6A SIC boys basketball preview: Picking the league’s preseason favorites and contenders
Idaho’s high school basketball season tips off Saturday, and the preseason favorite in the Treasure Valley won’t come as a surprise.
Owyhee finished as the unanimous favorite in the 6A Southern Idaho Conference’s preseason coaches’ poll — the fourth straight season the four-year-old program has topped the rankings conducted by the Idaho Statesman.
But paper championships don’t hold much weight after the first tip. Eleven teams will spend all season gunning for the Storm. Who has the best chance of ending Owyhee’s stranglehold? We surveyed every coach in the 6A SIC, and these were their answers.
Teams are listed in their predicted order in the coaches’ poll.
1. OWYHEE
Last season: 24-3, 12-0 5A SIC
Coach: Andy Harrington, fourth season
Players to watch: Boden Howell, sr., PG; Logan Haustveit, jr., PG; Jayce Allen, sr., PG; Jackson Rogers, sr., PG
Outlook: Since opening three years ago, Owyhee is 58-3 against league opponents, has won three straight district titles and captured a second state championship last winter. The preseason favorite brings back three starters and six players with college offers looking to extend its dynasty. That loaded group includes Howell (12.5 ppg, 2.5 assists), who has signed with Rice, and Haustveit (8.3 ppg, 2.1 assists), who holds offers from Idaho, Utah Valley and UT Arlington. Harrington said five members of his nine-man rotation are natural point guards, creating what he called the Storm’s fastest team yet. But Owyhee needs to find some rim protectors after 5A All-Idaho Player of the Year Liam Campbell graduated and Jackson Rasmussen transferred to Utah Prep.
2. TIMBERLINE
Last season: 22-5, 9-3 5A SIC
Coach: Travis Noble, seventh season
Players to watch: Alex Ko, sr., G; Bryce Heinz, sr., F; Kole Hudson, jr., G; Jacob Heyne, sr., F
Outlook: The Wolves tied program records last season with 22 wins and a trip to the state finals. Now they bring back three starters looking to contend again. Ko (12.5 ppg) headlines that group as a three-year starter and second-team all-state pick. He is a crafty scorer, while Heinz (4.9 ppg), 6.2 rebounds) serves as the muscle and grit in the paint. A high-energy, harassing defense remains Timberline’s calling card after leading the league with 44 points allowed per game. But Noble said the Wolves will need to find more consistent scorers to continue to chase titles.
3. CENTENNIAL
Last season: 16-10, 7-5 5A SIC
Coach: Josh Aipperspach, 12th season
Players to watch: Gabe Eddins, jr., PG/SG; Payton Knudson, sr., PG/SG; Chase Tibbets, sr., PG/SG; Henry Johnson, jr., SF
Outlook: The Patriots have a veteran squad, with four returning starters and seven returning varsity members looking to upset the league’s pecking order. Eddins highlights the group after leading the state in scoring (20.1 ppg) as a sophomore and earning second-team all-state honors. He’ll team with Knudson (15 ppg) and Tibbets (9 ppg) to form a potent backcourt that can light up the scoreboard. Aipperspach said Centennial doesn’t have much size though, so it will need to focus on all the little things to contend for a trip to state or more.
4. MERIDIAN
Last season: 17-6, 10-2 5A SIC
Coach: Jeff Sanor, eighth season
Players to watch: TJ Sanor, sr., SG; Tristan Fortin, sr., PG; Tyler Brummer, sr., SF; Hunter White, sr., SF/PF
Outlook: The Warriors finished second in the regular season standings last season only to go two-and-out at district to spend a rare March at home. But coach Jeff Sanor said this year’s squad features a tougher, stronger defense that should help Meridian close out games. The Warriors will rebuild around two returning starters, including TJ Sanor (12 ppg), a three-year starter with multiple college offers. He’ll resume his role as a deadly shooter while the rest of the lineup settles into new roles. The only other returning starter, Fortin (9 ppg), moves to point guard, his natural position.
5. RIDGEVUE
Last season: 16-9, 10-2 4A SIC
Coach: Daniel Vint, fourth season
Players to watch: Tucker Tiddens, sr., F; Javonte Boles, sr., F; Kaimana Nielson, jr., G; Dawson Phillips, sr., G
Outlook: Last year marked a season full of firsts for the Warhawks — first trip to state, first district championship, first winning record. Ridgevue’s reward was a move up to the state’s top classification. But don’t write off the Warhawks. They bring back three starters and five of their seven top players, including the reigning 4A SIC Player of the Year in Tiddens (15.5 ppg, 8.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists). He’ll team up with Javontes Boles (12.2 ppg, 8.6 rebounds) to form the most proven front court in a league short on big men. But Vint cautioned Ridgevue may need time to dial in a new offense after losing its top two guards to graduation.
6. ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Last season: 6-16, 2-10 5A SIC
Coach: Ivory Miles Williams, second season
Players to watch: Mac Savedra, sr., PG; Tanner Sweaney, jr., SG; Mason Turpin, jr., C; Brock Stevens, jr., F
Outlook: The Grizzlies haven’t won a district tournament game in three years. But a dynamic point guard and one the league’s most imposing centers has Rocky Mountain eyeing a trip to state. Savedra (13 ppg, 2 assists) can fill the bucket or set up teammates for open shots, a trait that should benefit a shooter like Sweaney (8 ppg). Meanwhile, the 6-foot-8 Turpin (9 ppg, 7 rebounds) pairs with the 6-6 Stevens to give the Grizzlies two old-school forces in the paint. Their size should shore up the defense and kick-start the fast break.
7. CAPITAL
Last season: 18-10, 7-5 5A SIC
Coach: Blas Telleria, fourth season
Players to watch: Isaiah Telleria, sr., G; Marcellus Clay, sr., G; David McNamara, sr., G; Daiken Lowe, so., F
Outlook: Three starters and nine lettermen return from a team that snapped a run of six straight losing seasons and qualified for state. All those veterans ought to make Capital a threat for another postseason run. McNamara (16.7 ppg, 2.8 steals) tops the group as a four-year starter and dangerous shooter. He, Telleria (10.7 ppg) and Clay (4.3 assists) form a potent and athletic backcourt. The question marks lie in the front court, where the 6-6 Lowe will attempt to fill some big shoes.
8. MOUNTAIN VIEW
Last season: 10-12, 5-7 5A SIC
Coach: Jon Nettleton, 20th season
Players to watch: Landon Starnes, sr., G/PG; Teage Corrigan, sr., G; Cooper Patterson, jr., W; Zach Smith, sr., W
Outlook: The Mavericks hit the reset button with five new starters after missing state for just the second time in the past nine years. Starnes (7 ppg) leads the group, running the offense and serving as Mountain View’s top scoring threat. Look for Patterson to get the bulk of the touches in the paint on an undersized team. But Nettleton said the Mavericks will need to rely on a tough defense to contend again.
9. BOISE
Last season: 10-12, 7-5 5A SIC
Coach: Manny Varela, 10th season
Players to watch: Michael Nance, sr., W; Luke Soltau, jr., G; Isaac Thacker, so., G; John Berliner, sr., W
Outlook: A veteran group with three returning starters has Boise eyeing an underdog run. Nance (8.3 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks) gives the Brave a matchup nightmare as a rim protector who can also step out and drain 3-pointers. He’ll get plenty of open shots with Soltau (9.9 ppg, 4.7 assists) back to run the offense. And Varela said Boise expects Thacker to take on a key role after breaking into the lineup as a freshman last year.
10. KUNA
Last season: 8-14, 3-9 5A SIC
Coach: Paul Egwuonwu, second season
The Kavemen did not respond to the Statesman’s preseason survey.
11. EAGLE
Last season: 17-11, 8-4 5A SIC
Coach: Cody Pickett, fifth season
Players to watch: Andrew Palfreyman, sr., F; Gaige Wall, sr., G; Evan Vittoe, jr., PG
Outlook: After six straight trips to state, the Mustangs start the year as heavy underdogs. Graduation losses left just one returning starter, Palfreyman (4 ppg, 5.6 rebounds), a high-energy workman on the glass. Pickett said Eagle will field a smaller lineup with more pure shooters than in years past. But the Mustangs will need to rely on several freshmen and sophomores right away, especially with several members of the state runner-up football team only joining the team this week.
12. BORAH
Last season: 3-17, 1-11 5A SIC
Coach: Jeremy Dennis, ninth season
Players to watch: Dylan Luekenga, sr., F; Hendrix Castro, so., G; Ayden Melendez, sr., G; Colton Dennis, sr., G
Outlook: Four straight losing seasons sent the former powerhouse to the bottom of the preseason coaches’ poll. But four starters return looking to restore the Lions to glory. Luekenga (12 ppg, 8.5 rebounds), Castro (8.5 ppg, 3 assists), Melendez (7.9 ppg) and Colton Dennis (7.4 ppg) form the core of a group that Jeremy Dennis said is deeper and more athletic than a year ago. Their hard-earned experience should allow Borah to play fast and could make the Lions a sleeper.
