Tigers open hoop season tonight

The Mountain Home Tigers open their 2008-2009 boys basketball season tonight at home against the Mountain View Mavericks in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium.

Tiger head basketball coach Tony Kerfoot lost six seniors to graduation from last year's squad, which went 8-15 overall.

Kerfoot said they had a good turnout for basketball this year.

"Over the last couple of years, we've put a lot of time in during the summer. They're serious about their basketball and I think that's going to show off this year."

Despite losing six players to graduation, Coach Kerfoot likes the experience he has back this year at the varsity level.

"We're going to be very experienced. We've got four returning players off of last year, but the other kids that will comprise the varsity, most of them have played a lot of ball all the way through, and I think that increased knowledge, experience, quickness -- it should pay big dividends."

Kerfoot sees another tough conference race this year, with Skyview probably head and shoulders (literally as well as figuratively) above the rest, but everybody else should be "pretty even."

"I think Skyview's out there on their own. After that I think it's going to be pretty tough. Some are even pointing at us at being the next guy, and I'm willing to take that, but I know that there's not a big separation between about the next four or five teams. BK and Kuna I think will be both very good, Middleton will be right in there, also, and I don't think you can overlook anybody else."

The Tigers open against two 5A schools this week, hosting Mountain View tonight, and going to Timberline on Friday night.

"I don't know a whole lot about Mountain View," said Coach Kerfoot. "Timberline, I know they're pretty good. They're returning several guys from last year. They did graduate a few, but they still have some real good shooters and some real good guards. "

Action against Mountain View gets underway with the sophomore game tonight at 4:30 p.m., followed by the JV game at approximately 6 p.m., and the varsity game around 7:30 p.m.