4A SIC boys basketball preview: The favorites, challengers and dark horses this season
The race for the 4A Southern Idaho Conference title has a new contender at the top.
Ridgevue and Bishop Kelly tied for first in the Idaho Statesman’s preseason poll of the league’s coaches.
The Knights have won the past two district championships — and 10 overall since 2004 — but the Warhawks are chasing their first in program history.
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.
T-1. BISHOP KELLY
Last season: 15-10, 10-2 4A SIC
Coach: Ryan Kerns, 10th season
Players to watch: Cooper Cammann, sr., PG; Rakeem Johnson, sr., C; Mason Suboh-Meuret, sr., F; Will Green, sr., F
The Knights have advanced to the state tournament four years in a row in addition to having back-to-back district titles.
Expectations are high once again for BK, which returns three starters from last year’s team, all of whom landed all-conference recognition. Johnson, who is committed to Oregon State to play football, was the 4A SIC’s defensive player of the year last season, while Cammann and Suboh-Meuret each earned honorable mention nods.
Kerns said the Knights will stand out defensively, but depth and balance will also be strengths.
T-1. RIDGEVUE
Last season: 9-16, 6-6 4A SIC
Coach: Daniel Vint, third season
Players to watch: Javonte Boles, jr., F; Tucker Tiddens, jr., F; Tristan Correa, sr., F
The Warhawks fell a victory short of advancing to their first state tournament last season and have yet to post a winning record. But they hope to break through in a big way in 2023-24.
Ridgevue will have one of the most experienced lineups in the conference thanks to the return of four starters. Boles headlines that group after earning first-team all-league honors last season, while Correa made second team and Tiddens was an honorable-mention pick.
Vint said overall team chemistry has improved, and he expects the Warhawks will be strong in the paint on both ends of the floor.
3. SKYVIEW
Last season: 19-8, 10-2 4A SIC
Coach: Aaron Sanders, 16th season
Players to watch: Kaden Salvadori, jr., PG; Ceasar Jimenez, sr., W; Tucker Lowber, sr., G; Cache Beus, sr., F
After falling in the third-place game at state last season, the Hawks have just one returning player who logged significant minutes. But that doesn’t mean Skyview won’t contend for the district crown.
Salvadori will be the Hawks’ most experienced player following a sophomore campaign in which he averaged 6 points and shot 40% from 3-point range. Adding strength to Skyview’s lineup are two transfers from Melba High. Lowber and Beus each received all-conference recognition in the 2A WIC last season in the Mustangs’ run to a runner-up finish at state.
Sanders cites a balanced offense and defensive versatility as the Hawks’ strengths. They’ll just need to gel quickly with all the new faces.
T-4. COLUMBIA
Last season: 16-9, 9-3 4A SIC
Coach: Dominik Fear, third season
Players to watch: Bryce Pruett, sr., G; Eli Smith, sr., F; Blake Hansen, jr., F
The Wildcats finished third in the 4A SIC regular-season standings in 2022-23, but must regroup after the graduation of seven seniors.
Pruett is the lone returning starter and will be asked to be an on-court coach for his teammates, Fear said. Pruett was named to the all-conference honorable mention team last season after averaging 6.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Smith and Hansen provide Columbia with consistent shooting. Smith shot 40% from 3-point range a year ago, and Hansen knocked down 62% from two.
Although the Wildcats will be young, Fear said they aren’t afraid of hard work and have an eagerness to learn the game.
T-4. VALLIVUE
Last season: 7-16, 3-9 4A SIC
Coach: Mario Betancourt, fifth season
Players to watch: Jace Martinez, sr., G; Anthony Berber, sr., F; Dominik Betancourt, so., G; Zakary Hogg, so., G
Two years removed from a runner-up finish at the district tournament and a state tournament appearance, the Falcons look to get back to the top.
This year’s game plan will benefit from the return of starters Martinez and Berber. Martinez was a first-team all-conference selection last season and will be a three-year starter. Berber grabbed honorable mention recognition and has a knack for protecting the rim, with 42 blocks last season. Dominik Betancourt and Hogg each played on varsity last season and are expected to take on bigger roles in 2023-24.
Mario Betancourt says the Falcons will not be the biggest team in the conference, so they’ll need to rely on their skill and conditioning to compete.
6. EMMETT
Last season: 6-17, 2-10 4A SIC
Coach: Dustin Lopez, first season
Players to watch: Ethan William, sr., G; Tucker Brown, jr., F; Kenyon Carter, jr., G
The Huskies begin a new era under Lopez, who is taking over a team that graduated nine seniors. Emmett has finished near the bottom of the conference the past four seasons and last won a district title as a 3A school in 2016.
But Lopez said offseason commitment has been high, with 90% of players participating in workouts and organized weight training, leading to an overall stronger, quicker group.
Lopez cites a lack of varsity experience as a potential obstacle to success but notes that his players have shown the commitment and work ethic necessary to push the program forward.
7. CALDWELL
Last season: 6-15, 2-10 4A SIC
Coach: Rick Tigges, third season
Players to watch: Zaylor Bruegeman, sr., W; Haiden Allington-Ozuna, sr., W; Johnny Romero, sr., G
The Cougars look to rebound from a 2022-23 season that saw them finish last in the 4A SIC and fail to qualify for the district tournament.
This year’s squad will benefit from the return of starters Bruegeman and Allington-Ozuna. Bruegeman, who will be a three-year starter, collected all-conference honorable mention recognition after averaging 12.2 points and 4 rebounds per game. Tigges said Allington-Ozuna was Caldwell’s most improved player last season, and he’ll test defenses with his ability to get to the rack and shoot from deep.
Tigges said the Cougars are focused on being a defensive force.
