6A SIC girls basketball: Coaches weigh in on the top teams, players to watch
The 6A girls basketball state tournament championship went through the Southern Idaho Conference last season.
Five District Three teams qualified for state, with Owyhee beating Boise for the title.
But the 2025-26 season could see a new contender emerge, as Eagle was voted the preseason favorite by the league’s coaches, and Middleton followed behind after moving up from the 5A level and a state runner-up finish last season.
The Idaho Statesman 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.
6A SIC PRESEASON POLL
1. EAGLE
Last season: 19-7, 8-3 6A SIC
Coach: Jeremy Munroe, fifth season
Players to watch: Berkley Jones, jr., F; Trinity Holsinger, sr., G; Taya Nelson, jr., G; Bella Thompson, sr., G
Outlook: The Mustangs are expected to contend for the conference crown with the return of three starters and the addition of an impact transfer.
Eagle’s success begins with Jones, who holds a host of college offers and landed on the All-Idaho first team after averaging 16.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game a year ago.
Nelson (10.4 ppg, 3.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.8 steals) was an honorable mention pick in the 6A SIC last year and the Mustangs’ go-to defender. Thompson (5.5 ppg, 2.9 assists, 2.5 rebounds) is a four-year varsity player, and Holsinger returns to the court after sitting out last season following a transfer from Cole Valley Christian, where she averaged 15.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.5 steals per game in 2023-24.
2. MIDDLETON
Last season: 25-2, 14-0 5A SIC
Coach: Marianne Blackwell, third season
Did not respond to the Statesman’s preseason survey.
3. BORAH
Last season: 21-6, 9-2 6A SIC
Coach: Ebony Norman, fourth season
Players to watch: Kya Davis, jr., G/F/P; Brooklyn Gardiner, jr., G; Tessa Orcutt, sr., G; Brinlee Chase, so., G/F
Outlook: The Lions took home the consolation trophy at state last season and return all but one player from that team, including five starters.
Davis (12.8 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 1.3 blocks) leads the way as a returning 6A SIC all-conference first teamer and second team All-Idaho pick who holds an offer from Utah State.
Chase earned honorable mention recognition in the league as a freshman, and Borah will get a boost with the transfer of Orcutt from Cole Valley Christian, who has offers from Northwest Nazarene University, College of Idaho and Willamette. Gardiner is a crunch-time threat, sinking game-winning, or OT-forcing baskets in several games last season.
The Lions should have strong chemistry, as many of their key players have been on varsity since they were freshmen.
4. BOISE
Last season: 23-4, 9-2 6A SIC
Coach: Seth Newville, first season
Players to watch: Libby Nelson, sr., G; Nya Pellant-Latham, jr., P; RyLynn Ruffing, so., G/F; Olivia Chatfield, sr., G
Outlook: It’s a changing of the guard at Boise with the retirement of longtime coach Kim Brydges and the graduation of all five starters from last year’s state runner-up squad.
But there’s no reason to expect a dropoff in 2025-26, as the Brave already have three players with college offers.
Nelson (4.6 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals), who has signed with Saint Martin’s, begins her fourth season on varsity and takes over the reins of the offense. Pellant-Latham is Boise’s top returning scorer at 8.2 points per game to go with 4.1 rebounds, and Chatfield provides an accurate threat from deep, making 62% from 3-point range a year ago.
Boise will be a difficult matchup for opposing teams thanks to a roster that Newville describes as “positionless,” giving the Brave a lot of versatility.
5. CAPITAL
Last season: 13-15, 4-7 6A SIC
Coach: Matthew Creech, fourth season
Players to watch: Mckenna Chavez, sr., F; Eden Francis, sr., F; Miriam Stafford, sr., G; Carrie Cutler, sr., G
Outlook: The Eagles broke through for their first state tournament appearance since 2018 last season and aim for even more in 2025 with the return of all five starters and their top three players off the bench.
Chavez (9 ppg, 7 rebounds), Stafford (13 ppg) and Francis (6 ppg, 6 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) all earned 6A SIC all-conference recognition a year ago. Stafford returns as Capital’s leading scorer, setting a school record with 64 made 3-pointers last season. Cutler (6 ppg, 4 assists, 2 steals) will be a four-year starter at point guard.
Creech expects Capital to be strong defensively and in transition, but the Eagles will need to overcome the scoring droughts that made them play from behind in key games last season.
T-6. OWYHEE
Last season: 25-2, 11-0 6A SIC
Coach: George Rodriguez, second season
Players to watch: Aubree Hamilton, so., G; Audrey McKenna, sr., G/W; Siena Area, fr., G
Outlook: There won’t be many familiar faces on the Storm’s roster this season with the graduation of eight seniors, including their entire starting lineup and top player off the bench.
As the defending state champions look for new players to step up, the leadership role likely falls to McKenna, who Rodriguez says has an opportunity to have a breakout year in an expanded role.
Hamilton saw playing time last season and has the ability to light it up from 3-point range, while Area brings a high basketball IQ despite being a freshman.
“Defensively, we are looking to be disruptive and aggressive,” Rodriguez said.
T-6. TIMBERLINE
Last season: 15-11, 7-4 6A SIC
Coach: Andy Jones, eighth season
Players to watch: Emmi Swillie, sr., C/PF; Lexi Moore, sr., SF; Fanci Sackett, jr., PF
Outlook: The Wolves get a major boost with the return of Swillie, who sat out last season with an injury.
Swillie averaged nearly a double-double as a sophomore, contributing 14 points and 9 rebounds per game. Moore (5 ppg) and Sackett (6.6 ppg, 5.7 rebounds) also return as starters for Timberline, which graduated seven seniors from last year’s team.
Jones expects the Wolves will be deep and well-balanced.
“We have some growing to do, and players will have to learn their roles, but we match up well with everyone,” said Jones, the 2024-25 6A SIC Coach of the Year.
8. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 13-11, 6-5 6A SIC
Coach: BJ Humphreys, seventh season
Players to watch: Addy Osterhout, sr., PG; Mercey Hatfield, so., G; Liv Sangsland, jr., G
Outlook: The Grizzlies took a hit in the offseason when all-conference honorable mention guard Kenzie Bybee was lost for the season with an injury, but they return another player who sat out last season.
Osterhout missed the 2024-25 season with a knee injury. The College of Idaho soccer commit is now healthy and ready to lead the offense, setting up scoring threats Brooklyn Anderson, Gemma Liotta and Sangsland.
While Humphreys cites youth and lack of size as potential obstacles, Rocky Mountain will lean on its speed and a more well-rounded set of weapons on offense.
9. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 7-15, 3-8 6A SIC
Coach: Derek Pegram, second season
Players to watch: Quincy Keller, sr., G; Addie Lee, sr., G; Devry Huff, so., G; Brooklyn Clausen, so., G
Outlook: After going winless in conference play in 2023-24, the Mavericks made strides in the first season under Pegram and hope to continue that trend as the 2025-26 season gets underway.
Keller (11.0 ppg, 2.2 steals), the reigning 6A state champion in the 100 and 200 meters, is one of five starters back for Mountain View and made the all-conference honorable mention team last season. Lee (5.4 ppg, 1.2 steals) and Huff (5.3 ppg, 2 rebounds) provide additional scoring threats, and Clausen looks to have a breakout year after missing much of last season with an injury.
While Pegram says the Mavericks are not the tallest team in the league, they’ll counter that with a speedy transition game.
10. KUNA
Last season: 9-13, 6-5 6A SIC
Coach: Katie Holmes, fifth season
Players to watch: Jaeda Morrison, sr., G; Jazmine Colunga, sr., G; Isabella Ysais, so., G/F; Ophelia Robison, so., G
Outlook: The Kavemen graduated five seniors, but Holmes doesn’t anticipate a dropoff, boosted by the return of three starters.
Morrison, a 6A SIC honorable mention selection, averaged 12.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. She is a threat to sink it from deep or take it to the hoop. Colunga (4.5 ppg, 2.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals) and Ysais (3.5 ppg, 3.6 rebounds) add additional experience to Kuna’s lineup.
Holmes cites a “team-first mentality” as a core strength, while the Kavemen’s speed should make them a threat in transition.
11. MERIDIAN
Last season: 3-19, 0-11 6A SIC
Coach: Todd Anderson, first season
Players to watch: Kiet Martinez, sr., G; MK Puello, so., F/P; Aniya Hancock-Lynch, so., F/P
Outlook: The last two seasons have been tough for the Warriors, going a combined 1-21 in conference play.
Anderson takes over the program with the aim of rewiring expectations, and he’ll have a pair of 6A SIC honorable mention picks to help guide the way.
Martinez will be one of Meridian’s top shooting threats and a senior leader, while Puello brings a rare combination of size and skill after a standout freshman season. Hancock-Lynch is expected to provide energy on defense.
“We want to compete for 32 minutes every night and not worry about what the scoreboard says until the final buzzer sounds,” Anderson said. “We will play hard, win or lose.”
12. CENTENNIAL
Last season: 7-15, 1-10 6A SIC
Coach: Amelia Delgado, first season
Players to watch: Ileeyah Soon, sr., G/P; Julia Lechuga, sr., G; Jaylen Matsushita, so., G; Adee Babiak, so., G
Outlook: It’s been a tough stretch for the Patriots, who have gone a combined 5-29 in conference play the last three seasons.
But Centennial welcomes a new coach, who will have four returning starters eager to turn the tide.
Seniors Soon and Lechuga will lead the way, with Delgado describing Soon as an “all-around impact player,” and Lechuga as the Patriots’ vocal leader. Sophomores Matsushita and Babiak will both pose scoring threats with the added ability to defend.
“Being a young team, we see this season as an opportunity to gain experience that will help us continue improving our pace and flow,” Delgado said.
13. RIDGEVUE
Last season: 10-14, 2-9 6A SIC
Coach: John Walker, fourth season
Players to watch: Kaitlyn McGee, sr., G/W; Brenna Eck, so., P; Hallie Eck, sr., G
Outlook: The Warhawks will have a completely new look in 2025-26 after the graduation of their entire roster from last season.
McGee, capable of playing all five positions, will take over a leadership role for Ridgevue, while Brenna Eck and Hallie Eck have both made significant strides during their time in the program, Walker said.
The Warhawks will lean on defense as players gain experience and learn to play consistently at the varsity level, Walker said.
