District 5 Quick Set: Rockland rolling as conference seasons near

EASTERN IDAHO — As they surge into their conference season, the Rockland Bulldogs are riding high, having won 12 consecutive matches and lost just three sets since the start of September.

Rockland (12-1, 3-0) played its second conference match in as many days Wednesday, cruising past the Sho-Ban Chiefs (0-4, 0-3) in straight sets, 25-2, 25-14, 25-13.

Bulldog starters spent much of the second and third sets resting and watching the youngsters play. In one set together, though, Rockland’s trio of Sophomore Mahana Hatch and juniors Belle Schmidt and Whitley Ralphs combined for five kills and eight aces.

Hatch finished the match with five kills and six aces, while sitting the entire second set. Schmidt added six kills.

Sho-Ban was led by senior Kei’Ana Medicine Top and junior Lilyahna Baker.

Where the rest of the 1A teams stand

While Rockland has begun to separate itself from the pack, the North Gem Cowboys (8-3, 1-1) and Grace Lutheran Royals (6-2, 1-1) sit within in striking distance of the Bulldogs. And each will have a chance to avenge earlier previous to Rockland next week — with the Royals visiting Rockland High School on Tuesday and North Gem hosting the conference leaders on Thursday.

The Bulldogs will finish their regular season pm Oct. 10, with home matches against the 1A Rocky Mountain Conference-leading Mackay Miners (12-0, 8-0) and the 2A perennial power Butte County Pirates.

Pillaging and thrashing

The 2A class’s High Desert Conference is made up of just three teams, and two of those teams are currently sitting on 11 wins with their first head-to-head matchup of the season coming on Oct. 1.

Butte County (11-3, 0-0) already owns a victory over the 3A South East Idaho Conference-leading Malad Dragons and 5A High Country Conference-contending Hillcrest Knights and Blackfoot Broncos. All signs point to the Pirates pushing toward a third straight state championship. They will host the Grace Grizzlies (11-7, 2-0), who own a victory over the final conference member, the Challis Vikings (4-3, 0-2), on Oct. 1.

The Vikings will take their lone crack at Butte County on Oct. 13 at Butte County High School.

Dragons breathing fire

After three consecutive second-place finishes, Malad (14-0, 5-0) looks for a return trip to the state tournament. The Dragons have a handful of noteworthy victories, including ThunderBee Invitational wins over the Highland Rams and Snake River Panthers. They look to continue their perfect in-conference record Thursday, when they host the West Side Pirates (11-10, 3-1), who are currently second in the 3A South East Idaho Conference standings.

The Marsh Valley Eagles (3-7, 3-3), Soda Springs Cardinals (2-8, 1-3) and Aberdeen Tigers (1-10, 0-5) are all battling to stay in the conference battle.

Bears, Panthers look to set up 2A match race

Despite finishing the ThunderBee with a 4-3 record, the Bear Lake Bears (18-5, 0-0) have lost just three matches against Idaho teams — with two of those coming at the hands of 6A powers Rigby and Madison.

The Bears boast the best overall record in the 4A South East Idaho Conference, but none of the conference’s four teams have entered conference play yet. That begins Thursday, with Bear Lake visiting Preston (9-6, 0-0) and Snake River (12-8, 0-0) at American Falls (5-2, 0-0).

What could be an interesting conference race could come down to an Oct. 14 regular-season finale between the Bears and Panthers at Snake River High School.

Jam-packed 5A High Country Conference features 6 winning records

Having added the Pocatello Thunder (14-11, 1-0) and Century Diamondbacks (4-17, 0-4) to the mix this year, the 5A High Country Conference now features eight teams. And three-quarters of those teams currently boast a winning record.

The Idaho Falls Tigers (19-5, 3-0) hold the conference’s top spot as of Thursday, but the reigning champion Hillcrest Knights (16-9, 1-0) and reigning runners-up Shelley Russets (13-11, 2-2) are in hot pursuit. As are the Blackfoot Broncos (13-9, 2-0), Pocatello Thunder (14-11, 1-0) and Bonneville Bees (15-6, 2-1).

Like Century, the Skyline Grizzlies (8-15, 0-4) are battling to keep pace in one of the biggest conferences in the state.

Conference play is coming fast, though, with Pocatello visiting Shelley Thursday to get the ball rolling.

Rams battling to keep pace with conference leaders

The Highland Rams (9-13, 1-2) have yet to win three consecutive matches at any point this season, while they have ridden three separate three-game losing slides.

There is still time for the Rams to make a push, however, with conference matches against Rigby (22-2, 2-1), Madison (17-1, 3-0) and Thunder Ridge (10-9, 0-3) left on the schedule.

Highland last won a state championship in 1997 — more than a decade before this year’s seniors were born.