PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Ava Stokes, Canyon Ridge
Ella Stokes, Canyon Ridge
Mylee Stucki, Highland
Reece Ward, Highland
Torey Parker, Madison
Mia Walsh, Madison
Bailey Barber, Rigby
Kinzley Larsen, Rigby
Nevaeh Davenport, Thunder Ridge
Allie Nielson, Thunder Ridge
Written by: Marlowe Hereford
The former 5A District 5-6 teams moved to Idaho’s new 6A classification last season and added a fifth member in District 4’s Canyon Ridge.
The new classification and bigger conference did not keep Rigby from winning a third consecutive district title. Upper Valley rivals Rigby and Madison both reached the state tournament for the second consecutive season. A total of 17 players graduated from last season’s 6A District 4-5-6 teams.
For the last five seasons, at least one team from this conference has reached a state tournament trophy game. Will that trend continue for a sixth season? We will find out in February.
RIGBY
The Trojans went 17-9 overall last year, including a perfect 8-0 in 6A District 4-5-6 play, and reached the 6A state consolation final. Rigby graduated three seniors from that team: First Team All-Conference center Tiade Togiai, forward Jillian Nelson and Honorable Mention guard Sydney Berrett.
All-Conference Player of the Year, guard Kinzley Larsen, and Second Team All-Conference guard Bailey Barber, both seniors, return for the Trojans, as do Second Team All-Conference guard Allie Dansie (junior), Honorable Mention All-Conference guard Brinley Larsen (junior) and senior forward Lauren Burnside. Junior guard Breleigh Youngstrom also joins Rigby’s varsity this season.
“Excited to always see the new team come together with their different dynamics,” Rigby head coach Todd Barber said. “They are a good group of players who have played a lot of basketball.”
He added that playing strong defense and minimizing turnovers will be the ‘X factor’ for the Trojans this season.
MADISON
The Bobcats went 18-9 overall last season, going 5-3 against league opponents and advancing to the 6A state tournament where they won the third place trophy. This was Madison’s first girls basketball state trophy since winning the 4A state consolation trophy in 2012.
Madison graduated six players including First Team All-Conference selection Maggie Anderson and Second Team All-Conference selection Nora Waddoups. Multi-sport athlete and recent Idaho State volleyball signee Mia Walsh made First Team All-Conference last season as a junior.
THUNDER RIDGE
The Titans went 13-11 overall and 5-3 versus league opponents last season. Thunder Ridge graduated eight players—the most of any 6A District 4-5-6 team—including Honorable Mention All-Conference forward Kensey Peterson, Honorable Mention All-Conference post Avah Lugo and Honorable Mention All-Conference guard Rylin Jackson. Peterson has continued her basketball career at Southern Virginia University.
Among the returning athletes for Thunder Ridge are All-Conference first team guard Neveah Davenport (senior) and Second Team All-Conference guard Allie Nielson.
HIGHLAND
The Rams had mostly juniors on varsity last season and went 10-14 overall and 2-6 in league play. Highland graduated only one player, shooting guard Daisy Agado, described by head coach Brooke Ward as someone who will be missed for bringing ‘energy and leadership to both ends of the floor.’
Junior shooting guard Reese Ward and junior guard Peyton Pieper return for the Rams, who are young again this season. Among the freshmen who made varsity is point guard Mylee Stucki, described by Ward as ‘a very talented basketball player.’
“Defensively and offensively, Mylee is aggressive and a playmaker,” Ward said.
CANYON RIDGE
The Riverhawks went 4-18 overall and 0-8 versus league opponents last season. Canyon Ridge graduated two varsity players, Second Team All-Conference guard Elizabeth Clark and Honorable Mention All-Conference center Elnaz Etminan.
Returning for the Riverhawks are senior guard Kaylee Smith, junior shooting guard Sadia Salah, senior forward Alexis Brewer, sophomore point guard Ella Stokes, junior shooting guard Emma Grimm, sophomore forward Victoria Goddard, junior center Katie Branvold, senior forward Kaitlyn Smith, senior forward Ava Stokes and junior point guard Peyton Saldana.