WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW: Bonners Ferry boys basketball looking towards back-to-back state titles

LAST SEASON: 23-3, 3A Intermountain League Champions, 3A State Champions with key wins over Rogers of Spokane (65-52), Pullman (74-60), Lakeside (Plummer) (73-65, 72-61), Sandpoint (84-66), Kimberly (74-61), Marsh Valley (64-57) and Teton (54-47).

COACHES: Nathan Williams (head coach, fifth year), Jed Bateman (assistant coach).

PLAYERS TO WATCH: G — Eli Blackmore, sr.; Brody Rice, sr.; Peyton Hinthorn, so.; Asher Williams, sr.; Thomas Bateman, sr.; Ty Schrock, so. F — Sulay Abubakari, jr.; Ivaan Cartwright, sr.

On Mar. 2, 2024, Bonners Ferry won their first ever boys basketball state championship with a 54-47 win over Teton. Returning a large portion of last year's team, there is no doubt that the Badgers' chances of bringing home back-to-back titles is one that is tangible.

Retruning to the lineup is 6 foot 6 inch senior guard Asher Williams, a two-time 3A Player of the Year and a Montana Tech commit who averaged 28.4 points per game last year for Bonners Ferry. The son of fifth-year head coach Nathan Williams, a former Whitworth University standout, Asher will most certainly lead the charge this season behind what is a very senior-heavy Badger class.

Four other guards also return for Bonners Ferry and are set to make immediate impacts again: senior guard Thomas Bateman, a 6 foot 4 inch guard who picked up All-State First Team and 3A All-Intermountain League honors last season; senior guard Brody Rice, a 6 foot 2 inch guard who picked up All-State First Team and 3A All-Intermountain League honors last season; sophomore Peyton Hinthorn, a 6 foot 4 inch guard who picked the 6th Man Award at least year's state championship; and Eli Blackmore, a 5 foot 10 inch guard, who received 3A All-Intermountain League honors last season and is known as one of the best Badger defenders.

Down low, junior forward Sulay Abubakari adds to the already above average size of Bonners Ferry's roster. At 6 foot 7 inches, he's a scoring threat from all over the court and can be relied on to bring down rebounds when the Badgers need one the most. Described as a player with a great hustle and fearlessness on the court, senior forward Ivaan Cartwright will also be a contributor in the post.

One last guard to watch out for is Ty Schrock. Coach Williams said he is looking forward to seeing how the sophomore continues to develop and expects him to step up this year and play some valuable minutes.

"I believe our chances are good as long as we continue to outhustle opponents, play defense, communicate, and play unselfishly on the offensive end," coach Williams, who is now in his 12th season as a varsity head coach, having coached seven of those years in Eastern Oregon, said. "I started coaching these seniors when they were in third grade, and at an early age we played fast, typically playing a year up in competition. We were never the tallest team growing up, so it is fun to see our kids grow into athletic young men with a lot of height for our classification. And we still play fast, just with size now."

Coach Williams says this group is a special one, one that is hardworking and unselfish — a team where everyone knows their roles, accepts that role, and excels at it.

"I love the game of basketball and the life lessons that it gives each of us regarding hard work, sacrifice, and teamwork, " coach Williams said. "It is a long season, but something I believe the team will remember for a long time.

The Badgers, which were named the No. 17 best "Small Town" team in the United States by MaxPreps recently, start off the season on Nov. 30 when they host 5A Sandpoint, a team that made the 4A state tournament last season and also was a team that Bonners Ferry beat 84-66 last year on the road. Shortly after, they'll face 2023 2A state-qualifier (now 3A) St. Maries and a tough 2A squad in Logos.

After Christmas break, Bonners Ferry will head to a tourney in Reardan, Wash. where they'll face off against schools like Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) and then to Lewis-Clark State College's Avista Holiday Tourney where they'll open up with 5A Lewiston and will then play all the 5A schools in the region and two of the best 6A schools in the region. 

However, what ultimately must be done to qualify for the state tournament yet again is taking down 4A IML rival Timberlake. The Badgers will travel to Timberlake for the Backwoods Brawl on Jan. 18 after facing a tough non-league opponent in Moscow two days prior, and then will host the Tigers on Feb. 14 for the regular season and 4A IML finale.

Boys Basketball Schedule 

11/30 — vs. Sandpoint, 7 p.m. 

12/7 — vs. Stillwater Christian, 6 p.m. 

12/10 — @ St. Maries, 7 p.m. 

12/12 — @ Logos, 7 p.m. 

12/27-28 — Reardan Tournament @ Reardan HS 

1/2-4 — Lewis-Clark State Tourney @ Lewiston HS 

1/7 — vs. Libby, 5:30 p.m. 

1/10 — @ Stillwater Christian, 2:30 p.m. 

1/14 — @ Lincoln County, 7:30 p.m. 

1/16 — vs. Moscow, 6:30 p.m. 

1/18 — @ Timberlake, 12 p.m. 

1/24 — vs. St. Maries, 7 p.m. 

1/28 — vs. Lakeland, 8 p.m. 

2/8 — vs. Logos, 7 p.m. 

2/10 — @ Lake City, 7 p.m. 

2/14 — vs. Timberlake, 7 p.m. 

    Bonners Ferry High senior guard Asher Williams, who averaged 26 points per game during the last year's 3A state tournament, rises over two Teton defenders and finishes with a finger roll during the 2023 3A State Championship game.