5A SIC girls basketball preview: The favorites, top contenders and sleepers in Boise area
Until Coeur d’Alene hoisted the 5A state championship trophy last winter, a high school girls basketball team from the 5A Southern Idaho Conference had finished at the top four years in a row.
The state’s largest conference is loaded for another run in 2023-24, and any title hopes begin with defending district champion Boise.
The Brave were voted the 5A SIC favorite in a preseason coaches’ poll conducted by the Idaho Statesman. But a host of contenders are eager to knock the Brave off that pedestal.
We examined each team, their top players and their chances as the season begins. Teams are listed in their order of finish in the preseason poll.
1. BOISE
Last season: 23-3, 11-1 5A SIC
Coach: Kim Brydges, 19th season
Players to watch: Avery Howell, sr., G/F; Kaity Haan, jr., G/F; Avery Patricco, jr., PG/G; Alison Turcke, jr., PG/G
After winning regular-season and district titles last season, the Brave lost in heartbreaking fashion in double overtime in the state semifinals to eventual champion Coeur d’Alene. But Boise returns all five starters and is ready to make another run at a state championship.
The Brave are heavy favorites to repeat their 5A SIC success after garnering 10 of a possible 12 first-place votes in a preseason coaches’ poll.
Howell, the reigning 5A All-Idaho and all-class Gatorade player of the year, leads the way once again following a junior campaign in which she averaged 21.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.8 steals per game. The USC signee will have plenty of help surrounding her, starting with Haan, who landed first-team all-conference honors a year ago after averaging 11.4 points, six rebounds and 2.2 steals per game. Patricco (8.2 ppg, 1.5 steals, 1.2 assists) and Turcke (5.4 ppg, 1.9 assists) also add experience to the lineup.
Brydges noted the Brave play fast and can run the floor well, but defensive excellence remains the pride of the program.
2. OWYHEE
Last season: 20-6, 10-2 5A SIC
Coach: Jordan Ax, third season
Players to watch: Sydnie Rodriguez, sr., G; Josie Davis, jr., G; Mikale Roy, jr., W/P; Riley Beck, jr., P
Owyhee made it to the state tournament last season in just its second year. The Storm return 10 players from that team, including all five starters.
Opposing teams may game-plan to stop Rodriguez, a University of Seattle commit and second-team All-Idaho pick who averaged 12.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game last season. But that could open the door for proven scorers like Davis (8.8 ppg), Roy (8.8 ppg) and Beck (8.7 ppg) to inflict damage.
Ax said the Storm gained valuable experience and improved team chemistry by participating in Arizona’s Section 7 showcase over the summer. Among the team’s strengths, Ax noted, are overall athleticism and a desire to play full-court defense.
T-3. EAGLE
Last season: 14-14, 10-2 5A SIC
Coach: Jeremy Munroe, third season
Players to watch: Paige Cofer, sr., G; Molly Johnson, sr., G; Porter Wood, jr., W/P
Eagle welcomes a lot of new faces after the graduation of seven seniors from last year’s state-qualifying team.
Cofer and Johnson are the only returning starters, but both made significant contributions last season. The 6-foot Cofer, who has signed with Utah Tech, was an All-Idaho first-team pick, averaging 16.6 points, seven rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.9 steals. Johnson was an all-conference honorable mention selection, contributing five points, three rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.
Wood joins the Mustangs as a transfer from 3A Teton. She earned first-team All-Idaho recognition last season, leading the Timberwolves to a third-place trophy at state. She averaged 12.4 points and 10.5 rebounds while shooting 53% from the floor.
Munroe said he believes the Mustangs have the potential to grow into a state tournament contender and will benefit from overall height and team speed.
T-3. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 18-9, 10-2 5A SIC
Coach: BJ Humphreys, fifth season
Players to watch: Cianna Legaspi, sr., G; Averee Osterhout, sr., G; Anna DaBell, sr., F
The seventh-seeded Grizzlies won back-to-back overtime games to advance to last season’s state championship game, where they fell 65-27 to Coeur d’Alene. A nucleus of three starters return from that team, giving Rocky Mountain a solid foundation.
The Grizzlies will lean on Legaspi, a Cal Baptist commit, for leadership following a junior season in which she earned first-team all-conference and All-Idaho honors by averaging 10.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. Osterhout (7ppg) and DaBell (6 ppg) give Rocky Mountain a balanced attack.
Similar to last season, Humphreys estimates he has five players capable of putting up double figures on any given night. And he hopes the Grizzlies’ improvement in the paint will translate to some easy buckets.
5. TIMBERLINE
Last season: 21-7, 9-3 5A SIC
Coach: Andy Jones, sixth season
Players to watch: Emmie Swillie, so., F; Grace Mertes, sr., F; Lexy Blais, sr., PG
Two years removed from a state championship, the Wolves must replace a quartet of four-year varsity players, including All-Idaho point guard Lauren McCall, who is now at San Diego.
Swillie and junior guard Ashlyn Graklanoff are the only returning starters for a Timberline team that advanced to the state semifinals a year ago. Swillie picked up all-conference honorable mention recognition after contributing a team-leading 9.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Mertes and Blais will each be stepping into starting roles this season. Mertes led the Wolves in 3-pointers off the bench last season, while Blais is poised to take over the offensive reins.
Jones said the Wolves will have to overcome a lack of experience, but he hopes his squad will improve each game and be playing its best basketball come February.
6. MIDDLETON
Last season: 13-11, 5-7 5A SIC
Coach: Marianne Blackwell, first season
Players to watch: Zoey Blackwell, so., G; Aysha Fried, so., F; Elsie Wyatt, jr., G; Mylee Steele, so., F
The Vikings begin their second season in the 5A SIC under the guidance of Marianne Blackwell, their sixth head coach in the past six years. Middleton finished in the middle of the conference race last season and returns four starters.
Zoey Blackwell headlines the group after collecting second-team all-conference honors as a freshman.
With new leadership in place, the Vikings hope to translate their success at the 4A level to the 5A ranks. Before moving up to 5A last season, Middleton had won three of the past four district titles and made it to state six years in a row.
7. CENTENNIAL
Last season: 5-17, 2-10 5A SIC
Coach: Kerry Angelos, second season
Players to watch: Jada Ojukwu, jr., G; Netta Tia, sr., G; Pepper Smith, jr., P; Ellie Tia, jr., G
The Patriots took their lumps last season in Angelos’ first year at the helm, finishing near the bottom of the 5A SIC with two conference wins. But Centennial welcomes back two starters and a key player from injury, while also benefiting from the transfer of Mountain View guard Ojukwu.
Netta Tia, an honorable mention all-conference pick, will direct the Patriots’ offense after leading the team in assists and finishing second in scoring last season. Smith was a mid-season callup from JV last year but finished as the Patriots’ leading rebounder, and Ellie Tia returns from a season-ending ACL injury.
Angelos said this year’s group has the chance to make some “noise.”
8. KUNA
Last season: 11-13, 5-7 5A SIC
Coach: Katie Holmes, third season
Players to watch: Sarah Walker, jr., PG; Jaeda Morrison, so., G; Makayla Wilson, sr., G
Kuna made strides last season by finishing in the middle of the pack after a last-place showing in the 5A SIC standings in 2021-22.
The Kavemen will build on that progress with the return of starters Walker, Wilson and Gabrielle Halverson. Walker will start at the point for the second year in a row and create a 1-2 punch with Morrison, who moved up from JV halfway through last season and has developed a strong shot. Wilson will serve as Kuna’s defensive force.
Holmes said the Kavemen share a strong bond and understand the hard work it takes to build a winning program.
9. BORAH
Last season: 3-19, 0-12 5A SIC
Coach: Ebony Norman, second season
Players to watch: Kya David, fr., G; Nakiyia Percell, fr., G; Abi Howington, so., PG
The Lions endured a tough season in 2022-23, failing to win a conference game and going without a win in the month of January. But Norman expects growth in her second season at the helm and will benefit from the return of starters Amayah Defares and Rylee Nelson.
Borah will also look to a trio of underclassmen to help lead the way. David and Percell will provide Borah with new scoring threats, and Howington has grown leaps and bounds after putting in extensive work in the offseason.
Norman notes the Lions have a higher overall basketball IQ this season, but will need to grow quickly with a significant number of impact players who have little to no varsity experience.
10. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 12-14, 6-6 5A SIC
Coach: La’Cale Pringle, second season
Players to watch: Quincy Keller, so., G; Tessa Jones, sr., F; Kendrie Judd, jr., G
The Mavericks fell a win short of advancing to the state tournament last season and return one starter in Keller.
Keller landed an honorable mention all-conference nod last season after averaging 10 points and three steals per game. Pringle said Keller will set the tone for the Mavericks and lead by example. Expect a bigger role from Jones, who was Mountain View’s most improved player last season, Pringle said.
For what they lack in size and experience, Pringle said the Mavericks will make up for it with a defensive mindset and a strong transition game.
11. CAPITAL
Last season: 10-12, 5-7 5A SIC
Coach: Matthew Creech, second season
Players to watch: Carrie Cutler, so., PG; Eden Francis, so., F; Paige Edmunds, sr., G
The Eagles have a lot of ground to make up offensively, as they graduated 60% of their scoring from a year ago.
Returning starters Carrie Cutler and Paige Edmunds will help to fill some of that hole, but Creech says his team will also need to rely on underclassmen to step up as Capital’s roster features a combined seven freshmen and sophomores.
Creech also noted that this year’s team has greater depth, but lacks overall height. The Eagles will make up for that with athleticism and toughness, Creech said.
12. MERIDIAN
Last season: 7-15, 4-8 5A SIC
Coach: Marcus Campbell, first season
Players to watch: Josie Rowbury, sr., P; Brooke Watson, sr., G; Morgan Dick, jr., W
After losing the 6-2 Rowbury to a season-ending ACL injury last season, the Warriors struggled to compete in the paint. But Rowbury, an Edmonds College commit, returns for her senior season and will have experienced players by her side in Watson and Dick.
Although the Warriors were picked to finish last in a preseason coaches’ poll, Campbell is optimistic this year’s squad will have a more balanced attack. He cites rebounding and staying out of foul trouble as key areas of focus.
NAMPA BULLDOGS
Last season: 1-20, 1-11 5A SIC
Coach: Erica Weissenbuehler, third season
The Bulldogs did not respond to our questionnaire. Nampa will play an independent schedule this season and will not compete for a 5A SIC title.
This story was originally published November 13, 2023 at 5:17 PM.
