If Filer boys basketball can learn one thing from last year, it’s that good things take time. The Wildcats started 1-5 in 2023-24 but won 16 straight games, as they captured their first Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference championship since 2013 and advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 2020. Filer graduated eight seniors from that team but are trying to take the same approach this winter as they look to defend their conference championship.
The Wildcats (2-2) visit Snake River at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
”Last year we had comradery,” senior Owen Grant told the Times-News . “It took a minute to get that. I feel like it’s going to take a minute this year to get that type of comradery that we did last year.
Once it does, we’re going to be a dang good team.” A senior-heavy group in 2023-24 gave way to one with a little more balance across grade levels this season. Filer returns three players — senior Grant, senior Preston Volle and junior Xavier Kelsey.
Michael Shaw and Troy Parish join the senior class. Sophomore Kason Coon and junior Bryce Thomas have also made an impact so far. It’s a group that doesn’t have a lot of experience playing together at the varsity level but played together when they were younger.
They also played in AAU tournaments this summer to build chemistry. “During summer ball, we were playing good, getting along well,” Volle told the Times-News . “Which showed on the court what we could do and what we could become.
” This year’s team lacks the depth and size Filer had last year, when it seemed like anyone on the floor could carry the team on any given night. Head coach Rob Anderson told the Times-News he will looking for Grant and Volle to center a lot of the scoring load, something they did in the 61-30 win over Mountain Home on Tuesday. Grant had a game-high 20 points while Volle added 18.
Filer boys basketball seniors Preston Volle, left, and Owen Grant are expected to have big roles this winter for the defending Sawtooth Central Idaho Conference champions. Coon has adjusted well to the varsity level, giving the Wildcats length on the perimeter while splitting ball-handling duties with Kelsey. Filer has competed in every game whether it won against Mountain Home or Sugar-Salem (54-52) or losses to Skyline (62-54) and Snake River (62-45).
“Knowing that you want to go out and win every game every night, that sometimes that’s not gonna happen,” Anderson told the Times-News . “But if you are competing at a high level the whole time, you’re only going to be getting better.” When last year’s team bought into defense and playing for each other, things clicked.
The hope is Filer’s building toward a similar comradery with different pieces this year. The result became a district title and the Wildcats' first winning season since 2013-14, the last of six straight seasons in which the program finished with a record more than .500.
The SCIC looks wide open this year as the four teams graduated at least five seniors each. That means an opportunity for Filer to take another step forward as a program. Winning one district title is one thing.
Competing for them consistently is another. ”We want to show them we’re not a one year wonder,” Volle said. “We’re gonna come back, we’re gonna build up the program and it’ll just continue.
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Justin Fitzgerald is the sports reporter for the Times-News. Prior to coming to Twin Falls, he was the sports reporter at the Cherokee Scout in Murphy, North Carolina for 2.5 years.
Despite growing up in Maryland and graduating from the state's flagship university, he thinks Old Bay is overrated. Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sports Reporter {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items..
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Defending SCIC champs Filer boys basketball wants to be a 'dang good team'
If Filer boys basketball can learn one thing from last year, it’s that good things take time.