5A SIC Preview 2020-21: Top Teams to Watch

<p>As the school year draws nearer, high school hoops become even closer. The 2020-21 season looks to jam-packed full of great basketball in the 5A SIC and these will be the top 5 teams to watch as they compete for the district championship and the possibility of a state championship.</p> <p><strong>Meridian Warriors:</strong> Led by head coach Jeff Sanor, the Warriors went 15-3 in conference last season thanks to a team full of shooters and young talent. There were no seniors on the roster at Meridian last season and they are sure to build on the groundwork they laid in 2019-20. Look for big things coming from [player_tooltip player_id="919668" first="Joe" last="Mpoyo"], a 6’4" guard/forward with a great looking jumper, [player_tooltip player_id="969588" first="McKay" last="Anderson"], a pass first point guard with an equally deadly shot, and of course 6’11" center, [player_tooltip player_id="554729" first="Brody" last="Rowbury"] holding down the middle on one end, and knocking down 3’s on the other.</p> <p><strong>Rocky Mountain Grizzlies:</strong> Under the helm of Dane Roy, the powerhouse Grizzlies look to avenge a loss in the state semi-finals last year. The Grizzlies will be losing a couple of high-level seniors that carried a lot of weight on the team, but Rocky has no shortage of elite talent ready to fill the spots. Watch for [player_tooltip player_id="919663" first="Jaden" last="Hansen"], a 6’1" guard with great vision and a knack for finishing around the hoop to lead the Grizzlies on another quest for a state title.</p> <p><strong>Boise Brave:</strong> Head coach Manny Varela looks to make a run at the state tournament with a roster ready to win. After a 9-9 conference record last season, the Brave are ready to have a breakout season thanks to a roster full of young talent and tons of valuable game experience. Look out for [player_tooltip player_id="554730" first="Whit" last="Miller"], one of the best players in the state and a great finisher at the rim and a skilled passer, and [player_tooltip player_id="921076" first="Jack" last="Payne"], a 6’5" guard with some bounce, a knock-down jumper and Kevin Love’s outlet pass.</p> <p><strong>Eagle Mustangs: </strong>Coach Dennis Kerfoot eagerly awaits the 2020-21 season to allow the Mustangs to take the next step toward a state championship. Last season, the Mustangs lost in the first round of the state tournament but have plenty of talent to make it back again this year and make an even deeper run. Watch for [player_tooltip player_id="917665" first="Jordan" last="Kemp"], a forward with the ability to take a step back and hit from the outside, and Brayden White, a 6"9" presence looking to hold down the middle for Eagle.</p> <p><strong>Centennial</strong> <strong>Patriots: </strong>Under coach Josh Aipperspach, the mighty Patriots look to right the ship as they approach the 2020-21 season. The Patriots struggled last season with a guard-heavy roster and lots of injuries across the board. This season, the Patriots look to make a run at the state tournament with a mix of veteran leadership, and young talent. Look for [player_tooltip player_id="919676" first="Lukas" last="Broadsword"], a 6’6" rim-protector and all-around threat to lead the Patriots into battle.</p>