High school boys basketball state tournament capsules
Class 5A
Borah Lions (defending champ)
Record: 22-1
Coach: Cary Cada, 19th season
State seed: District 3 champ
Media poll: No. 1
Players to watch: PG Isaiah Wright, jr. (16 ppg, 6.9 apg); W Cody Spjute, sr. (14 ppg); W Joe Nelson, sr. (10 ppg, 6.5 rpg).
Notes: Wright has started for the Lions the past three seasons and is the only returning
player from last year’s 5A All-Idaho first team. ...Wright, Spjute and Nick Reed are Borah’s lone returning lettermen. ...The defending state champions’ lone loss this season came on the road by two points to Rocky Mountain.
Capital Eagles
Record: 14-9
Coach: Paul Rush, third season
State seed: District 3 fourth place
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: PG Derrick White, soph. (11.5 ppg); G Hunter Young, jr. (14.5 ppg); G Nick Dow, jr. (7 ppg); F Cameron Carlsen, sr. (6 ppg).
Notes: The Eagles are back at state for the first time since 2009 and last won a state title in 1978. ...Capital won three games last season. ...Rush describes his team as very active, athletic and defensive-minded. ...The Eagles ranked second in the 5A SIC making 36.1 percent of their 3-pointers.
Highland Rams
Record: 19-4
Coach: Chris Frost, 24th season
State seed: District 5-6 champ
Media poll: No. 3
Players to watch: C Clark Wilkinson, sr.; G Austin Andreasen, sr.; G Stefan Gonzalez, soph.
Notes: The Rams are back at state for the second season in a row after a three-year hiatus. ...The only team from Idaho to beat Highland this year was Madison. ...Wilkinson (6-7) and Colton Shreve (6-6) give Highland a formidable dual-post presence.
Lake City Timberwolves
Record: 17-5
Coach: Jim Winger, 5th season (14th overall)
State seed: District 1-2 champ
Media poll: No. 5
Players to watch: W/P Kyle Guice, jr. (12.1 ppg, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2.2 assists); W/P Riley Moreen, sr. (10.6 ppg, 5 rebounds), PG Justin Pratt, jr. (8.2 ppg, 3.9 assists).
Notes: The program has enjoyed a revival since Winger returned as coach in 2008. The Timberwolves returned to state in 2010 for the first time since 2002, when Winger guided them to a second-place finish. This is their first trip to state since ’10.
Madison Bobcats
Record: 15-9
Coach: Bill Hawkins, 25th season
State seed: District 5-6 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: PG Lyle Sutton, jr. (8.5 ppg); F Kameron Jackson, sr. (8.3 ppg); F Jakob Wilson, sr. (8.0 ppg).
Notes: The Bobcats lost leading scorer Logan Lee (12.2 ppg) to a shoulder injury Jan. 16 but finished the season 7-4 without him. …Features one the taller lineups in the tournament with four regulars 6-4 and taller. …Making its eighth straight trip to the state tournament. It spent the past two seasons in 4A, winning the title in 2011 and reaching the finals in ’12. …Coach Bill Hawkins has won five state titles, all at Madison, tying him for the third most in Idaho history. Elliott Anderson of Rigby has the most with seven. …Madison is the only team in Idaho to beat Highland.
Mountain View Mavericks
Record: 18-5
Coach: Jon Nettleton, eigth season
State seed: District 3 third place
Media poll: No. 3
Players to watch: G Tanner Percifield, sr. (14 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg); W Marcus Slocum, sr. (9 ppg, 7 rpg); G Randall Robinson, sr. (6 ppg, 2 rpg); PG Branson Trube, jr. (9 ppg, 3.5 apg, 2 spg); W Kody Olson, jr. (7 ppg, 3 rpg).
Notes: The Mavericks have one of the most experienced rosters with four returning starters from a team that lost in last year’s third-place game at state and won it all in 2011. ...Mountain View is eyeing its third straight appearance in the semifinals. ...The Mavericks have a shot at redemption when they play Post Falls in the first round. The Trojans beat Mountain View in last year’s semifinals.
Rocky Mountain Grizzlies
Record: 19-4
Coach: Dane Roy, second season
State seed: District 3 runner-up
Media poll: No. 2
Players to watch: G E.J. Boyce, jr. (11 ppg); PG John Sherle, jr. (9 ppg, 4 apg); P Matt Grooms, sr. (9 ppg, 9 rpg).
Notes: The Grizzlies ended Borah’s state-leading, 40-game winning streak with a 46-44 victory on Feb. 1. ...Boyce tied a school record for most 3-pointers in a game with seven in the district semifinals. ...The Grizzlies have good balance between big men Grooms and Austin Hall and guards Boyce and Sherle.
Post Falls Trojans
Record: 11-13
Coach: Mike McLean, sixth season
State seed: District 1-2 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Dalton Thompson, jr. (9.9 ppg), P Corey Koski, sr. (7.9 ppg, 5 rebounds), G Keaton Corr, sr. (6.5 ppg).
Notes: The Trojans are at state for the fifth straight season, but this trip is the most surprising. Post Falls returned no starters and very little bench experience from last year’s state runner-up. …The Trojans were the No. 4 seed in the four-team District 1 tournament but won two loser-out games on the road, then beat Eagle in a play-in game at Grangeville to make it back to state.
Class 4A
Bishop Kelly Knights
Record: 17-7
Coach: Larry Crump, seventh season
State Seed: District 3 third place
Media Poll: No. 4
Players to watch: W Luke Meyers, jr. (11.0 ppg, 6.8 rebounds); G Turner Simmons, jr (8.3 ppg, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists); G Cory Brady, sr. (7.3 ppg, 2.3 rebounds, 1.8 steals).
Notes: Bishop Kelly is back in the tournament for the fourth time in five seasons. The Knights lost to Jerome in last season's state play-in game. …The Knights outscored Kuna 13-1 in overtime in the third-place game at district to qualify for state. Myers hit a basket with 2.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the game. …Bishop Kelly finished the season winning 10 of its last 11 games. Its only loss during that span came against Emmett in the district semifinals.
Burley Bobcats
Record: 17-7
Coach: Jack Bagley, 11th season
State seed: District 4 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: F Brandon Hosteen, jr. (9.3 ppg, 5 rebounds); G Karsten Hinckley, jr. (9 ppg, 4 rebounds); G Braylan Bean, jr. (8.9 ppg, 4 assists).
Notes: Burley is making its first state tournament appearance since 2008, when it won its second of back-to-back championships and its fifth overall. … The Bobcats lost their first three games of the season, but since then have only lost to one team — Twin Falls (four times). …As a team, Burley shoots 70.3 percent from the free-throw line. …The Bobcats are the 4A academic state champions with a 3.775 team GPA.
Century Diamondbacks
Record: 11-14
Coach: Cody Shelley
State seed: District 5-6 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Malek Harwell, soph. (18.7 ppg, 4.2 rebounds); G Wyatt Holt, sr. (8.44 ppg).
Notes: The Diamondbacks return to state for the second year in a row. ...They upset No. 3 Bonneville 64-63 to earn the district’s second spot. It was the team’s second win over the Bees this season. …The roster features just two seniors.
Emmett Huskies
Record: 18-5
Coach: John Gustin, second season
Seed: District 3 runner-up
Media Poll: No. 2
Players to watch: F Porter Gustin, so. (17.8 ppg, 8.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists); G Gunnar Gustin, jr. (13.6 ppg, 4.1 steals); G Noah Williams, jr. (13.3 ppg, 3.2 assists)
Notes: This is Emmett's first trip to the state tournament since 2008. …A majority of the Huskies’ offense runs between the Gustin brothers and Williams. The trio has accounted for 79.6 percent of Emmett's points on the season. …The Huskies started out the season with losses to Capital and Bishop Kelly have gone 18-3 since then. All three of those losses were to Skyview. …Emmett doesn't have any seniors on its roster.
Moscow Bears
Record: 16-5
Coach: Don Dudley first season (10th overall)
State seed: District 1-2 champ
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Dane Randall, sr.; G Kyle Snyder, sr.; P Nick Ellison, jr; P Brandon McGurkin, sr.
Notes: Coach Don Dudley is in his first year back with the Bears since 2003. He coached Moscow from 1994-98 and 1999-03. In that time, Dudley led Moscow to three-straight title game appearances – including a state title in ’97. …The Bears, despite being unranked in the media poll for the entire season, are flush with depth at the guard positions and length in the blocks.
Rigby Trojans (defending champ)
Record: 16-6
Coach: Justin Jones, 5th season
State seed: District 6 champ
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: C JonRyheem Peoples, sr. (16.8 ppg); F Clayton Iglinski, sr. (12.0 ppg); G Hyrum Prestwich, sr. (9.0 ppg).
Notes: The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Peoples has signed a letter of intent to play defensive line for the BYU football program. Combined with 6-4 Clayton Iglinski, Rigby’s front line dominated all season. …The defending state champions started the season 0-3 after graduating every player that played meaningful minutes last year, except Peoples. But it enters the tournament as winners of 12 of its past 13 games. …Rigby won its second straight district title and is making its fourth straight trip to the tournament.
Skyview Hawks
Record: 21-2
Coach: Aaron Sanders, fourth season
State Seed: District 3 champ
Media poll: No. 1
Players to watch: F Toby Anderson, sr., (11.7 ppg, 5.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists); PG Daniel Slemmer, sr. (11.7 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.4 steals); G JC Kennedy, sr. (11.1 ppg, 3.0 rebounds)
Notes: The Hawks are making their ninth consecutive trip to the state tournament. …Skyview rolled through the District 3 tournament, winning all three of its district games by more than 30 points. The Hawks' average margin of victory was 38.7. …Skyview gets production from just about anybody who steps on the floor. Six different players have finished a game this season as the Hawks' leading scorer and eight different players have finished as the leading rebounder.
Twin Falls Bruins
Record: 19-6
Coach: Matt Harr, 11th season
State seed: District 4 champ
Media poll: No. 5
Players to watch: G Alec Meyerhoeffer, jr. (11.4 ppg); G Connor Meyerhoeffer, jr. (9.2 ppg); F Damon Jones, sr. (9.0 ppg); G Kade Meyerhoeffer, jr. (7.0 ppg).
Notes: Twin Falls makes its fourth straight state tournament appearance. The Bruins have opened the tournament against Century all four times. …Connor and Alec Meyerhoeffer are twins. Kade Meyerhoeffer is their cousin. …Twin Falls is 15-2 against 4A competition this season with the losses coming to fellow qualifiers Burley and Century. …The Bruins have won three state championships, most recently in 2010.
Class 3A
Buhl Indians
Record: 14-10
Coach: Dan Winn, third season
State seed: Play-in winner
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Kade Crossland, jr. (14.9 ppg, 4.7 rebounds, 1.1 blocks); G Kasey Crossland, fr. (9.2 ppg, 1.3 steals); PG Hayden Eckert, fr. (6.4 ppg, 2.8 assists); G/F Taylor Oppedyk, sr. (5.9 ppg, 4.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists).
Notes: This is Buhl’s first state tournament appearance since 2008. …Six of the Indians’ losses have come to state qualifiers — four to Filer and two to 4A Burley. …Buhl has three freshmen in its main rotation. …The Crossland brothers provide the offensive firepower, but Oppedyk is the unsung hero, usually defending the opposing team’s best player. …Buhl has two boys basketball titles, the most recent coming in 1979.
Filer Wildcats
Record: 21-2
Coach: Allen Kelsey, third season
State seed: District 4 champ
Media poll: No. 3
Players to watch: F Jed Oyler, sr. (11.2 ppg, 5.8 rebounds); G Austin Tews, sr. (11.1 ppg); G Logan Beard, jr. (8.9 ppg, 1.9 steals).
Notes: Filer won its third district championship in four seasons and is making its fourth state tournament appearance in the last five. …Filer is undersized but its guards earn a lot of hustle rebounds. Oyler leads the team with his modest rebound average but several players average more than four a game. …Filer went 8-2 against 4A teams this season and 11-0 against 3As. ...The Wildcats have never won a state championship in boys or girls basketball.
Fruitland Grizzlies (defending champ)
Record: 17-5
Coach: Mike Fitch, 14th season
State seed: District 3 champ
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Bryce Nattress, sr. (18 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 spg, 3 apg); G Hagen Graves, jr. (10 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 3 spg).
Notes: The two-time defending state champion Grizzlies kept up two streaks this season, winning their 11th straight district title and advancing to state for the 11th year in a row. ...After losing starters Alec Dhaenens and Joe Martarano, many doubted Fruitland would return to state, which motivated the remaining players.
Payette Pirates
Record: 11-13
Coach: Bob Dixon, first season (10th overall)
State seed: District 3 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: P Clint Blackwell, sr. (10 ppg, 9 rpg); P Matt Bake, sr. (10 ppg, 7 rpg); G Zane Allen, soph. (10 ppg, 4 apg); G Emilio Winn, sr. (10 ppg, 3 spg).
Notes: Dixon’s return to the helm has been a success as the Pirates are back at state for the first time since 2005. ...Payette’s core group of starters played together on the junior varsity last season and has brought that chemistry to the varsity level. ...Dixon, who is also Payette’s athletic director, describes his team as “athletic and hard working.”
Shelley Russets
Record: 19-4
Coach: Dave Hadley, 15th season
State seed: District 6 champ
Media poll: No. 2
Players to watch: PG McKay Cannon, sr. (19.7 ppg, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 42.7% 3-pointers); W Chad Leckington, sr. (12.4 ppg, 6.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists); G Tyler Fredrickson, soph. (6.4 ppg, 2.2 assists).
Notes: Cannon, a four-year starter and Shelley’s all-time leading scorer, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Weber State. …Leckington, a three-year starter, has signed to play quarterback at Weber State. …Qualified for eight straight 3A tournaments and won two of three 3A state titles before spending the past two seasons in 4A. This is Shelley’s first year back in 3A. …Four losses came to 5A Hillcrest (twice), 4A Rigby and 3A Sugar-Salem. …Went 4-2 vs. 5A schools; 3-1 vs. 4A schools.
Snake River Panthers
Record: 17-5
Coach: Robert Coombs, 20th year
State seed: District 5 champ
Media poll: No. 5
Players to watch: F Jacoby Johnson, sr. (13.0 ppg, 6.1 reb); F Wyatt Wray, sr. (9.7 ppg, 4.9 reb); G Brad Coombs, jr. (9.5 ppg)
Notes: The Panthers have reached the state playoffs nine years in a row and Coombs has them back after falling in the title game last season. ...Went undefeated in league play at 8-0, winning by a margin of nearly 17 points per game. …The Panthers have won seven state titles, tied for eighth most in state history. …Enters as winners of nine straight.
Sugar-Salem Diggers
Record: 22-3
Coach: Clyde Nelson, second season
State seed: Play-in winner
Media poll: No. 1
Players to watch: G Beau Choffin, sr. (11.5 ppg, 41.9% 3-point); F Devon Smith, sr. (10.9 ppg); C Keaton Small, sr. (10.4 ppg); F Jason Hawkes (10.1 ppg).
Notes: The Diggers start an imposing lineup for any level with 6-3 point guard Ridge Spackman, 6-1 shooting guard Choffin, 6-5 forwards Smith and Hawkes and 6-7 center Small. Freshman Tim Fuller, the 6-7 younger brother of 2009 Gatorade Player of the Year Josh Fuller, comes off the bench. …Started the season 16-0 and its only three losses came to Shelley. It is 1-3 vs. the Russets. …Reached the tournament for the third straight year and fourth time in the past five years.
Timberlake Tigers
Record: 18-3
Coach: Tony Hanna, second season
State seed: District 1 champ
Media poll: No. 4
Players to watch: PG Johnny Hayden, sr. (15.6 ppg, 3.5 assists), W Keegan Scott, jr. (11.0 ppg), F Trevor Masterson, sr. (10.4 ppg, 6.3 rebounds), F Jon Thompson (8.9 ppg, 5.7 rebounds).
Notes: Timberlake is making its first state appearance since the school opened in 1998, and it’s only the Tigers’ fifth winning season. After seven straight losing seasons, Hanna was brought in in 2011 and the Tigers are 33-11 since. ...Hayden has been the starter at point guard since midway through his freshman season.
Class 2A
Cole Valley Christian Chargers (defending champ)
Record: 19-5
Coach: Kody Leathers, third season
Seed: District 3 third-place
Media Poll: No. 1
Players to watch: G Trevor Thomas, sr.; P Nathan Jones, sr.; P Wyatt Nichols, jr.
Notes: The defending state champions are a tall 2A squad, with six players being listed at 6-2 or taller. Jones is the tallest player on the roster at 6-7. …Cole Valley was rolling through an undefeated 2A Western Idaho Conference season before dropping its final two games of the regular season, and then its district opener. The Chargers have won three straight loser-out games since.
Declo Hornets
Record: 17-6
Coach: Val Christensen, second season
State seed: District 4 champ
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Kai Garner, sr. (14 ppg, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals); F Hayden Hanson, jr. (9.3 ppg, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals); F Kyle Heward, so. (9 ppg, 8.3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals).
Notes: Declo makes its first state tournament appearance since 2005. …The Hornets’ last boys basketball championship came in 2003. They have two overall. …Five of Declo’s six losses were against 3A schools. …The school has already hung two state championship banners this school year - football and wrestling. …The Hornets are the 2A academic state champions with a 3.687 team GPA.
Firth Cougars
Record: 16-7
Coach: Scott Adams, ninth season
State seed: District 6 champ
Media poll: No. 3
Players to watch: G Mitch Orme, sr. (15.4 ppg, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.9 steals); G Braydon Adams, soph. (9.5 ppg, 2.5 assists); G Jordan Chapman, jr. (9.3 ppg, 80.5% FT).
Notes: Firth has won seven straight district titles and is 78-2 against conference opponents dating back to the start of the 2006-07 season. …Won four straight state titles between 2007-10 before taking the consolation title in ’11 and losing in the third-place game last year. …Orme, the 2A All-Idaho Football Player of the Year, gets to the free-throw line with regularity, averaging 7.5 attempts a game. …Started the season 4-6 but has won eight straight and 12 of its past 13 games. …Braydon Adams is the son of coach Scott Adams.
Grangeville Bulldogs
Record: 14-8
Coach: Skip Hall, seventh season
State seed: District 1-2 champ
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Sam Solberg, sr.; G Michael Wilson, soph; F Derek Brown, sr.
Notes: With perennial Central Idaho League champions Kamiah now at the 1A Division I level, the Bulldogs took advantage and booked their first trip to the state tournament since 2008-09 with a win over St. Maries in the district title game.
New Plymouth Pilgrims
Record: 14-9
Coach: Mark Van Weerdhuizen, fifth season
Seed: District 3 champ
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Chase White, jr. (14.5 ppg, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists); W Hunter Wells, sr. (9.1 ppg, 3.2 rebounds); P Nate Woods, jr. (8.7 ppg, 4.8 rebounds)
Notes: New Plymouth enters state as the district champion for the fourth season in a row. This season, the district championship came after a steal and basket, both by Woods, in the final seconds gave the Pilgrims a 45-44 win over North Star Charter. …New Plymouth suffered a five-game losing streak in January, but the Pilgrims responded late in the year to enter the state tournament winning six of their last seven.
North Star Huskies
Record: 15-7
Coach: Cody Pickett, second season
Seed: District 3 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: F Jakob Hyde, sr. (19.1 ppg, 11.5 rebounds); G Tony Angelos, sr. (10 ppg, 4.8 rebounds); PG Sam Ledesma, jr. (6 ppg 5 assists)
Notes: Only a third-year varsity program, North Star is making its second straight trip to the 2A state tournament. …After falling to Valley in the first round of last season's state tournament, the Huskies came back to win the consolation championship. They beat Soda Springs 58-44 to end the season. …Hyde, Angelos and Ledesma are all returning starters.
Soda Springs Cardinals
Record: 15-11
Coach: Greg Bergholm
State seed: District 5 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: F Derek Spain, sr., F Landon Hayes, jr.
Notes: The Cardinals had to play four games in six days, winning the last two to qualify for state. ...They outscored Salmon by 17 points in the second half of a play-in game.
West Side Pirates
Record: 15-8
Coach: Tyler Brown, 10th season
State seed: District 5 champ
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: F Mason Lemmon, sr. (12 ppg); P Jaxon Smart, sr. (10 ppg, 7 rebounds).
Notes: The Pirates defeated District 5’s top seed Soda Springs twice in as many days for the district title. ...Have been in the state tournament six of the last seven years. ...West Side has never done worst than the consolation trophy during that span at state.
Class 1A Division I
Butte County Pirates
Record: 22-1
Coach: Steve Kent, first season
State seed: District 4-5-6 champ
Media poll: No. 1
Players to watch: G Kyle Isham, jr. (12.1 ppg, 3.9 steals); C Hayden Isham, sr. (9.2 ppg, 5.6 rebounds); G/F Radley Gamett, jr (8.7 ppg, 4.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists).
Notes: Butte County’s district championship is the first for the Pirates in 30 years. The last time it won a district title, 1983, it won the state tournament. …Dropped down from the 2A classification this season after making its first state tournament appearance since 1998 last year. …Kyle Isham leads the team at 12.1 points per game. But five other players average between six and nine points a game and six players have made double-digit 3-pointers. …Averages 14.9 steals per game.
Clearwater Valley Rams
Record: 15-9
Coach: Adam Uptmor, sixth season
State seed: Play-in winner
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Laine Pratt, sr.; G Austin Reed, sr.; G Stormy Wyman, sr.
Notes: For the third straight season, Clearwater Valley advanced to the state tournament after beating Lakeside of Plummer-Worley in a play-in game at St. Maries. …The Rams won the 1A Division I state title in 2010-11.
Genesee Bulldogs
Record: 18-4
Coach: Jeff Boyd, third season (ninth overall)
State seed: District 2 champ
Media poll: No. 2
Players to watch: F Reggie Tilleman, jr.; G Ryan Kneale, sr.; F Reece DeMeeleer, sr.; F Beau Tilleman, soph.
Notes: The Bulldogs are back in the state tournament despite graduating sharpshooter Sam Druffel to Community Colleges of Spokane after last season. …Last year, Genesee entered the tournament unbeaten and was upset in the semifinal round by Glenns Ferry on an inbounds play with one second remaining. …Genesee last won a state title in 2008-09 when it beat Whitepine League foe Prairie of Cottonwood.
Grace Grizzlies
Record: 14-12
Coach: Rory Lloyd, sixth season
State seed: Play-in winner
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: Colton Kladdis (18 ppg); Nels Jensen (10 ppg).
Notes: The Grizzlies beat Greenleaf Friends 51-37 in a play-in game to qualify for the state tournament. ...This is the third year in a row Grace has been to state, winning consolation championships the past two trips.
Kamiah Kubs
Record: 17-6
Coach: Ryan Ball, 13th season
State seed: District 2 runner-up
Media poll: No. 3
Players to watch: P Matt Munch, sr; P Eric Hill, sr.; G Kevin Hill, sr.; G Reed York, sr.
Notes: A senior-laden group, Kamiah thrived after dropping from the 2A level to the 1A Division I Whitepine League this season. …Led by 6-foot-9 center Matt Munch, who nearly averaged a double-double, Kamiah possesses one of the best half-court offenses at the 1A Division I level. …Lost in the 2A title game to Cole Valley Christian last year. …Since that loss, Kamiah has won a 1A Division I football title and a 1A Division I championship in girls’ basketball.
Liberty Charter Patriots
Record: 19-4
Coach: Seth Stallcop, eighth season
Seed: District 3 champ
Media poll: No. 4
Players to watch: F Dominic Hulsey, sr.; G Ryan Linford, jr.; G Davis Everton, jr.
Notes: Liberty Charter is making its third trip in the last four seasons to state. In both its previous trips, the Patriots lost in the first round. …Hulsey, listed at 6-6, was named the 1A Western Idaho Conference player of the year last year as a junior.
Record: 16-7
Coach: Tony Haddock, fifth season
Seed: District 3 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Bryan Frahm, sr. (13 ppg, 6 rebounds); PG Casey Wilbur sr. (11 ppg, 4 rebounds, 5.5 assists); G/F Devin Krasowski, jr (9.5 ppg, 6 rebounds, 2 steals).
Notes: While Haddock said his starting five has been pretty consistent throughout the season, the coach said the Pirates had to juggle around the rest of their lineup throughout the season due to injury and illness. …This is the third straight season the Pirates have been in the state tournament. …After starting the season 2-0, Notus suffered a four-game losing streak, something Haddock said this group of players had never experienced before.
Shoshone Indians
Record: 14-10
Coach: Larry Messick, 39th season
State seed: District 4 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: F Garrett Sant, sr. (18 ppg, 5.2 rebounds), G Trey Waite, jr. (7.5 ppg), G Edward Anguiano, jr. (7 ppg), PG Henry Garcia, sr. (3.3 asssts).
Notes: Shoshone missed the state tournament last year but played in 2009 and 2010. …The tallest Indians player is Sant at 6-foot-1. …The Indians use a five-guard offense, although Sant scores inside. ....Messick noted seniors Nick Wallace, Joe Bench and Hector Linares for their hustle and defense, the biggest factors for Shoshone’s playoff berth, along with Sant’s offense. …Shoshone has won three boys basketball titles, the last coming in 1989.
Class 1A Division II
Carey Panthers
Record: 15-9
Coach: Dick Simpson, 11th season
State seed: District 4 runner-up
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G/F Nate Adamson, so. (14.2 ppg, 7.2 rebounds); F Jordan Dilworth, sr. (10.8 ppg); G/F Sheldon Hansen, sr. (8.5 ppg).
Notes: The Panthers are making their 10th trip to state in Simpson’s 11 years as coach. …Carey has played Nezperce for the title in each of the past three seasons, winning the program's only championship in 2011. …Freshman Joe Parke is the Panthers’ tallest player at 6-2 and averaged 16.7 points in the District 4 tournament. …The Panthers finished the season winning eight of 11 games.
Dietrich Blue Devils
Record: 21-2
Coach: Wayne Dill, 11th season
State seed: District 4 champion
Media poll: No.1
Players to watch: G/F Trey Dill, so. (13 ppg, 6.5 rebounds); G Vance Perron, jr. (12.5 ppg); F Jacob Dalton, jr. (12.4 ppg, 6.4 rebounds); F Kayden Power, sr. (11.5 ppg, 6.5 rebounds).
Notes: This is the third state appearance in four years for the Blue Devils. They finished third last year. …The Blue Devils averaged more than 72 points per game while allowing 45. Their season-low scoring output is 54 points, and they’ve cracked 90 three times. …No player averages more than 20 minutes per game. …Their only two losses came to 2A West Side and 3A Gooding. …Dietrich’s only boys basketball title came in 1966.
Kendrick Tigers
Record: 16-8
Coach: Morgan LeBlanc, first season
State seed: Play-in winner
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Kole Hardin, sr; F Tim Olson, sr.; G Jared Boyle, sr.
Notes: In their first year since dropping from 1A Division I to 1A Division II, the Tigers secured a tournament berth after beating Cascade in a play-in game. …The last time Kendrick made it to the state tournament was in the 2009-10 season.
Kootenai Warriors
Record: 8-10
Coach: Doug Napierala, first season
State seed: District 1 champ
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: P Jake Pfeiffer, jr.; W Boone Benson, so.; G Ben Whipple, sr.
Notes: The Warriors are back at state for the fourth straight season and open vs. Carey for the second straight year. Carey won 58-38 last year.
Mackay Miners
Record: 14-8
Coach: Chris Peterson, first season
State seed: Play-in winner
Media poll: Unranked
Players to watch: G Dustin Rosenkrance, sr. (20.1 ppg, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 steals, 38.2% 3-point); F Caden Betzer, sr. (11.2 ppg, 7.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists); F Tevyn Bell, soph. (10.0 ppg, 8.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks).
Notes: Rosenkrance has made 16 of his last 25 3-pointers to lift Mackay through two elimination games and to the state tournament. He sunk eight 3-pointers and scored 38 against Rockland and then hit eight more 3-pointers and scored 32 in a play-in game against Lighthouse Christian. … Mackay is 13-3 against 1A Division II opponents with all three losses coming to Sho-Ban. …Back in the state tournament after a two-year hiatus. The Miners won three straight titles between 1999 and 2001 and won the 1A Division II title in 2009.
Nezperce Indians (defending champ)
Record: 15-5
Coach: Kevin Sheffler, first season
State seed: District 2 champ
Media poll: No. 3
Players to watch: G Parker Hill, sr.; G Preston Hill, sr.; P Shane Kuther, sr.
Notes: After trouncing Carey in last year’s 1A Division II title game to win their second title in three seasons, the Indians are back to defend their title. …Nezperce is ranked third in the Idaho media polls behind Dietrich (No.1) and Salmon River (No. 2). … First-year coach Kevin Sheffler takes over for Dave Baldus, who retired after last season.
Salmon River Savages
Record: 22-1
Coach: Charlie Shepherd Sr.
State seed: District 3 champ
Media poll: No. 2
Players to watch: W Leighton Vander Esch, jr.; G Charlie Shepherd Jr., sr.; G Jimmy Shepherd, jr.
Notes: Coming off a state title in football, the Savages from Riggins have an opportunity to pull off a rare double state championship. …Salmon River’s lone loss this season was to Genesee, which finished as the top seed out of the 1A Division I District 2. …If Salmon River were to win a state title, it would be the first boys’ basketball title for the Long Pin Conference.
Sho-Ban Chiefs
Record: 18-3
Coach: Lester Stewart, second year
State seed: District 5-6 champ
Media poll: No. 5
Players to watch: G Andre Graves, sr.; C Leonard Edmo, sr.
Notes: The Chiefs won their second straight district title under Stewart. ...They went 12-0 in league play. ...Sho-Ban’s only losses this year came to 2A opponent North Fremont (twice) and Jackpot, Nev. …Graves scored 33 points and sunk seven 3-pointers in the District 5-6 title game against Mackay.