There could be a changing of the guard among boys basketball teams in the 5A Southern Idaho Conference.
Columbia was voted the preseason favorite in a poll of the league’s coaches, edging defending district champ Middleton by five points for the top spot.
The Wildcats have won just one district title in program history (2019) but are coming off their second state tournament appearance last season.
Are they poised for even bigger things in 2025-26?
We asked the league’s coaches to identify the top players and teams heading into the season. Teams are listed in their order of finish in the preseason poll.
1. COLUMBIA
Last season: 16-13, 8-6 5A SIC
Coach: Blaine Wright, second season
Players to watch: Max Keller, jr., W; Easton Lott, jr., W; Tavin Jones, jr., PG; Marcus DeLeon, so., W
Outlook: The Wildcats are coming off one of the best seasons in program history, qualifying for state for just the second time and bringing home the consolation trophy.
With four starters back, Columbia is favored to win the league, and it will try to do so behind reigning 5A SIC all-conference first-team selection Keller. He averaged 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game, and possesses the ability to guard the opposing team’s big.
Lott (8 ppg, 4 rebounds, 4 steals) was an honorable mention pick, Jones (9 ppg, 5 assists) directs the offense, and DeLeon (8 ppg, 4 rebounds, 3 assists) also returns as a starter.
“We will be long and athletic,” Wright said. “We have some guys that really fit our style, we like to run and play in the open court.”
2. MIDDLETON
Last season: 18-9, 12-2 5A SIC
Coach: Gilbert Dickason, first season
Players to watch: David Salisbury, sr., PF; Robbie Baird, jr., PG/SG; Tagg Stucki, jr., SG/SF; Tucker Freid, so., PF/C; Tye Cornwall, sr., SG/SF
Outlook: The defending 5A District Three Tournament champions return just one starter from last year’s state-qualifying team, but a deep, experienced bench will give the Vikings a leg up as the season begins.
Cornwall returns after earning 5A SIC Player of the Year honors while averaging 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 2 steals per game. Salisbury will give Middleton muscle inside while also posing a dual threat as a shooter. Baird will run the offense as a crafty finisher with the ability to knock down shots from deep. Stucki provides athleticism and versatility, while Freid will be a key rebounder and defender.
“With such a deep bench, figuring out the best lineups and most efficient combinations of players will be something that the coaching staff will have to figure out fast to reach our full potential,” Dickason said.
3. BISHOP KELLY
Last season: 15-10, 12-2 5A SIC
Coach: Andrew Ammann, first season
Players to watch: Andrew Johnson, sr., C; Conor Goss, sr., G; Cash Davis, jr., G; Owen Graves, jr., PG
Outlook: The Knights begin a new era after longtime coach Ryan Kerns stepped down following more than a decade leading the program.
Ammann said he hopes to build on the foundation established by Kerns, as BK has played in the district title game seven times in the past 10 seasons, and has won 10 district championships since 2004.
Davis (5A SIC second team) and Johnson return as starters, and Goss is back to full strength after missing much of last season with an injury. Graves, who Ammann describes as a “true point guard,” will facilitate the offense.
“We are a well-balanced offensive team that can expect production from multiple guys on any given night,” Ammann said.
4. VALLIVUE
Last season: 11-12, 8-6 5A SIC
Coach: Mario Betancourt, seventh season
Players to watch: Dominik Betancourt, sr., G; Xander Wilson, sr., F; Victor Gutierrez, so., G; Noah Mitchell, sr., F
Outlook: The Falcons have one of the most experienced rosters in the league, returning all five starters and the conference’s reigning sixth man of the year.
Betancourt and Wilson each earned 5A SIC all-conference second-team recognition last season, while Gutierrez was an honorable-mention pick and Mitchell the sixth man of the year.
That experience should help the Falcons hit the ground running in 2025-26, highlighted by a fast pace of play.
“We are fast and push the ball up the floor well,” Mario Betancourt said. “This will make our team tough to guard. We are a smaller group, but we will look to put pressure on teams.”
5. SKYVIEW
Last season: 19-6, 10-4 5A SIC
Coach: Aaron Sanders, 18th season
Players to watch: James Smutny, sr., PG; Samuel Bower, so., SG; Johnny Merrell, so., F; Blake Fanizzi, jr., F
Outlook: The Hawks played a lot of underclassmen last season, which should pay dividends in 2025-26 with a year of experience under their belts.
Four of five starters are back, with Smutny (6 ppg, 4 rebounds, 5 assists), Bower (11 ppg, 51% from 3-point range) and Merrell (11 ppg, 7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, 59% shooting) all picking up honorable-mention recognition in the 5A SIC a year ago. At 6-foot-7, Merrell will be a force inside but also possesses the ability to play on the perimeter. Fanizzi (7 ppg, 5 rebounds) adds versatility and stands as a top defender.
“We have all of our post players coming back, so we should be a big, physical team that hopefully will defend and rebound inside,” Sanders said. “We should also have more depth this season with the new players on our team.”
T-6. CALDWELL
Last season: 10-14, 4-10 5A SIC
Coach: Rick Tigges, fifth season
Players to watch: Sergio Gaxiola, jr., P; Eli Arredondo, sr., W; Sawyer Hope-Audet, sr., W; Peyton Walters, sr., G
Outlook: With four starters back and a bench that could go nine players deep, the Cougars are poised to make waves in the 5A SIC.
Gaxiola (9 ppg, 9 rebounds), Arredondo (13 ppg, 3 rebounds) and Hope-Audet (11 ppg, 6 rebounds) all received 5A SIC honorable-mention honors a year ago. Walters (9 ppg, 2 steals), in addition to being a scoring threat, provides the Cougars with defensive energy.
Success, Tigges says, hinges on Caldwell’s chemistry.
“We need to play together,” Tigges said. “(We have) lots of guys that can score, but we are at our best when every one is sharing the rock.”
T-6. NAMPA
Last season: 3-20, 0-14 5A SIC
Coach: Ryan Kinnaman, first season
Players to watch: Dominick Almaraz, sr., G; Paul Ruusa, sr., G; Elijah Badejo, sr., W/F; Cohen Leslie, jr., G
Outlook: After a winless conference campaign in 2024-25, the Bulldogs are looking to turn over a new leaf and welcome a new coach to the helm.
Kinnaman will have three returning starters to help build that foundation.
Almaraz will lead the way as Nampa’s only returning all-conference player (honorable mention) who possesses the ability to score at all three levels while facilitating for teammates. Ruusa’s game is defined by his athleticism, Kinnaman said, and he’s also an outstanding defender. Badejo has a relentless motor, and Leslie has elite “intangible traits.”
“The Nampa Bulldogs will be a fast, guard-centric team this season,” Kinnaman said. “We will have a defensive identity and will play with pace.”
8. EMMETT
Last season: 3-20, 2-12 5A SIC
Coach: Dustin Lopez, third season
Players to watch: Scott Brady, sr., P; Tag Griffin, sr., G; Kash Brown, sr., F
Outlook: The Huskies look to climb the conference standings with the return of all five starters.
Brady (13 ppg, 7 rebounds) is Emmett’s only returning all-conference player, earning second-team honors a year ago, with the ability to attack the rim. Griffin (6.5 ppg, 3 rebounds) stands out for his ability to shoot the 3, and Brown is known for his ability to facilitate for teammates. Seniors Lincoln Thayn and Ty McConnell also return as starters for the Huskies.
Lopez cites defense and rebounding as key areas of strength as Emmett continues to improve its perimeter shooting.
This story was originally published December 3, 2025 4:00 AM.