GIRLS STATE BASKETBALL TEAM CAPSULES: Team-by-team previews of Idaho girls basketball state tournament
CLASS 5A
BOISE BRAVES
Record: 17-6
State seed: District Three fourth-place finisher
Coach: Kim Brydges, 11th season
Players to watch: F Issy Hadden, sr.; F Mandy Simpson, jr.; G Hanna Orton, sr.
Notes: Returns to state for the third year in a row after finishing second last year. … Is the only Idaho team to beat Mountain View the past two seasons. … Simpson (16.2 ppg, 11.6 rebounds) has recorded a double-double in 14-of-23 games this season. … Idaho signee Hadden (13.9 ppg, 6.7 rebounds) is averaging 2.9 blocks a game.
BORAH LIONS
Record: 18-9
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Jason Willer, fourth season
Players to watch: G Kiana Corpus, jr.; W Michal Bilger, sr.
Notes: Making its first trip to state since 2007. … First winning season since going 20-4 in 2006-07. ... Bilger is a four-year starter and Corpus is a three-year starter. … Is 0-8 vs. teams in the 5A state tournament this season. … Relies on its defense, which allows 40.1 points per game, third best in the 5A SIC.
CENTENNIAL PATRIOTS
Record: 21-3
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Cassie Bro, fourth season
Players to watch: G Tori Williams, jr.; G/F Dominique Williams, sr.; G/F Lauren Brocke, jr.
Notes: Centennial’s only in-state losses came to Mountain View (twice). … Has not won a state trophy since 2012. … Is allowing a classification-low 33.2 points per game. … Dominique Williams has signed with Weber State, and Tori Williams (no relation) said she has offers from Oregon State, Utah, Purdue and Washington, among others.
EAGLE MUSTANGS
Record: 20-4
State seed: District Three third-place finisher
Coach: Cody Pickett, third season
Players to watch: PG Cassidy Tiegs, jr.; P Jenny Stevens, sr.; G Abby Mangum, jr.; P Katelyn Murray, so.
Notes: Returns four starters from last year’s state consolation champion, the first trophy Eagle won since finishing second in 1998. … Twenty is the most wins for an Eagle team since they went 24-2 in 1997-98, the last time the Mustangs won a first-round game. … Eagle’s only losses are against Mountain View and Centennial (both twice).
HIGHLAND RAMS
Record: 14-10
State seed: District Five-Six runner-up
Coach: Tony Green, sixth season
Players to watch: G Makenna Baker, fr.; F Ashley Wheatley, sr.; F Allie Thayne, so.; G Kia Pokibro, jr.
Notes: Highland is in the state tournament for the ninth straight season. ... The Rams started the season 5-9 before rattling off eight straight wins, including one over then-unbeaten Hillcrest.
HILLCREST KNIGHTS
Record: 22-1
State seed: District Six champ
Coach: Cody Jackson, fourth season
Players to watch: P Lindsay Cook, sr.; P Madelyn Biddulph, jr.; G Addy Kirkham, jr.
Notes: Third consecutive postseason appearance with Jackson. ... Knights began season on a 19-game winning streak. ... Lone loss to Highland was first 5A District Five-Six loss in two years. ... Cook, a four-year varsity player, leads District Six in scoring (20.4 ppg) and rebounds (10.5 rpg) and has scored at least 20 points in the past 11 games. ... Knights have scored an average of 64 points per game and topped 70 points five times. ... Last state trophy was in 2014 (consolation).
LAKE CITY TIMBERWOLVES
Record: 19-4
State seed: Region One champ
Coach: Bryan Kelly, fourth season
Players to watch: G Whitney Meyer, sr.; P Lauren Rewers, jr.; P Nina Carlson, jr.; P Keara Simpson, so.; G Kate Maryon, sr.; G Olivia Maryon, sr.; G Cierra Dvorak, sr.
Notes: Timberwolves are at state for the first time since 2009. … There are a lot of players to watch because Kelly plays a lot of players in a pressing, up-tempo attack … Nina Carlson, daughter of North Idaho College women’s basketball coach Chris Carlson and assistant Carey Carlson, has verbally committed to Idaho.
MOUNTAIN VIEW MAVERICKS
(Defending champ)
Record: 20-4
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Connie Skogrand, 13th season
Players to watch: PG Destiny Slocum, sr.; G Abby Kreiser, jr.; P Adriana Vickery, jr.
Notes: Slocum has signed with Maryland, won a gold medal with the U.S. national team last summer at the FIBA U19 World Championship and will play in the McDonald’s All-American Game on April 1. … The defending champs traveled to the prestigious Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix, going 1-3. … The Mavs’ only two in-state losses the past two years came to Boise. … Averages a classification-best 68.7 points per game.
CLASS 4A
BISHOP KELLY KNIGHTS
Record: 18-5
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Derek McCormick, ninth season
Players to watch: G Gabi Harrington, sr.; P Sophia Adams, sr.; W Lydia Nieto, so.
Notes: Harrington, a four-year starter and reigning first-team All-Idaho pick, has signed with Montana. … Returns to state for the sixth time in seven years after winning the consolation title last year. … Leads the 4A SIC in scoring at 53.5 points per game, scoring at least 50 points in 16-of-23 games. … Won its only state title in 2013.
BURLEY BOBCATS
Record: 15-10
State seed: District Four runner-up
Coach: Roger Caresia, 24th season
Players to watch: G Kortney Hutchison, sr. (17 ppg, 7 rpg); G Sydney Pilling, so.; W Hallie Cook, so.
Notes: The Bobcats graduated a large senior class that won 16 games last season but lost in the state tournament play-in game. This year’s team features one of the school’s all-time leading scorers — Kortney Hutchison (more than 1,000 career points), the squad’s lone senior — with eight underclassmen.
CALDWELL COUGARS
Record: 17-8
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Williams Rodgers, second season
Players to watch: G Lissette Saenz, sr.; Koralee Anderson-Bower, sr.
Notes: Eked out a pair of wins in two elimination games by a total of three points to return to state for the first time since 2001, when it won its only state title. … This is Caldwell’s first winning season since 2001. … Returned four starters from a team that went 7-17 last season.
CENTURY DIAMONDBACKS
(Defending champ)
Record: 18-4
State seed: District Five-Six champ
Coach: Chris Shuler, seventh season
Players to watch: G Rian Rawlings, sr., F Sarah Grinnell, sr., G Katie Hiller, jr., F Kaitlyn Christensen, sr.
Notes: The defending 4A state champs went 11-1 against 4A competition but lost their first conference game since 2014.
KUNA KAVEMEN
Record: 16-5
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Alex Jensen, fourth season
Players to watch: P Allison Law, sr.; PG Meghan Holloman, so.; P Ashlyn VanCampen, jr.
Notes: Kuna makes a return trip to state after qualifying last year for the first time since 1995. … Won its last state title, and its last state trophy, in 1990 at the 3A level. … Is holding opponents to 40.1 points per game. Has allowed more than 50 points to just three opponents — Bishop Kelly (twice) and Mountain View.
MINICO SPARTANS
Record: 21-3
State seed: District Four champ
Coach: Terry Merrill, fifth season
Players to watch: G Macie Merrill, sr.; P Shaylee Gilchrist, sr.; W Sadie Curiel sr.; P/W Adrianna Peralez, sr.
Notes: Of the Spartans’ 21 wins, only two came by eight points or less (5A Highland, 5A Madison). Its three defeats came by a combined 24 points, including a one-point loss to 5A Timberline and a five-point defeat by Madison. ... It lost one game to a 4A school (Twin Falls), which was also the only time the Spartans didn’t beat a 4A opponent by fewer than nine points. ... Outscored opponents by an average of 18 points a game over the course of the regular season and the district tournament. It defeated the district second seed Burley all four times, with an average margin of victory of 23 points. ... Was the second seed from District Four in 2015, falling in the consolation championship. It returns a team near full health, including defensive stalwart Adrianna Peralez, who missed last year’s tournament. ... Don’t have a player taller than 5-foot-9, and often feature lineups with at least four players who can make a 3-point shot.
RIGBY TROJANS
Record: 11-13
State seed: District Five-Six runner-up
Coach: Clyde Nelson, sixth season
Players to watch: G Olivia Shippen, jr.; G Macady Boyce, sr.; C Kaitlyn Bell, jr.
Notes: Third postseason appearance in five seasons. ... Ended regular season having lost five of their past seven games but went 3-1 in districts. ... Trojans hang their hat on defense, holding opponents to 38.2 points per game while averaging 38.7 points. … Shippen leads Rigby with 4.8 assists per game, which is tied for the District Six lead, and 2.1 steals per game. … Last state trophy was in 2012 (second place).
SANDPOINT BULLDOGS
Record: 13-9
State seed: Region One champ
Coach: Duane Ward, second season
Players to watch: G Madi Schoening, sr. (20 ppg, 6 rebs, 4 stls); W Grace Kirscher, so. (12 ppg, 3 rebs, 2 stls); G Riley Couch, sr. (6 ppg); P Grace Hicks, fr. (3 ppg, 3 rebs)
Notes: Beat Coeur d’Alene twice this season and lost in overtime to Lewiston. ... Schoening signed with University of Montana. ... Making its third straight trip to state … The Bulldogs placed third at state last year for their first trophy since 2003 and hope to contend for the school’s first state championship.
CLASS 3A
EMMETT HUSKIES
Record: 20-5
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Laraine Harrison, first season
Players to watch: G Lillie Smith, so.; P Morgan Mitchell, jr.; F Aly Kaiser, so.
Notes: Making its first trip to state since 2005, when it won the 4A consolation title. … Relies on a mix of pressure defenses to feed its offense, which has failed to score fewer than 50 points only eight times this season. … Won 14 of its past 16 games … Searching for its first state title in program history.
HOMEDALE TROJANS
Record: 18-5
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Joe Betancourt, fourth season
Players to watch: PG Tristan Corta, sr.; G Makayla Aberasturi, sr.
Notes: Returns to state for the fourth year in a row. … Leading scorer and rebounder Tory Lane was suspended for the district championship and will miss state due to a violation of the school’s athletic code. … Last state trophy came from a third-place finish in 2014. … Won its only state title in 1980.
KIMBERLY BULLDOGS
Record: 22-0
State seed: District Four champ
Coach: Lawrence Pfefferle, second season
Players to watch: P Maysie Rongen, sr. (12 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 bpg); P Lexie Phillips, sr. (12 ppg); G Mazy Boyer (12 ppg), sr.
Notes: First trip to state since 2009-10. It had been ousted in the district tournament by Filer five consecutive seasons. ... Defeated Filer all four times during the regular season and district tournament. ... Sixteen of the Bulldogs’ 22 wins came by double-digits or more.
MARSH VALLEY EAGLES
Record: 18-5
State seed: District Five champ
Coach: Kyle McQuivey, 10th season
Players to watch: F Katie Anderson, sr.; G McKenzie Gunter, jr.; F Taya Batts, so.; F Paige Vorwaller, jr.; G Lindsi Nichols, jr.
Notes: Marsh Valley lost its first two games of the season before finishing 18-3. … Gunter is the leading scorer at 9.8 points per game. ... The Eagles last won a state championship in 2012.
TETON REDSKINS
Record: 21-2
State seed: District Six champ
Coach: Shon Kunz, third season
Players to watch: P Jenna Abbott, jr; P Shelby Kincaid, sr; G Avery Kunz, jr; G Tasha Arnold, jr.
Notes: Second trip to state under Kunz. ... Coming off what is believed to be its first district championship in 20 years and its second in program history. ... Won 14 consecutive games from late November to mid-January, including victories over Sugar-Salem, Ririe, West Jefferson and Soda Springs. ... Abbott leads Teton in scoring (14.6 ppg), rebounds (7.4 rpg) and free-throw shooting (70.3 percent). ... Only losses are to Sugar-Salem and West Jefferson.
TIMBERLAKE TIGERS
Record: 20-1
State seed: District One champ
Coach: Matt Miller, 11th season
Players to watch: G Allison Kirby, jr.; G Keelie Lawler, jr.; F Jacquelyn Mallet, jr.; P Carleen Simpson, sr.; G Payten Rhodes, sr.
Notes: The Tigers were runners-up at state each of the past two seasons and four of the past five. … Kirby and Lawler are returning first-team All-Idaho players. … Timberlake has won 20 straight since a two-point, season-opening loss at Lewiston. The Tigers’ 20 wins have come by an average of 31.4 points. ... Two of Timberlake’s closest games were against 1A Division I power Lapwai, wins by 9 and 13 points.
SHELLEY RUSSETS
Record: 10-15
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Trevor Elordi, second season
Players to watch: P Kira Marlow, sr; G Hannah Hanson, sr.
Notes: Second postseason appearance in as many years under Elordi. ... Graduated three from last year’s third-place team. ... Snapped a six-game losing streak with a win over defending state champion Sugar-Salem at the end of January and also eliminated the Diggers in the 3A District 6 tournament. ... Marlow is third in District Six in scoring (15.2 ppg) and is averaging 8 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.
WEISER WOLVERINES
Record: 12-10
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Nick Reed, eighth season
Players to watch: PG Ali Reed, sr.; G Paige Brown, sr.; P Emily Gluech, sr.
Notes: Entered its six-team district tournament seeded fourth before winning three straight for the district title on the strength of its defense. … Allowing 39.5 points per game but held opponents to 29.7 at district. … Making its first trip to state since 2012. Its last trophy was third place in 2010. … Searching for its first state title in program history.
CLASS 2A
COLE VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHARGERS
Record: 20-2
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Bret Moehlmann, fifth season
Players to watch: F Lindy Westendorf, sr; F Holly Golenor, so.; G Sarah McClure, jr.
Notes: Won the consolation championship last season. … Only two losses came to 3A Homedale in December and to New Plymouth in district title game last week. … Held four opponents to 18 points or less. … Westendorf and Golenor among players who also played for state runner-up volleyball team.
GRANGEVILLE BULLDOGS
Record: 13-8
State seed: District One-Two champ
Coach: Larson Anderson, 21st season
Players to watch: G Hailey Sullivan, sr.; G McKenzie Kennedy, sr.
Notes: Grangeville lost two of its best senior guards four games into the season when Sarah Wilson and Madison Brown both suffered season-ending knee injuries. That didn’t stop the Bulldogs from developing depth and running through league play, defeating St. Maries for the district championship and earning another berth to state.
NEW PLYMOUTH PILGRIMS
Record: 18-4
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Denise Oliver, 16th season
Players to watch: G Kenzie White, so.; G Brianna Killion, jr.; P Josie Thurman, sr.
Notes: Fourth straight trip to state. … Defeated Cole Valley Christian in District Three championship game 45-44. Thurman knocked a down buzzer-beating shot to win the district title. … Has won three of the past four district titles. … Scored a season-high 80 points in home win over Marsing on Dec. 5.
RIRIE BULLDOGS
Record: 18-7
State seed: District Six runner-up
Coach: Damien Smith, eighth season
Players to watch: P Haddi Williams, jr; G Kaylee Brown, jr; G Cassidy Griffith, jr; G Savanna Gamett, sr.
Notes: Fourth consecutive postseason appearance under Smith…Returned to state after dropping opening-round district tournament game to Firth, rallying from a 23-point deficit with four minutes left to beat North Fremont in loser-out game, beating Firth in a winner-to-state elimination game and forcing an if-necessary district title game with West Jefferson…Williams leads Ririe in scoring (13.14 ppg) and rebounds (7.8 rpg).
SODA SPRINGS CARDINALS
(Defending champ)
Record: 19-5
State seed: District Five champ
Coach: Wade Schvaneveldt, 14th season
Players to watch: G Kaycee Smith, so.; F Callie Gronning, sr.; G Reagan Yamauchi, fr., P Kiersten Rasmussen, jr.
Notes: Soda Springs returns to the state tournament as the defending champion. … The Cardinals were undefeated against 2A competition this season. ... Soda Springs also picked up four wins against 3A teams.
WENDELL TROJANS
Record: 16-8
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Robert Lamm, first season
Players to watch: G Lupita Vargas, sr. (15.7 ppg); G Taylor Beebe, sr.; P Tiffany Egbert, sr.; G Neilee Wilhelm, sr.; P Kassidy Lukesh, jr. (7 rpg)
Notes: After losing the district tournament opener to Declo, the Trojans defeated the Hornets two consecutive times to advance to the state play-in game. It defeated Marsing 47-34 in the play-in game. ... Wendell lost both games in last year’s state tournament appearance.
WEST JEFFERSON PANTHERS
Record: 19-5
State seed: District Six champ
Coach: Gary Skidmore, sixth season
Players to watch: P Kallee Nickerson, sr.; G Jade Skidmore, sr.; G Kaylee Newman, sr.
Notes: Panthers’ first postseason appearance since 2011, when they placed third after winning the state title the two previous years. ... Only Idaho team to beat both Sugar-Salem and Teton. ... Jade, head coach Gary Skidmore’s youngest child, leads West Jefferson with 7.4 rebounds per game, 32.1 percent 3-point shooting and a district-best 4.8 assists per game. ... Nickerson, who surpassed 1,000 career points on Jan. 15, leads West Jefferson with 14.1 points per game and a district-best 75.4 percent foul shooting.
WEST SIDE PIRATES
Record: 17-8
State seed: District Five runner-up
Coach: Kelli Hobson, fourth season
Players to watch: F Mattie Creager, sr., F Abbie Povey, sr., G Joce Mejia, so.
Notes: The Pirates are making their first trip to state under Hobson. ... West Side has not won a state tournament game since 2007.
CLASS 1A DIVISION I
CHALLIS VIKINGS
Record: 14-9
State seed: District Five-Six champ
Coach: Jim Chamberlain, sixth season
Players to watch: G Tara Chamberlain, jr.; P Laura Parkinson, so.; P Abby Sensabaugh, sr.
Notes: Entered district as the third seed and knocked off second-seeded Grace (twice) and top-seeded Butte County, which it did not beat in the regular season, to repeat as district champion and return to state for the seventh time in nine seasons. ... Graduated three from last year’s state third-place team. ... Two of its losses are to West Jefferson.
GENESEE BULLDOGS
Record: 19-7
State seed: District Two third place
Coach: Brandon McIntosh, third season
Players to watch: G Kaleigh Ranisate, sr.; F Courtney Burt, sr.; F Anna Druffel, so.; G Kayla Cornell, sr.
Notes: Genesee advances to state for the 10th time since 2000 but hasn’t won it all since 2008. ... Ranisate leads the Bulldogs with more than 17 ppg and is Genesee’s best perimeter threat. ... As a team, Genesee is averaging nearly 57 ppg — its highest average since 2006.
LAPWAI WILDCATS
(Defending state champ)
Record: 18-2
State seed: District Two champ
Coach: Eric Spencer, second season
Players to watch: G Iris Domebo, jr.; G Koyama Young, jr.; F Taylor Whitney, sr.; F Micah Bisbee, sr.; F Ione Chimburas, jr.; G/F Amil Mitchel, so.
Notes: Lapwai’s starting point guard, Shinia Holt, recently got off crutches after suffering a late-season high-ankle sprain. Spencer called her participation “a coin flip.”... The defending state champs make their 16th straight trip to state.
LIBERTY CHARTER PATRIOTS
Record: 20-2
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Brad McCain, first season
Players to watch: G Hallie Ashton, jr.; G Erika Linford, sr.; F Micaela Hulsey, sr.
Notes: Second straight appearance at the state tournament … The team won 13 consecutive games from Dec. 10 to Jan. 26 and 16-of-17 overall going into state. … Only out-rebounded twice this season … Defensively, Patriots have only allowed more than 55 points once.
NOTUS PIRATES
Record: 13-9
State seed: District Three runner-up
Coach: Brad Huter, seventh season
Players to watch: G Alana Riley, sr.; F Gabby Okamura, sr.; G Jacylinn Parra, sr.
Notes: Last appeared in at state in 2014 … Upset top-seeded Idaho City in district tournament to clinch state berth … Pirates won six of eight games to reach district championship. … Team features six seniors.
PRAIRIE PIRATES
Record: 16-6
State seed: District Two runner-up
Coach: Lori Mader, sixth season
Players to watch: G Angela Wemhoff, so.; G Hailey Danly, sr.; F Shayla VonBargen, sr.; G/F Chaye Uptmor, jr.; G Kylie Tidwell, jr.
Notes: Prairie makes its sixth straight trip to state. .. Half the Pirates’ losses this year have come to defending state champion Lapwai.
SHOSHONE INDIANS
Record: 16-8
State seed: District Four runner-up
Coach: Tim Chapman, 25th season
Players to watch: G Bailee Owens, fr.; G Cierra Hennings, fr. (12 ppg); W Belinda Marsh, so.; P Hanna Caylor, sr. (9 ppg, 8 rpg); G Frances Rodriguez, Jr.
Notes: The Indians made the state tournament as District IV’s second seed by upsetting Oakley twice in the district tournament, both times by two points (34-32, 32-30). Oakley defeated Shoshone twice in the regular season. ... After a two-win season last year, the Indians were rejuvenated by two freshman guards, both of whom start, including leading scorer Cierra Hennings. Hennings and fellow freshman Owens were key members of Shoshone middle school, which went undefeated at the eighth-grade level two years in a row with Owens starting both years (she played up a grade as a seventh grader). ... Sophomore Belinda Marsh, junior defensive ace Frances Rodriguez, and strong post player and senior Caylor round out the starters. Caylor is one of three Shoshone seniors, all of whom are making their first trip to state. It’s the Indians’ first trip to state since 2010.
VALLEY VIKINGS
Record: 18-4
State seed: District Four champ
Coach: Jamie Kohtz, second season
Players to watch: G Tannah Sellers, jr.; F Kynsee Mussmann, jr.; P Jeorgi Kalisek, sr.
Notes: Valley features an array of offensive options, including undersized (5-foot-7) but strong post Kalisek and forward Mussmann, who at 5-11 can handle the ball. ... The Vikings lost just one game by 10 points or more. ... Valley primarily relies on its defense, allowing just three opponents to score more than 40 points.
CLASS 1A DIVISION II
COUNCIL LUMBERJACKS
Record: 19-4
State seed: District Three champ
Coach: Rod Baxter, fifth season
Players to watch: F Zoe Wessels, sr; G Sierra Schmeckpepper, sr; G Chloe Bryson, jr.
Notes: Third straight appearance at state. … Seventeen of its 19 wins were by double digits. … Surpassed 90 points twice and 70 points three times. … Wessels has signed with Northwest Nazarene. … Senior guard Beauleen Soumwei is a native of Micronesia, near Australia.
DEARY MUSTANGS
Record: 13-9
State seed: District Two runner-up
Coach: Kendra Keen
Players to watch: G Brooke Swanson, sr.; G Baile Swanson, so.; F Shelby Anderson, jr.; G Gabrielle Seubert, so.; F Haley Stanton, sr.
Notes: Keen will miss the tournament while having a baby, leaving assistants John Sutera and Courtney Warner in charge. ... Deary overcame a 10-point second-half deficit in the district consolation game to punch its ticket to state for the second time in the past four years.
DIETRICH BLUE DEVILS
Record: 13-9
State seed: District Four champ
Coach: Acey Shaw, 11th season
Players to watch: C Katee Hubert, sr. (16 ppg, 8 rpg); G Nicki Larson, sr. (14 ppg, 6 rpg); Matigan Bingham, fr.
Notes: The Blue Devils have played in five consecutive state championships, winning four in a row before falling to longtime conference rival Richfield last season. It was the fourth time in the past six seasons the two conference foes have faced each other in the state tournament, with the teams splitting the four. ... After graduating a strong class led by the classification’s two-time player of the year, Jacey Shaw, the Blue Devils started the season 1-6 and have only lost three games since. ... Currently riding a nine-game winning streak, winning the district championship despite having the third-best record in the conference.
LAKESIDE KNIGHTS
Record: 15-5
State seed: District One champ
Coach: Chris Dohrman, second season
Players to watch: F Lillian Rhea, jr.; F Cailyn Dohrman, sr.; PG Talia Hendrickx, sr.; G Jordyn Nomee, sr.
Notes: Knights took home the consolation title last year in their first state appearance since 2004.
NEZPERCE INDIANS
Record: 17-4
State seed: District Two champ
Coach: Dave Snodgrass, sixth season
Players to watch: G Kourtne Carpenter, so; G Tianna Leitch, sr.; F Hannah Stapleton, fr.; C Maria Mosman, sr.
Notes: Nezperce likes to run. ... This marks the Indians’ third straight trip to state. ... Six players average between 7-8 points per game.
RICHFIELD TIGERS
(Defending champ)
Record: 19-6
State seed: District Four runner-up
Coach: Buck Hendren, fifth season
Players to watch: F April Wood, sr. (11 ppg, 6.5 rpg); G Taylor King, sr. (10.5 ppg); G/F Hannah Walker, sr. (9.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg)
Notes: The defending state champions have dealt with plenty of adversity in 2015-16, losing star guard and senior Mariah Lezamiz to a torn ACL early in the season. Lezamiz averaged more than 10 points and three assists the previous two seasons. Despite that, the Tigers were the team to beat in the North Side Conference for much of the season. It lost the district tournament opener to Dietrich, but won three consecutive games in the district tournament, including a three-point victory over Castleford, to advance to state.
ROCKLAND BULLDOGS
Record: 16-6
State seed: District Five-Six champ
Coach: Vern Nelson, 19th season
Players to watch: G Stefani McClanahan, sr., G Kariena Turnbeaugh, jr., F Aspen O’Brien, sr.
Notes: The Bulldogs cruised through their district, going 14-0 against league foes and outscoring opponents 108-46 in two district tournament games.
SALMON RIVER SAVAGES
Record: 15-4
State seed: Play-in game winner
Coach: Paula Tucker, second season
Players to watch: G Maddy Tucker, jr; G Chevelle Shepherd, fr; P Sarah Laritz, jr.
Notes: First appearance at state tournament since 2003 … Qualified for state with a play-in win over Sho-Ban. … Has won six of past seven games going into state. … Held below 50 points just three times all season. … Only three of 10 players on varsity roster are seniors … Did not field a varsity team from 2011 to 2014.