GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS: Team capsules and notes
5A
Centennial Patriots
Record: 19-4
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Cassie Bro, third season
Players to watch: G Tori Williams, so. (16.9 ppg, 1.9 assists, 3.3 steals); F Dominique Williams, jr. (13.7 ppg, 5.5 rebounds); G Ayana Amaechi, so. (5.4 ppg, 1.4 assists, 3.0 steals).
Notes: Returns to state after a two-year absence. It had qualified for state 10 years in a row until former coach Emery Roy left to take over Rocky Mountain after the 2011-12 season. … ESPN ranks Tori Williams as the No. 24 player in the country in the class of 2017. … Dominique Williams owns offers from Washington and Boise State. … Has won nine straight games. ... Won five state titles in school history, the last in 2006.
Rocky Mountain Grizzlies
Record: 18-8
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Emery Roy, third season
Player to watch: G Maya Rodgers, sr. (13 ppg, 8 rebounds).
Notes: Starting point guard Allie Clegg has been limited after suffering a deep bone bruise to her upper thigh right before the district tournament. … The Grizzlies had to rally without their court general, winning three loser-out games, including a 44-40 victory over Post Falls to advance to state for the fourth consecutive season. … Roy was recently chosen to coach the West Team in the 2015 McDonald's All-American Girls Game on April 1 in Chicago.
Hillcrest Knights
Record: 20-2
State seed: District 6 champion
Coach: Cody Jackson, third season
Players to watch: P Lindsay Cook, jr., P Sabrina Baldwin, sr.; G Makell Skidmore, sr.
Notes: Second postseason appearance under coach Jackson…Knights finished 5A District 5-6 play undefeated, including three wins over six-time defending district champion Highland, to become the first District 6 team to win the title since Skyline in 2004…Cook leads Knights in scoring, rebounding and foul shooting and Baldwin is the leading blocker in District 6.
Mountain View Mavericks
Record: 23-1
State seed: District Three third place
Coach: Connie Skogrand, 12th season
Players to watch: PG Destiny Slocum, jr. (25.3 ppg, 5.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.7 steals); G Abby Kreiser, so. (8.4 ppg, 2.2 assists, 2.6 steals); G Alyssa Case, sr. (8.3 ppg, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals); F Renee Routhier, sr. (7.9 ppg, 5.7 rebounds)
Notes: Started the season 22-0 and had won 23 straight, including the third-place game at last year’s state tournament, before falling to Boise in the district semifinals. … ESPN ranks Slocum as the No. 4 player in the nation in the class of 2016. She is committed to Washington. … Five players average seven or more points. … Averaging 68.3 points per game, nearly 10 points more than the next closest SIC team. … Has never won a state title.
Lewiston Bengals
State seed: District I-II champion
Coach: Dave Cornelia
Players to watch: G/F, Emilee Schlader. G, Haylee Weeks. G, Cali Moscrip. G, Lynzee Wilson. F, Halle White.
Notes: Making their fifth state appearance in the past six years, the Bengals can shoot the ball from long range and run the court well, too. First-year coach Cornelia led the Bengal boys to a state title several years ago and feels like if his team rebounds well, it can compete with anybody.
Eagle Mustangs
Record: 16-7
State seed: District Three fourth place
Coach: Cody Pickett, second season
Players to watch: G Cassidy Tiegs, so. (13.9 ppg, 2.7 steals); P Jenny Stevens, jr. (6.7 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 1.4 blocks); P Katelyn Murray, fr. (7.7 ppg, 6.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks).
Notes: Returns to the state tournament for the first time since 2012 after an 8-15 campaign last year with a young roster. … Won nine of its last 11 games. … Has not won a first-round game at state since 1998, when it finished second. … Has never won a state title in school history. … Coach Cody Pickett attempted 45 passes between 2004-05 as a quarterback for the 49ers.
Boise Braves
Record: 16-7
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Kim Brydges, 10th season
Players to watch: F Issy Hadden, jr. (14.2 ppg, 6.7 rebounds, 2.6 blocks); F Mandy Simpson, so. (15 ppg, 11.2 rebounds); G Hanna Orton, jr. (8.5 ppg, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists); G Megan Lee, sr. (9.7 ppg, 2.3 assist, 1.9 steals).
Notes: The Braves have one of the most powerful inside tandems in 6-foot-2 Hadden and 6-0 Simpson. … Boise is the only team with a win against Mountain View, topping the Mavericks 79-62 in the district semifinals. … Hadden and Orton left early in the second quarter of the district championship game after hitting heads. Despite their absence, the Braves took Centennial to double overtime before losing 59-54. … Boise opens state play against Highland, a team it beat 49-43 at state last season.
Highland Rams
Record: 16-9
State seed: District 5 runner-up
Coach: Tony Green, fifth season
Players to watch: G Maren Herrud, Sr.; F Emily Hancock, Sr.; G/F Maddie Geritz, Fr.
Notes: The Rams are back in the state tournament for the eighth straight season. ... Senior guard Maren Herrud has signed to play for Southern Utah. ... Highland did not win a District 5-6 championship for the first time in head coach Tony Green’s five-year tenure.
4A
Twin Falls Bruins
Record: Overall 18-5, Conference 12-0
State seed: 4A
Coach: Nancy Jones
Players to watch guard Regan Harr, senior; guard Madi Ford, junior; Post Brooke Swafford, junior; Post Hailey Wright, junior.
Notes: The Bruins finished as runners-up last season, losing to Skyview in the state championship…Twin Falls has made state six of the last eight years…Regan Harr, The Times-News Player of the Year in the Magic Valley last season, averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals per game.
Rigby Trojans
Record: 15-7
State seed: District 5-6 runner-up
Coach: Clyde Nelson, fifth season
Players to watch: F/G Tori Anderson, sr.; F Randi Abbott, sr.; C Madi Harper, sr.
Notes: The Trojans return to state for the first time since the 2011-12 season, which ended in a program-best runner-up trophy…Anderson and Abbott were the youngest members of the 2012 team and are Rigby’s leading scorers this season…Three of Rigby’s losses are to District 5-6 champion and top state-ranked Century.
Bishop Kelly Knights
Record: 17-4
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Derek McCormick, eighth season
Players to watch: W Gabi Harrington, jr. (17.2 ppg, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 steals); W Maddie Minnaert, sr. (7.7 ppg, 2.0 steals); PG Molly Adcox, sr. (5.7 ppg, 2.7 assists)
Notes: Fields a team full of long, athletic players that plays a high-pressure defense, forcing 25.4 turnovers per game and holding opponents to 36.9 points per game. … Has held 12 straight opponents under 50 points. Only two opponents have topped 50 points vs. the Knights — 5A state qualifiers Centennial and Highland. … Returns to state for the fifth time in six years. … Has won 13 of its last 14 games. … Won its only state title in 2013.
Skyview Hawks
2014 4A state champion
Record: 18-8
State seed: District III third place, state play-in winner
Coach: Cindy Pasta, 19th season
Players to watch: F Kayla Turcato, sr. (12.1 points per game, 7.9 rebounds, 2 steals)*, W Tiana Thompson, sr. (7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 assists)*, W Hailey Graviet, sr. (6.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.3 assists, 2.7 steals)*
Notes: Skyview returns five players from last year's championship team, but coach Cindy Pasta hesitates to label her team as “extremely experienced.” … The Hawks face District III champion Bishop Kelly in the opening round for their fourth meeting of the season. … The Knights won the two regular-season games and a district tournament game by scores of 58-48, 39-33 and 46-39.* 21 of 26 games reported
Sandpoint Bulldogs
Record: 13-8
State seed: Region 1 champion
Coach: Duane Ward, first year in second stint as Sandpoint girls coach
Players to watch: Madi Schoening, jr., G; Grace Kirscher, fr., P; Elani Williams, sr., G.
Notes: Schoening, the 4A Inland Empire League Most Valuable Player, scored a school-record 49 points in the Bulldogs’ 65-46 win at Lakeland on Feb. 3 ... Ward also coached Sandpoint to a runner-up finish in 1996 in the A-1 tournament ... Sandpoint has won back-to-back regional titles; before last season, Sandpoint’s last regional title came in 1982.
Kuna Kavemen
Record: 16-7
State seed: District III runner upCoach: Alex Jensen, third season
Players to watch: C Allison Law, jr. (12.2 points per game, 7 rebounds), G Megan Holloman, fr. (9 ppg, 9 rpg, 2 assists, 2.4 steals, 2 blocks), PG Nicole Arizana, sr. (7.4 ppg, 3 assists, 2.8 steals)
Notes: Kuna has not won a state title since 1990, and this is Kuna's first state appearance since 1995. … Kuna played three of the eight state teams this season. … Split with Bishop Kelly during the regular season but lost the district title game, split with Skyview and defeated Twin Falls 51-50 on Dec. 31, 2014.
Century Diamondbacks
Record: 19-3
State seed: District 5-6 champion
Coach: Chris Shuler, sixth season
Players to watch: F Henny Hearn, Sr.; G Sarah Holt, Sr.; G Rian Rawlings, Sr.
Notes: The top-ranked Diamondbacks are 12-0 versus 4A competition this season. ... Senior Henny Hearn has signed to play for Montana and senior Sarah Holt has signed with Colorado Christian. ... The Diamondbacks are deep, regularly deploying nine or even 10 players a game. ... Century has held opponents to 34.8 points per game.
Minico
Record: Overall 15-7
Defending state champion
State seed: 4B
Coach: Terry Merrill
Players to watch: Guard Macie Merrill, junior; Wing Jilian Gilchrist, sophomore; Guard Sadie Curiel, junior; Post Shaylee Gilchrist, junior; Point guard Tayla Sayer, sophomore; Forward Diana Clapier, junior.
Notes: This is Minico's first state appearance since 2005...Jilian Gilchrist averaged over 8 points a game, while Tayla Sayer averaged over 9...Key post-player Adiana Peralez is out with an injury...Of Minico's seven losses, four were by two points or less, and a fifth was in overtime.
3A
Timberlake Tigers
Record: 19-3
State seed: District 1 champion
Coach: Matt Miller, 10th season
Players to watch: Allison Kirby, so., G (16 ppg, 5 rpg); Keelie Lawler, so., P (13.5 ppg, 5 rbg); Payten Rhodes, jr., G (8 ppg, 3 rpg).
Notes: Kirby was named Intermountain League Most Valuable Player ... The Tigers have appeared in three of the last four state 3A championship games ... only have one senior on its roster ... have won 9 of their last 10 games, with lone loss coming in overtime ... went 6-0 against teams in the 4A Inland Empire League.
Fruitland Grizzlies
Record: 16-7
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Beth Holt, 11th season
Players to watch: F Brooke Teunissen, sr. (14.9 ppg, 10.8 rebounds); PG Mackenzie Collins, jr. (6.1 ppg, 2 steals, 2 assists); P MaKenna Little, sr. (7.9 ppg, 6 rebounds, 1.7 steals).
Notes: The Grizzlies have been to state nine times in Holt’s 11-year tenure and have won five district championships in that span (2007, ‘08, ‘09, ‘11, ‘15). … Fruitland has not won a first-round game at state since 2003, when it finished third, but does have consolation titles from 2008 and 2009. … Fruitland has never won a state title in girls basketball, and a District Three team last won state in 1990 (Kuna).
Filer Wildcats
Record: Overall 17-9,10-1
Defending state champion
State seed: 4A
Coach: Kody Ketterling
Players to watch: guard Meghan Hughes, junior; guard Sydney Koyle, senior; Guard Haley Ackerman, senior; Post Sydney Bartholomew, junior;Post Kelsie Jarolimek, junior; Post Chelsie Reynolds, senior.
Notes: The Wildcats are the defending state champion, but bring back just one starter from last year's team..Many of its key players are siblings or relatives of key graduates from the last two seasons..Ackerman, a sharp-shooter, averaged 13.4 points per game...Hughes, whose sister players for the College of Southern Idaho, is a lock-down defender who averages 8.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.5 steals a game.
Priest River Spartans
Record: 16-7
State seed: District 1 runner-up, beat Weiser 42-26 in state play-in game
Coach: Gary Stewart, ninth season
Players to watch: Katlyn Summers, sr., P (11.5 ppg, 10.5 rbg); Elisa Williams, sr., W (8.2 ppg); Angel Clark, sr., G (5.2 ppg).
Notes: Spartans are making their sixth straight state appearance, winning state title in 2010 ... lost to opening round opponent Filer 44-32 in last year’s semifinals ...
Sugar-Salem Diggers
Record: 19-4
State seed: District 6 champion
Coach: Crystal Dayley, third season
Players to watch: G Ta’Lee Rose, sr.; G Abby Allen, jr.; C Stacy Roberts, sr.; G Jessie Harris, sr.
Notes: The Diggers return all but four members of last year’s 24-2 team that took the 3A state consolation trophy…Three of Sugar-Salem’s losses are to state-ranked 2A teams Ririe, Firth and West Jefferson…As of Feb. 6, six Diggers are averaging at least five points per game and no one is averaging more than 9.5 points per game.
Homedale Trojans
2014 3A state third place
Record: 15-6
State seed: District III runner up
Coach: Joe Betancourt, third season
Players to watch: F Tory Lane, jr. (15 points per game, 6 rebounds per game), G Elise Shenk, sr. (8 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 steals)
Notes: Homedale will need players to step up and fill the void left by Morgan Nash (7 ppg), who broke her hand during the district tournament and will not play this week. … The Trojans placed third last year. … Coach Joe Betancourt said his team is playing its best basketball right now, despite losing to Fruitland in the district tournament title game.
Marsh Valley Eagles
Record: 15-8
State seed: District 5 champion
Coach: Kyle McQuivey, ninth season
Players to watch: F Faith Lolofie, Sr.; G McKenzie Gunter, So.; F Paige Vorwaller, So.; F Katie Anderson, Jr.
Notes: The Eagles return to the state tournament for the sixth time in the past seven years. ... Marsh Valley has gone 9-2 in its last 11 games. ... Of the Eagles’ eight losses, six are to teams that have qualified for the state tournament.
Shelley Russets
Record: 15-10
State seed: won District 4-6 play-in game
Coach: Trevor Elordi, first season
Players to watch: G Madi Ball, sr.; F Kira Marlow, jr.; G Hannah Hanson, jr.; F Holly Dooley, sr.
Notes: First trip to state since 2009-10 season…The Russets are fairly young, with three seniors, eight juniors and two sophomores…Shelley is Idaho’s lone 3A team to have beaten state-ranked Sugar-Salem and Firth…The Russets beat Sugar-Salem in overtime in the regular season finale and won the coin toss for top seed for districts.
2A
Soda Springs Cardinals
Record: 20-4
State seed: District 5 champion
Coach: Wade Schvaneveldt, 13th season
Players to watch: F Markee Kimball, Sr.; G Ashby Lewis, Sr.; G Harper Gibbs, Sr.; G Kadee Jo Simmons, Sr.
Notes: Soda Springs is back at the state tournament for the 13th straight season and are the District 5 champions for the fourth consecutive season. ... The Cardinals began the season 0-3 and 2-4 but have won 18 in a row while outscoring their opponents 50-32.
New Plymouth Pilgrims
Record: 18-4
State seed: District III runner up
Coach: Denise Oliver, 14th season
Players to watch: G Brittany Verigan, sr. (12 points per game); PG Courtney Butler, jr. (10 ppg); P Hailey Ray, sr. (10 ppg)
Notes: This season marks the Pilgrims’ 10th state appearance since 2001, which was the year Oliver led her team to a championship. … New Plymouth’s last trophy was third place in 2010. … New Plymouth is a short team by Oliver’s admission, as no player stands taller than 5-9.
Wendell Trojans
Record: Overall 17-6
State seed: 4A
Coach: Travis Robinson
Players to watch: Guard Lupita Vargas, junior; Post Kassidy Lukesh, sophomore; Guard Kirstin Wert, senior; Guard Kassity Kelley, senior; Guard Taylor Beebe, junior.
Notes: Wendell beat Declo three out of five times games in the district tournament to advance to state...Lupita Vargas is an explosive scorer making her first trip to state...Wendell beat Cole Valley twice.
Grangeville Bulldogs
Record: 12-10
State seed: District I-II champion
Coach: Larson Anderson, 20th season
Players to watch: G Madison Brown, sr.; F Hailey Sullivan, jr.; Addie Lutz, sr.
Notes: It’s been 12 state tournament appearances in 13 years for 20th-year Grangeville coach Larson Anderson, whose 2014-15 schedule was tailor-made for what the Bulldogs expect to see in southern Idaho these next few days. Anderson scheduled 1A Div. I power Lapwai three times, 4A Moscow twice and the Bulldogs got to see a handful of other 4A/5A squads during a Christmas tournament in Coeur d'Alene ... Junior post Hailey Sullivan is averaging 20 points per game through her last four and could be the difference against Grangeville’s first-round game against Wendell — a smaller, guard-oriented squad that prefers to push the pace.
Ririe Bulldogs
Record: 21-2
State seed: District 6 champion
Coach: Damien Smith, seventh season
Players to watch: W Sicilee Williams, sr.; P Haddi Williams, so.; G Savanna Gamett, jr.
Notes: Third consecutive season advancing to state under coach Smith…Ririe’s losses are to state-ranked Sugar-Salem and Firth…Sisters Sicilee and Haddi Williams have led the Bulldogs in scoring, rebounding and blocks the entire season and Sicilee is a Westminster College commit.
Marsing Huskies
Record: 18-7
State seed: District III third place, state play-in winner
Coach: Jamie Wood, second season
Players to watch: C Shelby Dines, jr.; SG Shannon Clover, sr.; SG Emily Tank, sr.; C Sheyanne Glorifield, so.
Notes: Marsing has qualified for state every other season since 2011 but has not won a trophy. … The Huskie's last state trophy was for third place in 2004. … Junior center Shebly Dines suffered a twisted ankle during the district tournament and has played limited minutes since then.
Cole Valley Christian Chargers
Record: 17-5
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Bret Moehlmann, fourth season
Players to watch: G Madison Holly, sr. (15.0 ppg, 2.9 steals); P Lindy Westendorf, jr. (6.3 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals); P Holly Golenor, fr. (6.0 ppg, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks).
Notes: Back to state for the second year in a row. Qualified for its first 2A tournament last year, beating Valley in the first round for its first state tournament victory in school history. … Started the season 1-3 but has won 16 of 18 since, including seven in a row. … Holding opponents to 30.8 points per game. No opponent has topped 50 points since the Chargers’ 1-3 start.
Firth Cougars (defending state champion)
Record: 17-8
State seed: won District 5-6 play-in game
Coach: Sharla Cook, 12th season
Players to watch: P Bailey Nelson, sr.; G Jacee Jensen, sr.; P Natalie Jolley, sr.
Notes: The Cougars graduated six from the 2014 2A state championship team…Five of Firth’s losses are to state-ranked Sugar-Salem, Ririe and West Jefferson…Nelson leads the Cougars in scoring (15.5 ppg), rebounding (8.8 rpg), steals (4 spg) and blocks (1.7 bpg) and is top 10 in District 6 in all four.
1A DIVISION I
Raft River Trojans
Record: 16-5
Seed: 4A
Head coach: Garth Steed
Players to watch: Guard Alexis Tuckett, sophomore; Guard Vicky Gomez, junior; Guard Lauren Schumann, senior; Post Amberlee Steed, sophomore.
Notes: Raft River survived a miss at the buzzer to beat Oakley and get the top seed from District IV...Raft River started the season 12-1.
Genesee Bulldogs
Record: 17-8
State seed: Won District II-III play-in game
Coach: Brandon McIntosh, second year
Players to watch: G Kaleigh Ranisate, jr.; F Sammy Sperber, sr.; G Cierra Mayer, jr.; G Kayla Cornell, jr.; G Courtney Burt, fr.
Notes: It was an arduous road to the state tournament for the Bulldogs, who had to win four consecutive loser-out games to make it. Ranisate leads Genesee with an average of 14.5 points per game, but she’s gotten more help from the supporting cast as the seasons has gone along. Burt, a freshman whose varsity role has grown as the season has gone along, has become a defensive stopper
Lapwai Wildcats
State seed: District I-II champion
Coach: Eric Spencer.
Players to watch: G, Iris Domebo. F, Taylor Whitney. G, Marquel Shawl. G, Erin Ramsey.
Notes: After losing in the state title game the past two years, Lapwai seems poised to finally get its championship this season. It returns almost every player from last year’s team and could probably beat most of the teams in this tournament playing solely its second team. The Wildcats can pick apart a zone defense with their shooting or get out in transition and force turnovers to fuel their well-known fastbreak. This is a team that suffers no weakness – and will likely extend no mercy.
Idaho City Wildcats
Record: 16-4
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Monica Cockerille, seventh season
Players to watch: P Margaret Anderson, jr.; G Joy Billings, jr.; P Brooke Secor, sr.
Notes: The Wildcats qualified for state for just the second time in program history. Their first appearance was in the 1999-2000 season, when they went two-and-out. … Idaho City played in its first district championship game in program history, losing 54-46 to Liberty Charter. … The Wildcats’ trip to state is the culmination of years of hard work. In Cockerille’s inaugural season in 2008-09, the Wildcats lost by an average of 48 points per game and won one game.
Challis Vikings
Record: 16-4
State seed: District 5-6 champion
Coach: Jim Chamberlain, fifth season
Players to watch: G Kaylee Olson, sr.; F Brielle Sheppeard, sr.; G Tara Chamberlain, so.
Notes: Sixth trip to state in eight seasons…Olson is Districts 6’s leading scorer (19.68 ppg) and 3-point shooter (45.1 percent) through 19 games…Two of Challis’s losses are to state-ranked West Jefferson…The Vikings lost a teammate, sophomore Kaitlyn Ames, in a car crash on Feb. 6, the evening after their first district tournament game.
Oakley Hornets
Record: Overall 12-11, Conference 10-3
State seed: 4B
Coach: Matt Payton
Players to watch guard Talia Elquist, sophomore; Guard Abbey Jones, junior; Guard Jayci Hawker, junior; Guard Rhendi Payton, junior; Center Rachael Mitton, freshman.
Notes: There is not a senior in Oakley’s top six rotation… This is Oakley’s second state appearance in the last decade… The Hornets are known for stingy defense and balanced scoring.
Liberty Charter Patriots
Record: 19-2
State seed: District III champion
Coach: Mark Wachsmuth
Players to watch: G Lea Cosentino, sr. (14.2 ppg, 6.9 rebounds, 3.3 steals, 2.4 assists), G Erika Linford, jr. (11.5 ppg, 4 steals, 4.4 assists), F Micaela Husley, jr. (9.8 ppg, 5.8 rebounds), F Julia Corkish, so. (5.9 ppg, 6.8 rebounds)
Notes: Liberty Charter failed to make state last year after a four-year string of appearances, so the Patriots have no experience at the tournament. … The Patriots have never won a first-round game to advance in championship play, losing to Lapwai three times and Kamiah once.
Prairie Pirates (defending champions)
Record: 18-4
State seed: District I-II runner-up
Coach: Lori Mader, fifth year
Players to watch: P/F Kayla Schumacher, sr.; G Krystin Uhlenkott, jr.; P Shayla VonBargen, jr.
Notes: The Pirates from Cottonwood are back in the hunt, looking for their second consecutive state title and 10th in school history. It’s been a season of transition for Prairie, which lost five seniors from last season’s championship team. Lapwai has been the Pirates’ nemesis: Of Prairie’s four losses, three have come against the Wildcats.
1A DIVISION II
Lakeside Knights
Record: 10-10
State seed: District 1 champion
Coach: Chris Dohrman, first season.
Players to watch: Cailyn Dohrman, jr., P; Talia Hendrickx, jr., G; Lillian Rhea, so., P.
Notes: It’s the Knights’ first state tournament appearance since 2004, when team advanced to 16-team 1A tournament ... Lakeside dropped from Division I to Division II this season due to enrollment decline ... Dohrman coached Lakeside boys to 18-5 record during 2013-14 season.
Dietrich Blue Devils
Four-time defending state champion.
State seed: 4B
Coach: Acey Shaw
Players to watch: Guard Jacey Shaw, senior; Post Katee Hubert, junior; Guard Nicki Larson, junior; Forward Mesa Heimerdinger, junior.
Notes:Shaw was the 1A-II Player of the Year in 2014 and her scoring average has gone up in 2015... ESPN Outside The Lines will follow the Blue Devils at the state tournament as they produce a show on Dietrich head coach Acey Shaw...The Blue Devils are vying for their fifth straight state championship, but lost twice to conference foe Richfield at the end of the season, including the district tournament.
Council Lumberjacks
Record: 20-2
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Rodd Baxter, third season
Players to watch: F Zoe Wessels, jr. (19.2 ppg, 11.3 rebounds); F Beauleen Soumwei, jr. (8.1 ppg, 7.4 rebounds); G Sareya Harvey, so. (7.9 ppg, 5.8 steals, 2.6 assists).
Notes: Qualified for state for the second year in a row and won its first district title in 24 years. … Won its first Long Pin Conference regular season championship in 23 years. … Last loss came on Dec. 5. It has won 17 straight games since. … Five players average 6 or more points per game. … Has never won a state title.
Castleford Wolves
Record:15-7
Seed:4C
Head coach: Gary Reynolds
Players to watch: Guard Chloe Lapray, senior; Sophomore Elly Machado, wing; Guard Hadee Reynolds, sophomore; Post Sydney Ellsworth, senior; Post Skyler Monson, senior.
Notes: This is the Wolves first state tournament appearance in 33 years. Castleford nearly upset Dietrich in the district tournament.
Mackay Miners
Record: 15-7
State seed: District 5-6 champion
Coach: Leigh Patterson, second season
Players to watch: P Cheyan James, sr.; G Chelbee Rosenkrance, sr.; G Morgan Betzer, soph.
Notes: The Miners graduated two from the 2014 team that tied a program-best state runner-up finish…Mackay won the 1A Division II District 5-6 title over Rockland when James blocked a would-be game-tying 3-pointer with 7.2 seconds left…The Miners began the season 0-2, but have won six of their last seven.
Tri-Valley Titans
Record: 12-13
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Roshel Nixon, first season
Players to watch: P Kristin Volle, sr. (14 ppg, 12 rebounds); P Samantha Gibbons, jr. (8 points); PG Charity Aber, sr. (11 points).
Notes: Tri-Valley, a co-op of Cambridge and Midvale high schools, has advanced to state every year since 2008 but has not won a first-round game in those seven seasons. … Nixon installed a new offense and defense and says her team thrives on fast-break play and a defensive mindset.
Richfield
Record: 20-2
State seed: 4A
Coach: Buck Hendren
Players to watch: Forward April Wood, junior; Guard Taylor King, junior; Guard Mariah Lezamiz, junior.
Notes: Four players average double-digits and a fifth who scored double-figures in two of three district tournament games…played against state qualifiers Mackay, Raft River, Oakley, Wendell, Dietrich, and Castleford… It beat four-time defending state champion Dietrich twice, including the district tournament.
Nezperce Indians
State seed: District II champion
Coach: Dave Snodgrass
Players to watch: F, Sydnee Kuther. G, Arika Arnzen.
Notes: This is the Indians’ second straight trip to State, though none of their key players this year really played much last season – so it’s essentially their first trip to State all over again. The Indians suffered through sickness in their district tournament – some of the players battling the flu, so they key for Nezperce will be its health. As good as any team in the bracket, the Indians make up for their lack of size with their speed.