So what happened in the first week of the season? We have you covered

The boys basketball season is underway so it’s time to take a look at a couple of early storylines as the season heats up.

Is the best rivalry finished?

The (previously) 4A classification has been arguably the most entertaining over the past three seasons with Hillcrest and Pocatello battling for the state title all three years at the Idaho Center.

The Knights won in 2022 and 2023, but it was Pocatello earning the state title last season.

Will there be a Round 4?

Both teams have graduated some talented players with Pocatello’s Julian Bowie, last year’s 4A State Player of the Year, now at Boise State, and Hillcrest’s Isaac Davis moving on to Utah State.

Both teams also have new head coaches.

Well, it won’t take long to find out if Hillcrest and Pocatello are still a top rivalry.

The Knights visit Pocatello on Tuesday for a nonconference game.

Speaking of (previously) 4A …

Blackfoot finished strong last season to earn a spot in the 4A state tournament and advanced to the consolation final.

This year’s conference race could be more competitive, but if the Broncos are to make another postseason charge, they’ll have to do it without any seniors.

This year’s varsity roster features six juniors and four sophomores.

The team does have some size, with sophomore Lawrence Cousineau, junior Kasen Sorensen, and junior Austin McLaughlan each listed at 6-4. Sophomore Carter Ethington is 6-6.

Sorensen was a second-team all-state selection at Firth last season.

Miner’s duo on target

Mackay lost its season opener to Grace Lutheran, but the duo of junior Ryker Summers and Cooper Holt each finished with a double-double as Summers finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Holt, a sophomore, added 10 points and 17 rebounds.

More accolades for Madison’s Humpherys

MaxPreps recently put together a list of the top players in all 50 states and Madison’s Nash Humpherys was the pick from Idaho.

The Boise State signee is a two-time all-state selection and helped the Bobcats reach the 5A state semifinals. He averaged 19.7 points, 4.6 assists and 3.0 steals last season.

Rebuilding in the Mountain Rivers Conference?

Teton was the top dog in the Mountain Rivers Conference last season, beating perennial power Sugar-Salem four times on the way to a district title and a berth in the 3A state championship game.

So who has the upper hand this season?

Teton has to replace all-state first-teamer Tyson Brown, along with all-conference first-teamers Jack Nelson, Kaiden Hastings and Thomas Heuseveldt.

Sugar-Salem, which finished 10-16 last season, looks to replace all-conference selections Carter Taylor and Ammon Lee.

Mark the calendar. The Timberwolves visit Sugar-Salem on Jan. 30.

Lights out

So who’s the top 3-point shooter in the area?

After one game, it’s Highland’s Tracen Tripple, who knocked down a school-record nine 3-pointers in a season-opening win over Shelley.

Each of those 3s proved crucial as the Rams held on to win 56-54.

And making the night more special, the school record that Tracen broke was previously held by his dad Tennison.