3A Bear Lake

Coach (year): Laura Cammack (9th)

First-round matchup: vs. Kimberly, 8:30 a.m. today at Bonneville High

Outlook: The Bears don't seem too concerned that they needed a play-in game to reach the state tournament. After losing the Fifth District championship match to Snake River, Bear Lake was just happy to be back for its 12th straight appearance at state - and the Bears' confidence hasn't been sapped by that defeat. The tradition at Bear Lake is stronger than that, coach Laura Cammack said. "They know what I expect," she said. "It's nice to have a state banner up in the gym and explain to them how great it feels."

3A Snake River

Coach (year): Shelli Van Orden (1st)

Record: 28-11

First-round matchup: vs. Priest River, 11:30 a.m. today at Bonneville High

Outlook: For the first time since 2005, the Panthers are back at the state tournament. To get there, they beat district rival Bear Lake in Montpelier, a rare accomplishment indeed. "We're coming in very strong," first-year coach Shelli Van Orden said. "But the team has to come and play, and you never know at a state level." To combat that, Van Orden took the team up to Bonneville High on Thursday so they could be on the court and "breathe the air, see where we're playing," she said.

2A West Side

Coach (year): Bridget Beckstead (1st)

Record: 9-2

First-round matchup: vs. Nampa Christian, 11:30 a.m. today at Idaho Falls High

Outlook: They haven't played nearly as many matches as most teams at state, but that doesn't concern the Pirates' coach, Bridget Beckstead. West Side played matches against 3A Bear Lake and 4A Preston, and she said they're confident the tougher competition compensates for the shortage of games. Plus, the Pirates aren't strangers to state tournaments. "They're pretty comfortable," Beckstead said. "Even my younger kids have been to state track as freshmen."

1A North Gem

Coach (year): Ralph Peterson (28th)

Record: 12-9

First-round matchup: vs. Richfield, 10 a.m. today at Burley High

Outlook: Young teams tend to struggle early, but they don't always finish the way North Gem did this year. With a sophomore-heavy team, North Gem lost eight of its first nine matches, then won 11 of its last 12. That includes a district championship, the team's first since 2004. While North Gem's record might not look that daunting, veteran coach Ralph Peterson doesn't expect to be overlooked. "A lot of coaches have been around a long time, and they know how it goes," he said. "Records don't matter once you get to state."