Lady Tigers to host season opener against Twin Falls

The Mountain Home Lady Tigers open their 2010-11 basketball season Friday night at home against Twin Falls.

Lady Tiger varsity coach Brent Keener said 36 girls tried out for the three high school teams.

"We had to cut just a few that weren't just quite ready for high school basketball yet, but, hopefully, they'll work some in the off season and try out again," the coach said. "They were all younger girls, so they have a future, which is good.

In terms of tryouts, "we were a little short on numbers, but from top to bottom, this is probably the best that I've seen since I've been here," he added.

Coach Keener lost seven seniors to graduation off a team that went 17-7 last year and finished third in SIC 4A conference and the District III 4A tourney. They were a play-in game win away from making it back to state last year. The had gone to state as the third-place team out of District III in 2008, but last year, and also this year, the third place team must win a play-in game to make state.

Keener is excited about the group of girls he has this year.

"We've got a few back with some good senior leadership -- Rachel (Warila), Jessica (Liercke), Kelsey (Egusquiza) and Dakota (Barrie) -- and then some really good underclassmen.

"Right now, I'm not carrying a ton on varsity, but we're going to move some girls up and down and split some quarters.

"Dakota's out right now for the time being, so I'm having to bring a couple of girls up for practice."

Keener sees Bishop Kelly, Middleton and Skyview as the top teams in the conference, besides his Lady Tigers.

"I think it will be the typical.Bishop Kelly will be strong. Middleton was a little down, but down for Middleton is not down for like everyone else. They struggled some this summer, when I saw them at times, just because they hadn't played together, but they've got a ton of talent.

"I think we should be right in there. Skyview will be much improved, they've got some pretty good freshmen, but other than that, I think it should be us, BK and Middleton."

Mountain Home opens their season Friday night against Twin Falls at home in Lloyd Schiller Gymnasium. Keener expects the Lady Bruins to him them a good test.

"Twin's got some talent, so it will be a good opener. We played them a few times this summer -- played them really good here this summer when we hosted a tournament on a weekday, but didn't play so good down at Jerome when we played them again. They got some girls that are hard to match up to, and they've got some shooters."

The Lady Tigers also will be home next Tuesday night to face Jerome, and then travel to Eagle on Nov. 20.