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Amelia Alexander, Ambrose
Bryley Tadman, Ambrose
Adyson Chadez, Marsing
Bailey Daugherty, Marsing
Elle Crimbchin, Melba
Darby Lowber, Melba
Taylor Davy, Nampa Christian
Ellie Kroes, Nampa Christian
Maycee Christensen, New Plymouth
Hope Hailey, New Plymouth
Aarey Harris, Parma
Ava Shaw, Parma
Written by: Will Hoenike
With the clock winding down in the 3A state championship game last February, Parma senior Daisy Hardcastle knocked down the game-winning shot to set off a title celebration in western Canyon County.
The 2025-26 Panthers will look to run it back without seniors Rylee Calkins and Kaidance Kaiser, each of whom earned opportunities at the college level. Hardcastle? Haylee Gentry? Maria Gentry? Lakota Leppert? Even head coach Michael Calkins? All gone.
The Western Idaho Conference advanced three teams to the 3A state tournament last season. Parma gathered the top prize as the state champion while rival Melba finished third and New Plymouth took home the consolation trophy. Melba must replace versatile Tariah Carter, the first-team All-WIC (and All-State) performer who is now on the women’s basketball team at Idaho State University. New Plymouth must find replacements for all-WIC performers Laci Eagy, Sam Withers, and Hailey Oxnam.
Moral of the story for the Western Idaho Conference in 2025-26? The door is open. Who will walk through?
PARMA
Former Panther standout Adyson (Harris) Shaw takes over as the program’s head coach, replacing Michael Calkins following Parma’s state championship last spring. She’ll have to replace the Western Idaho Conference player of the year, Rylie Calkins (Treasure Valley Community College) and first-team all-conference point guard Kaidance Kaiser (Butte College), who have gone on to play college basketball.
Fortunately, Shaw returns versatile senior Aarey Harris, a first-team all-conference performer last season. Harris excels down low but isn’t necessarily a true post player, featuring a well-rounded game that will be leaned on this season as Parma introduces new players to the team. Seniors Ava Shaw and Maya Jensen return for the Panthers and will be joined by dynamic freshman Gwen Shaw. Varsity newcomers Abby Anderson (Sr.) and Tara Johnson (Jr.) will also have an opportunity to fill key roles for the Panthers.
MELBA
Melba head coach Dennis Lenz is also tasked with filling some big shoes. In his case, it’s replacing the multiple talents of Tariah Carter. The Mustangs return a pair of first-team all-conference performers in Darby Lowber and Elle Crimbchin but, beyond that, the Mustangs are also looking for new players to find their way.
“This year’s team is relatively inexperienced at the varsity level,” Lenz said. “It will be exciting to see who steps up.”
Sophomore guards Quincie Hafen and Janey Cole should be ready to shoulder more of the varsity load after gaining experience as freshmen. Their growth and development in the backcourt could allow the Mustangs to pressure the ball more and score in transition.
NAMPA CHRISTIAN
The Trojans didn’t graduate any players from the 2024-25 team, which struggled to a 3-17 record. However, first-year head coach Phillip Bracero welcomes back sophomore wing Ellie Kroes after missing virtually all of last season with an injury. She’ll team with senior Taylor Davy and junior Anya Den Hartog to form a solid nucleus for a team looking to finish above .500 for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign.
“We have a great mix of veteran talent and young talent,” Bracero said. “There's a lot of depth, and I'm excited to figure out how to mix it all together.”
Guard Gracie Ericson, a freshman, also figures into this season’s plans for Nampa Christian.
MARSING
The Marsing Huskies return three key contributors after winning 11 games last season, led by first-team all-conference performer Adyson Chadez. As a junior, Chadez averaged over 11 points and nearly seven rebounds per game and connected on exactly half (25) of the team’s 50 three-point field goals.
Also back in the mix are fellow seniors Bailey Daugherty and Josie Showalter. Daugherty only appeared in 11 games last season but averaged a team-high 11.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Showalter, like Chadez, appeared in all 23 games for the Huskies and pulled down more than five rebounds per game.
Head coach Jake Dugger will look to sophomores Naomi Lewis, Jada Chlarson, and Abigail Heredia to provide depth for Marsing this season.
NEW PLYMOUTH
After claiming the consolation trophy last season, the Pilgrims will look to reload after losing three all-conference caliber players. The good news is head coach Tara Lake has two more coming back.
Senior guards Hope Hailey and Macee Christensen each received honorable-mention all-conference recognition from the WIC coaches and will be joined by a trio of other senior guards, Kaidence Withers, Ruby Reyes and Emily Frates, along with senior forward Paisley Pearson, giving the Pilgrims solid experience. The roster also lists four sophomores as players look to earn roles for a program that won 20 games last season.
AMBROSE
First-year head coach Kirk Crager inherits a young roster with just two seniors – guard Annaliese Crager and forward Makenna Baldes – but the group boasts solid experience in some of its younger players. Sophomore Amelia Alexander was selected second-team all-conference following her freshman season, while fellow sophomore Bryley Tadman earned honorable-mention recognition. Junior forward Sarina Schiebout also returns for the Archers.
Ambrose opened its season with a victory over 4A Cole Valley Christian, 58-49, riding a strong first quarter and pressure defense to pick up the win. Junior guard Analise Curran had a strong game at both ends of the floor for the Archers.