Players to Watch:
Owen Howard, Clark Fork
Evrett Montgomery, Clark Fork
Spencer Farrell, Genesis Prep
Gabe Meyer, Genesis Prep
Tyson Charley, Lakeside
Hallah Peone, Lakeside
Julian Davis, Wallace
Henry Larson, Wallace
Written by: Brandon Baney
The Lakeside Knights entered the 2023-24 season as the defending Class 1A Division 1 (now Class 2A) state champions. They defended their crown well, advancing all the way to the state championship game for the second year in a row. Alas, the sequel wasn’t quite as good as the original, as Lapwai defeated Lakeside 67-54, sending the Knights home with the runner-up trophy.
But what if it’s a trilogy? Optimism is high at Lakeside High again this year, and for good reason. 6-foot-2 junior guard Tyson Charley is the reigning Scenic Idaho Conference MVP, and is one of the state’s best players, regardless of conference or classification.
But while Charley is good, he’s also the only returning starter from last year’s 17-4 squad. Gone are fellow starters Brutis SiJohn, Blaze Callahan, Liam Hendrickx and Qwincy Hall. Also gone is 6th man Joshua Kee.
But Lakeside always reloads with athletes. 5-foot-11 junior Hallah Peone and 5-foot-8 senior Preston Spotted Horse were both varsity reserves last season, and are expected to start at guard alongside Charley. 5-foot-8 sophomore Furyous Louie will also see time at point guard, and veteran coach James Twoteeth is counting on 6-foot-4 junior Lorrell Mitchell and 6-foot-2 sophomore Jaydin Pluff to provide stout interior play.
Wallace may have the firepower to match Lakeside. Outside of Charley, Wallace senior forward Julian Davis could lay claim to being the conference’s best player. Davis averaged 17 points per game a year ago, and consistently hit double-digit rebound totals, also. Davis may be counted on more inside this year, as last year’s starting center, Alex Cleveland, graduated.
“We’ll have a free-flowing style of offense that will allow us to create open shots with off-ball movement,” says coach Jared Young. “Julian Davis will be the catalyst for us, and he will lead us in most offensive categories as he can create and make shots. But our guard play should be much improved and with the addition of Cooper Miller (freshman) and Henry Larson (sophomore), we should have some additional scoring options this year.”
Miller just finished quarterbacking the Wallace football team to the state playoffs as a freshman, while Larson missed all of football season with an injury. He is expected back on the court this year, though. Senior guard Jordan Guardipee and sophomore forward Emmitt Myles are also key cogs in the Wallace engine this season.
“I’m most excited to see how our sophomores play this year with a little experience, as they were thrown into the fire of varsity basketball as freshmen,” says Young. “We hope to have them mature this year and really be the backbone of the team.”
At the other end of the spectrum is Genesis Prep. The Jaguars are senior-heavy, but are led by a rookie head coach in Chris Mullen. In fact, G-Prep will start five seniors this year: guards Spencer Farrell, Emmaus Nichols and Dylan Tosh, and posts Ethan Martin and Gabe Meyer.
Clark Fork is a new addition to the league. The Wampus Cats used to reside in the Class 1A Division 2 (now Class 1A) ranks, but moved up a level due to higher-than-expected student enrollment numbers. Clark Fork is one of the smallest schools at the 2A level, though, and only has seven players on this year’s team. Former assistant coach Stillman Berkley slides one chair over and will be the Wampus Cats’ new head coach.
Junior center Owen Howard was an All-Conference performer last season, while senior forward Evrett Montgomery and junior guard Westin Caven will also be featured players in the Clark Fork lineup this year.