ALL-IDAHO BOYS BASKETBALL: Father and son duo name player and coach of year

Bonners Ferry junior guard Asher Williams was named 3A boys Player of the Year for a second straight year, announced by The Idaho Statesman newspaper of Boise following voting by coaches statewide. Williams averaged 28.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists as the Badgers won their first state title.

Nathan Williams of Bonners was named Coach of the Year.

Bonners junior guard Thomas Bateman (15.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.1 assists) and Badgers senior forward Trey Bateman (9.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists) were named to the 3A boys second team.

Coach Williams said having Asher named 3A boys Player of the Year for the second year in a row and Thomas and Trey being named in the top 10 players in 3A is well deserved and shows the program’s growth.

“Four years ago we didn’t have three players in the top 10 of 3A,” he said. “It is amazing to see a small town like Bonners Ferry getting on the map and making noise in boys basketball.” 

Thomas Bateman gets better every summer, is hard working and averaged 15.2 point this season, Williams said. He led the team in rebounds and was in the top for steals and assists. 

“He’s a kid that keeps shooting. I couldn’t say enough about his progression. At state all teams have good shooters that catch and shoot, Thomas guards those player and always has a hand in the shooting pocket.”

When it comes to stats, Trey Bateman was one of the top three leaders for the Badgers in every category from, assists, rebounds, steals, blocked shots, points scored and charges. Williams said he will be hard to replace as Trey is graduating. 

The top 10 players are voted on by 3A coaches, Williams said Asher received the award because it all comes down to stats and scoring.

“Asher has a gift for scoring, but all his teammates set screens for him, it’s a team game,” he said. “He is getting better at rebounding and is a great ball carrier. Every kid on the team has a role and no one is jealous of other players' roles.”

“Brody Rice sets a goal of having seven assists a game, and Eli Blackmore is content with defending against the opposing team's best guard,” he said. “With everyone focusing on their roles and being the best team rather than focusing on scoring 20 points each, the kids accept and excel at their roles.” 

“What makes us good is effort in practice, playing at game speed and having unselfish players,” he said. 

Williams has coached many of these players since third and fourth grade.

“I asked them then, what is better than a six-foot-five player? On that can dribble,” he said. “Everyone on the team is a dribbler, a passer and shooters, it’s what I emphasize. I don’t tell any one of the guys they don’t shoot threes, all of them have the green light, but they know who has the highest shooting percentage and look for the open man.”

Williams trusts players to make decisions on the court. 

Against Marsh Valley at this years state tournament, Williams called a timeout as the Badgers almost had a five second violation during inbounding. 

“As I was setting up a play, Trey [who was on the baseline] spoke up and said they were over playing Thomas during our four-across press breaker,” Williams said. “I told Trey to make the read, make the call.”

On the inbound play Thomas Bateman v-cut and ran to the hoop. Trey Bateman was inbounding and baseball passes to his cousin Thomas, who scored a layin and one to finish the game. 

“Trey read the defense and anticipated. He is the loudest communicator on passes and loose balls. He speaks up and knows the game,” Williams said. “He will be hard to replace next year as he graduates.”

In receiving the 3A coach of the year award, this is Williams first time receiving coach of the year, as he didn’t receive the recognition when the 3A Intermountain League had four teams in 2021. 

He said it is typical that the coach of the state championship team receives the honor, however he said although his name is on the award and the team would not have been this successful without coaches Jed Bateman, Christian Weiner and Josh Hawks. 

In 2023, the Badgers made it the state championship game for the first time in school history, and finished in second place. Williams said he realized the team lost, because they did not have a set play to answer Marsh Valley’s 1-2-2 zone and that was the difference in the game despite have a deeper and more experienced team than in 2023/24. 

“The day after [the 2023 state championship] as we got on the bus to go home, we coaches asked ‘what do you need to do to prepare for next year.’” 

From there the coaching staff created seven more zone offenses and worked the team through them in summer league. Additionally, throughout the winter season the coaches created detailed scouting reports of 3A competition, noting if the team switch on ball or off ball screens, what are there inbounding defense, zones and press formations in order to know what tools Bonners Ferry needs to utilize for a particular match up.  

“We had scouting details and were prepared to face 10 teams going into the 3A State tournament,” Williams said. 

Six of the Badgers varsity players will be returning next season. 

    (left) Nathan Williams was a finalist for 3A-1A boys coach of the year and Asher Williams was named 3A-1A co-boys basketball player of the year by the North Idaho Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 6.
  

    Thomas Bateman goes up for a layin against Sugar Salem at the 3A State Championship on March 4.
  

    #20 Trey Bateman rushes to pick up Coach Nathan Williams as the Badgers win the 3A State Championship.