Tigers prepare for basketball season opener

The Mountain Home Tigers open their boys basketball season with two games next week.

Tiger head basketball coach Tony Kerfoot said he was pleased with this year's turnout.

"I think we had a real good turnout, even to the point where we had to cut a few off our younger squads.

"Overall, I think the program is as healthy as I'm ever seen it, where we've got good competitive teams at every level that are ready to get after it and a lot of good athletes that are prepared for the season."

Coach Kerfoot also likes the players that make up this year's varsity squad.

"I think we're going to be real athletic, especially inside, and I'm kind of excited about some of the athletes that we have there, the strengths that they have, hopefully we'll be able to put that to show on the basketball floor."

Kerfoot sees the Southern Idaho Conference 4A race to be a real battle this year, with Skyview the odds-on favorite.

"I think obviously you need to go with the defending state champions that return quite a few people ­-- maybe all but two people -- so you've got to go with Skyview there.

"I think Middleton and BK are also going to be very tough and I think Kuna's going to be right in there. Nampa's got a lot of people back -- I'm not real sure how good they are -- kind of the same thing with Columbia and Emmett's kind of that way, although I know Emmett's got one player that's probably as good as anyone in the state. Whether or not they have enough to mesh together as a whole team, that's yet to be seen.

"I think we're kind of in that situation. I don't know how we're going to come together as a team. Like I said, I think we're athletic, and I think we have some good potential, but we have some variables that we've got to polish off."

The Tigers traveled to Twin Falls on Tuesday for a jamboree. They open the season next Tuesday night at home against Timberline and go to Mountain View next Wednesday.

"I really don't know a whole lot about them," Coach Kerfoot said. "I didn't see either one of those teams last summer. But at this point, I'm more worried about us, and I'm not too worried about what they have. I'm out there trying to find out about us."