4A boys basketball preview: Ranking the SIC’s top teams, challengers and sleepers

The 4A Southern Idaho Conference boys basketball race will look different this winter. Middleton and Nampa left for the 5A ranks, Skyview returns to the league and only two of last season’s all-conference players are back.

That creates a wide-open conference. Preseason favorites of Bishop Kelly and Skyview sport new-look lineups. But a deep league has enough promising talent to create chaos at any moment.

We asked the league’s coaches to identify the top players and teams heading into the season. Teams are listed in their order of finish in the preseason poll.

1. BISHOP KELLY KNIGHTS

Last season: 21-6, 12-2 4A SIC

Coach: Ryan Kerns, ninth season

Players to watch: Jack Dennis, sr., G/F; Cooper Cammann, jr., PG; Joe Behrend, sr., SG; Rakeem Johnson, jr., C

The Knights don’t return any starters from last season’s district championship team. But a reset doesn’t mean a rebuilding year for the perennial contender. The league’s coaches picked the Knights as the preseason favorite, with four out of a possible seven first-place votes.

Dennis (3.0 ppg, 2.4 rebounds), the Knights’ star linebacker, takes over as the new leader, and his ability to play the guard and forward positions make him a matchup nightmare.

Cooper Cammann and Rakeem Johnson will also transition from backup to starting roles. Cammann has the speed and athleticism to create havoc in the paint, while Johnson is a force down low with shot-blocking and rebounding abilities.

2. SKYVIEW HAWKS

Last season: 11-13, 6-10 5A SIC

Coach: Aaron Sanders, 14th season

Players to watch: Eloy Chaparro, sr., PG; Max Cutforth, sr., F; Jonah Wockenfuss, sr., SG; Adam Davenport, sr., F

The Hawks return to the 4A SIC with immediate expectations to challenge for the league crown. Four seniors headline the group, including Chaparro (10.7 ppg, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2.3 steals). He’ll captain the offense alongside Cutforth (8.0 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals), who has the skills to create mismatches for opposing big men.

Wockenfuss (2.8 ppg) and Davenport (1.5 ppg, 3.1 rebounds) provide two more sparks with their physicality and high energy. Sanders added that this year’s team should be faster and more athletic, helping the Hawks push the ball in transition.

3. RIDGEVUE WARHAWKS

Last season: 6-16, 5-9 4A SIC

Coach: Daniel Vint, second season

Players to watch: Javonte Boles, so., F; Ashton Eaton, sr., PG; Tucker Tiddens, so., F; Tye de Souza, jr., F

Vint’s first season with the Warhawks included a young core of players with little varsity experience. Now he gets the bulk of his roster back as Ridgevue searches for its first winning season, including three returning starters who are still sophomores and juniors.

Boles (10.0 ppg, 6.7 rebounds) started in all 22 games as a freshman a year ago, and his 6-6 frame creates mismatches all over the floor. With him are de Souza (7.0 ppg, 6.6 rebounds, 1.5 steals) and Tiddins (2.9 ppg), a pair of 6-4 forwards who round out a deep front court. But Vint said the young group will need to learn how to finish games before truly contending with the league’s traditional powers.

4. COLUMBIA WILDCATS

Last season: 6-17, 4-10 4A SIC

Coach: Dominik Fear, second season

Players to watch: Jack Keller, sr., G; Daniel Bell, sr., F; Mekhi Alexander, sr., C

Now four years removed from the only state tournament trip in program history, the Wildcats return three starters as they try to climb their way back up the standings. Standing at the top of that list is Keller (17 ppg, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), a reigning first-team all-conference pick. He’s the undisputed leader of the Wildcats, and his jack-of-all trades skills make him an early candidate for conference player of the year.

He joins Bell, a defensive ace, and Alexander, an anchor in the post, as the returning starters. That trio will work to shore up a defense that gave up 58.8 points per game a year ago, the most in the 4A SIC.

5. VALLIVUE FALCONS

Last season: 14-12, 7-7 4A SIC

Coach: Mario Betancourt, fourth season

Players to watch: Jace Martinez, jr., PG; Isaac Moore, so., F; LaZarius Kennedy, jr., F

The Falcons start fresh after the graduation of seven seniors, including second-team All-Idaho point guard Jacob Martinez. But they bring back Jace Martinez (6.6 ppg, 2.6 assists), their only returning starter and a strong defensive player who will step into a scoring role this winter.

Kennedy made big strides in the offseason, Betancourt said. But he and Moore will need to adjust to the varsity speed quickly if they want to succeed in the paint. Overall size is a concern, but Betancourt said the Falcons will pressure the ball with loads of fresh legs and substitutions until they find the winning recipe.

6. CALDWELL COUGARS

Last season: 7-18, 4-10 4A SIC

Coach: Rick Tigges, second season

Players to watch: Francisco Sanchez-Ayon, sr., W; Zaylor Bruegeman, jr., W; Alan Melchor-Mendoza, sr., PG

Tigges, the 4A SIC’s reigning coach of the year, helped the Cougars make some late-season noise in last season’s district tournament, including an upset of No. 3 seed Nampa in the quarterfinals. Caldwell returns its starting backcourt and has plenty of firepower to go around.

Sanchez-Ayon (9.6 ppg, 4.0 rebounds) is a go-to scorer who can create his own shots. And Bruegeman (8.5 ppg, 3.6 rebounds) and Melchor-Mendoza (3.6 ppg, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists) are all-around athletes who can stretch defenses with their range. But the Cougars lack a true big man, an area they will have to overcome if the shooting goes cold.

7. EMMETT HUSKIES

Last season: 6-18, 3-11 4A SIC

Coach: Scott Kern, third season

Players to watch: Stevie Howe, sr., G; Dakota Perry, sr., G; Brandon Weekes, sr., F

The Huskies turn to lone returning starter Stevie Howe (8.6 ppg, 2.1 steals) to jump-start a program that’s finished last in the league the past three seasons. Howe finished last year on a strong note and can score from anywhere, but he’ll also lean on Perry (4.1 ppg, 1.7 steals), junior Ethan Williams and sophomore Tucker Brown to generate points on a consistent basis.

Weekes (2.5 ppg, 2.4 rebounds) is a long forward who can hold down the frontcourt. And Kern said the team will commit to its uptempo style to get out and run.

This story was originally published December 6, 2022 at 1:29 PM.