BOYS BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW: Returning after historic season

BONNERS FERRY — The boys are back — after taking second in the 3A state championship last year, Badger boys basketball is back and hitting the court hard.

Last season, the Badgers repeatedly made history. They scored over 111 points in the season opener, won districts for the third year in a row and league for the first time since the 2006-07 season. They went on to be the top seed in state and were 21-1 as they entered the state tournament. 

The Badgers only loss last season before the state tournament was against West Valley High School during the West Valley Holiday Classic basketball tournament on Dec. 29, 2022. The Badger fell by one point in double over time. 

The Badger went on a 15-game win streak after the loss.

In the state championship game, the Badgers faced off against Sugar Salem, the 2020 state champion. 

Sugar opened up a 34-22 lead late in the third quarter, but the Badgers wouldn’t go away and finished the quarter on a 6-0 run, capped by a pair of short jumpers by Braeden Blackmore.

Bonners Ferry pulled to within one, 38-37, on two free throws by Asher Williams with 4:01 remaining, but Kelton Garner answered with a three-pointer for the Diggers, and soon the Badgers had to play the foul game.

The Diggers did what all coaches emphasize, winning at the foul line. They sank 11 of 14 free throws over the last 1:37, sealing the state championship title. Garner hit four of four, Brandon Cordova hit six of eight.

The only other times Badgers placed at state were in 1991 and 2002, when they were fourth. 

“After taking second last year, we’re refocusing,” Bonners Ferry head coach Nathan Wiliams said. 

The Badgers have a new group of players, but also have returning varsity players such as senior Trey Bateman and juniors Eli Blackmore, Thomas Bateman and Asher Williams. 

Williams said Blackmore is a jack of all trades and is needed this season. 

“Our nucleus is, size-wise, bigger than last year,” Williams said. “Asher and Thomas have gained muscle,” he said, noting it will help the Badgers with confidence, defensive stops and boards down low. 

Asher was named the 3A All Idaho Boys Basketball player of the year last season, as a sophomore. At the state tournament he was 60% from the floor to rack up 18.7 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game.

He is also the son of Williams. 

Williams dispelled rumors that Asher had transferred to Sandpoint, as the now six-foot-five guard was dunking during warmups. 

He said that the Bonners Ferry basketball team and families were an extension of the Williams family. He added that he hadn’t heard the rumor. 

“Asher will be playing some wing and point guard this season,” Williams said, noting changes in positions will be changing for other players as well 

Last season, the Badgers graduated their starting point guard and their posts. 

With only four varsity players returning and only one who played post, the Badgers are looking to mix things up. 

Last season, the Badger graduated 1,000-point scorer, all-league player and three-year point guard Braeden Blackmore and all-league player Ridge Williams were high scorers for the Badgers. Bonners Ferry also graduated Charles Henslee, a strong defender, David Hammons and Porter Schulte, two tall players that could play as post and nabbed up rebounds. 

Riley Petesch, who played post and won the 6th Man Award at the 2023 3A State championship, will not be returning for the Badgers for his senior year.  Rather he is attending school in California where he is playing in boys volleyball and attempts to play volleyball at the collegiate level. 

“We won’t be as deep and as tall as we were last year,” Williams said. “Other guys on the team haven’t played post before, other than Trey”

“Losing six guys and Riley is a change, but fun as well,” Williams said. “This gives an opportunity for younger players to step up,” he said. 

Williams noted players Sulay Abubakari, Peyton Hinthorn and Brody Rice are looking good at early practices, summer league and open gyms. 

Williams noted that the returning varsity core has returned stronger as many players hit the weight room in the off season. He added that in summer league, players faced tough teams such as 5A Lake City in overtime. 

Another change the Badgers will have to overcome is the addition of the shot clock at the state tournament. Williams said like Bonners Ferry, other schools will mostly likely be adding shot clocks to their gyms. 

The Badgers will have to adapt their game play in order to score before the 35-second clock runs out, or turn the ball over. Williams said in the West Valley game, the Badgers felt the pressure of the shot clock. 

“We had to play more at half court and every time I looked up, it seemed like the clock was already at 12 seconds,” he said. 

He said the team will be working with a shot clock in scrimmages and will work on faster plays and sets. 

The Badgers are still working on having a full game schedule. They are allowed up to 20 games in the season before the state tournament. 

Seniors on the team include Wyatt Smith, Chago Jimenez and Trey Bateman.

For the season opener, Bonners Ferry will be on the road against Rogers High School on Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Last season, the Badgers defeated the Pirates 82-50.

    Brody Rice, right, guards Asher Williams, left, during a recent one-on-one drill by the Badgers.