PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kendi Anderson, Blackfoot
Marlee Pieper, Blackfoot
Alyssa Harris, Bonneville
Lexie Kesler, Hillcrest
Quinnleigh Kesler, Hillcrest
Emma Vollmer, Idaho Falls
Brinley Cannon, Shelley
Kaylee Packer, Shelley
Mia Williams, Shelley
Kysa Shippen, Skyline
Shay Shippen, Skyline

Written by: Marlowe Hereford

For the fourth consecutive year, the 4A girls basketball state championship game at the Ford Idaho Center featured a 4A District 6 team. Adding to the parity in the conference, it was also the fourth 4A District 6 team to reach the title game in as many years.

Shelley concluded a 22-4 season upon falling 69-65 to Sandpoint in February's 4A state championship game, its first appearance in the title game at the 4A level and first time to the state tournament since 2016. The Russets, who have won six girls basketball titles at the 3A level, entered last year's state tournament ranked No. 1 in the state media poll.

Among Shelley's returning players are senior and BYU commit Brinley Cannon, junior Mia Williams, junior Kaylee Packer and senior Kaci Lang, and the Russets add Holly Crandall and Sarah Kidman this season. Head coach Jessica Carlson, in her fifth season, said the chemistry for the 2023-24 Russets is 'palapable.'

"The girls love each other and get along so well," Carlson said. "This translates into a very selfless style of play with amazing communication between the players on the floor."

Carlson described Shelley's offense as up-tempo, adding that the Russets aim to improve their ability to attack the rim and find open shooters. She said Shelley will play 'an aggressive, full court defense.'

"We would like to be able to extend our defense into the backcourt and add in some variety to our defensive arsenal," Carlson said.

Carlson said Skyline, the 2022 4A state runner-up which returns highly recruited junior Shay Shippen, and defending 4A District 6 champion Blackfoot, are teams to watch.

Skyline, which went 8-15 last season, returns Shippen sisters Kysa (a senior) and Shay (a junior) as well as seniors Alexa Haacke and Taya Tews. The Grizzlies will be without post Amy Baczuk, a senior, who will be sidelined with a season ending knee injury she suffered during volleyball season. Head coach Ty Keck said the Grizzlies add junior Ella Price and senior guard Mady Boyce as newcomers.

Keck said the Grizz want to be a well-rounded team offensively.

"We want to attack space and utilize the advantage of the 3-point shot," Keck said. "We will have a lot of speed and quickness with all of our players being able to play multiple positions."

Keck said the Grizz aim to improve on ball security, both offensive and defensive rebounding, one on one defense and finishing games.

"We have a lot of experienced returners coming into their last season," Keck said. "Many girls are going to get an opportunity to step up and play in roles they were not expecting to with the loss of Baczuk. We have a powerful line up of guards led by Shay Shippen which have the ability to play at the rim as well as shoot from deep."

Like Carlson, Keck also tabbed Hillcrest as a team to watch this season.

Hillcrest, which went 13-12 last season, returns sisters Quinnleigh (senior) and Lexie Kesler (junior), Brinley Prince (senior) and Alexus Pickett (junior) and adds sophomore McKenzie Gatluak.

Knights head coach Alan Sargent said Hillcrest will play a run and gun offense.

"Quinnleigh and Lexie Kesler can score from anywhere--great 3-point shooters--and can take it to the rim," Sargent said. "Alexus Pickett is deadly from the 3-point line. (We're a) much faster team and our returning good shooters are now great shooters."

He added that the Knights are a quicker team this year and are better at handling pressure, and they aim to finish better at the rim, create more turnovers and improve their full court press.

He tabbed defense as the 'X factor' for Hillcrest this season.

"If we can keep teams under 45 points, we'll win," Sargent said.

Sargent tabbed defending district champion Blackfoot as a team to keep an eye on this season. The Broncos, who went 13-11 last season and qualified for the 4A state tournament for the fifth year in a row, graduated Espi Vergara and Riley Layton but return Marlee Pieper (senior) and Kendi Anderson (senior).

Idaho Falls, which went 11-14 last season, graduated all-conference players Calyn Wood and Lillee Duffin, while Bonneville returns Alyssa Harris and Kaylie Kofe from last year's 5-18 team.