4A SIC boys basketball preview: These challengers will try to dethrone the state champ
The Middleton High boys basketball team has dominated the 4A SIC recently, sweeping the conference and district championships the past two years.
The Vikings then added a state title to their mantle last winter. All those trophies and a returning state player of the year normally translate into plenty of preseason respect. But Middleton finds itself with plenty of challengers this season.
The Vikings finished tied for first with Bishop Kelly in the 4A SIC preseason coaches’ poll conducted by the Idaho Statesman. And Vallivue looms just behind with a veteran squad waiting for any signs of weakness.
Below are the top teams and players to watch this season in the always chaotic 4A SIC, a league made even more unpredictable with five first-year coaches this winter.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tyler Medaris, Middleton
One of the state’s top players regardless of classification, the 6-7, 195-pound senior carried the Vikings to their first state title since 1965 a year ago. He averaged 15.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocks to win the 4A All-Idaho Player of the Year award. He holds offers from Idaho, Idaho State and the College of Southern Idaho.
Blake Hawthorne, Bishop Kelly
The 6-7, 210-pound senior broke out last season, coming off the bench to earn first-team All-Idaho honors while contributing 8.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in just 18 minutes a game. The University of Chicago (NCAA Division III) commit dominates the paint and offensive glass with his size and physicality, and he can stretch defenses with his range.
Jacob Martinez, Vallivue
A three-year starter, the senior guard and first-team all-conference selection ranked fourth in the league last year with 14.6 points per game. The slasher can get to the rim at will. But he also poses a threat behind the arc, controls the tempo and punishes teams that overcommit to stopping him (2.1 assists).
Aidan McGarvin, Bishop Kelly
A two-time all-conference honorable mention, the 6-4 senior wing/post is expected to break out this season. The four-year varsity member is a force on the block and attacks the rim with ferocity, averaging 8 points and 4 rebounds last winter. He grew by leaps and bounds over the summer and is ready to show the league what he can do.
THE FAVORITES
MIDDLETON
Last season: 23-4, 12-2 4A SIC
Coach: Nate Hartman, first season
Players to watch: Tyler Medaris, sr., G/P; Michael Day, jr., P; Talmage Stucki, jr., PG; Owen Graviet, sr., G
The reigning state and district champs bring back the 4A state player of the year, Medaris. But he’s the only returning starter. And with a coaching change, the Vikings are bound to have some early-season growing pains.
Hartman inherits a loaded program ready to reload, not rebuild. Day (6-10, 225) stands poised for a breakout season as a defensive anchor and growing offensive weapon. He’ll pair with Medaris to form one of the state’s most imposing frontcourts. Add in a shooter like Graviet (6.1 ppg), and the Vikings ought to remain a force offensively.
Middleton won a state title on the strength of its defense, though. Hartman said the Vikings’ fortunes start and end there. Their athleticism, length and versatility points to another strong unit.
BISHOP KELLY
Last season: 18-6, 12-2 4A SIC
Coach: Ryan Kerns, ninth season
Players to watch: Blake Hawthorne, sr., P; Aidan McGarvin, sr., W/P; Tommy Hunter, sr., PG; Gage Alves, sr., G
Bishop Kelly and Middleton were neck-and-neck all of last year. Expect a repeat as the two finished tied for first in a preseason coaches’ poll.
The Knights return only two starters (McGarvin and Hunter). But with nine seniors and all their experience, size and athleticism, Kerns said BK can play any style and match up with opponents throughout the league.
Hunter (7 ppg, 5 assists) mans the point guard position as a three-year starter. And he’ll have two of the league’s best big men to work with in Hawthorne and McGarvin.
THE CONTENDER
VALLIVUE
Last season: 15-11, 9-5 4A SIC
Coach: Mario Betancourt Jr., third season
Players to watch: Jacob Martinez, sr., G; Jakin Calhoun, sr., C; Casey Cope, sr., F
Three starters and six seniors return, giving the Falcons an experienced lineup to challenge for a state tournament berth after falling one win short a year ago.
Martinez headlines an unselfish group. He’ll have plenty of help in the 6-8 Calhoun (10 ppg, 7 rebounds), who locks down the paint defensively and is a dangerous passer on offense, punishing any teams that sag too much on him. But the Falcons don’t have much size beyond Calhoun, posing a challenge against the league’s bigger teams.
THE DARK HORSES
RIDGEVUE
Last season: 6-14, 4-10 4A SIC
Coach: Daniel Vint, first season
Players to watch: Isaac Mercer, sr., PG; Javonte Boles, fr., F; Tye de Souza, so., F; Donte Salinas, jr., G
The Warhawks are 33-77 (.300) overall and 19-55 (.257) in the 4A SIC since the school opened five years ago. But a talented group of underclassmen has everyone keeping an eye on Ridgevue.
Boles, a 6-5 freshman, and de Souza, a 6-3 sophomore, give the program the potential to contend right away. Mercer, the lone returning starter, will run the show as a do-it-all point guard. But Vint said the Warhawks’ largest obstacles are installing confidence and learning how to win. He said to watch out for a late-season run.
COLUMBIA
Last season: 19-6, 11-3 4A SIC
Coach: Dominik Fear, first season
Players to watch: Jack Keller, jr., G/F; Trey Weaver, sr., F; Luke Keller, sr., F/C; Mekhi Alexander, jr., F/C
The Wildcats start the season young after graduating seven seniors, including conference player of the year Jaylen Alexander. Then they lost returning guard Connor Burfeind to a knee injury, further compounding the inexperience.
Keller (9.1 ppg) stands as the only returning starter after an impressive debut as a sophomore. A versatile scorer, he’ll have a hand in everything as Columbia’s leader on and off the court as a young crew gets up to varsity speed.
NAMPA
Last season: 9-12, 5-9 4A SIC
Coach: Brad Adolfson, first season
Players to watch: Gabe Navarro, jr., G; Walker Peterson, sr., G; Daniel Almaraz, jr., F
The Bulldogs hit the reset button with just one returning varsity member (Navarro) and a new head coach from Weiser. That clean slate provides an opportunity to reset the trajectory of the program. But expect some early struggles as everyone gets to know each other.
Adolfson said the Bulldogs will be strong defensively, aiming to become the league’s best team on that end of the floor. One-and-done possessions should then feed a balanced offense to keep teams guessing.
THE UNDERDOGS
EMMETT
Last season: 5-17, 1-13 4A SIC
Coach: Scott Kern, second season
Players to watch: Tanner Wilkerson, sr., PG; Caden Young, sr., F; Ben Hines, sr., F
Sporting a 5-41 (.111) record in conference play the past three years, the Huskies seek a turnaround behind a quick, athletic lineup. All that speed should allow Emmett to pressure the ball, force turnovers and aid an offense that struggled at times last year, Kern said.
Help is on the way with the return of Young, Emmett’s all-everything quarterback. He averaged 8.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.3 steals before a shoulder injury ended his 2020-21 campaign after nine games.
CALDWELL
Last season: 3-18, 2-12 4A SIC
Coach: Rick Tigges, first season
Players to watch: Andrew Solorio, sr., PG/W; Cameron Morales, sr., P; Hayden Lewis, sr., W/P
Tigges inherits a long-struggling program with just three state tournament appearances in the past 34 years. But he said he’s impressed with the focus and determination the Cougars have shown to right the ship.
Two starters return. One is Morales (8 ppg, 7 rebounds), a three-year starter who serves as the heart and soul of the team as a tenacious post presence. He’ll team with Solorio (8 ppg), the other returning starter, to try to start a revival in Caldwell.
This story was originally published December 2, 2021 at 5:25 PM.
