Blackmore and Williams brothers take All-League honors after back-to-back state appearances

“Every year at the IML All League voting you never can predict what is going to happen,” head coach Nathan Williams said.

For All League honors, each Intermountain League coach gets to nominate players. No coach can vote for their own players and voting is done in silence. The scores are added up and the top 10 players are named IML All League.

“Last year, we were the only team in the league to come away with only two All League players. Every other team in the IML received three players in the All League,” Williams said. “I was a bit surprised, but I believe it gave my team something to prove at districts and help motivate us to get to state and break a long dry spell.”

This year, Williams said he was pleased to see three of his Badgers recognized by the IML coaches. The IML coaches voted and juniors Braeden Blackmore, Ridge Williams, and freshmen Asher Williams were all recognized as IML All League players.

Braeden Blackmore is a three-time IML All League player who bounces between first and second on the team in almost every category. Williams said he is very proud of Blackmore’s efforts and is looking forward to one more season with him.

Ridge Williams was voted IML All League for the second year in a row and also was named All-Tournament Honorable Mention at state for the second year in a row.

Freshmen Asher Williams was named IML All League this year and at state was named second team All-Tournament team.

The Badger boys basketball team made history once again this year by winning a district title for the first time in 15 years and was the only Intermountain league team to make it to the state tournament.

They did so with a deep bench, tremendous amount of effort, and unselfish play, Williams said. In only his second year as varsity coach, Williams said he was pleased last year when the Badgers made it to state for the first time in 13 years. He knew that the team was capable of going back to state once again.

Although the Badgers were given the No. 8 seed and lost the first game, they battled back and beat fifth seed Fruitland. They were then one point away from bringing home the fourth place trophy against Homedale.

“It was a great season and I am very proud of what the boys accomplished at state,” Williams said.

The Badgers graduate one player from this year’s district championship team, and that is senior Ethan Hubbard.

“Ethan [Hubbard] is a tremendous player who does all the little things. He always guards the toughest player on the other team, takes care of the ball, and rebounds very well. I completely understand the value of Ethan Hubbard even though others who watch us may not. He is a great athlete, coachable and unselfish. My biggest challenge will be to try and replace everything Ethan [Hubbard] does on next year’s team,” Williams said.

He said losing [Hubbard] is tough in many ways, but opens up a great opportunity for someone to fill his spot, Williams said. He is excited to see who works hard this summer, both on the court and in the weight room.