dthompson@journalnet.com

POCATELLO - With five wearing black and five others in silver, the Highland girls' basketball team ran through its halfcourt sets in its gym Thursday.

Neither team seemed to be dominating. As the two squads traded baskets, it was difficult to discern which was the weaker.

"One of our coaches' goals was to make our practices harder than our games," senior guard Taryn Harding said, "and I think that's possible."

The Rams breezed through the 5A District 4, 5, 6 last season with a 17-5 record but sputtered at the state tournament, where they went 1-2 and lost in the consolation championship.

That is not a fate players want to relive. They have their focus set on a state championship, and they point to their depth as a major reason why they said their goal is attainable.

Coach Scott Hansen likes to cycle sophomores into his varsity rotation, and he hopes his history of doing so will pay off this year. Breanne Van Every and Kylie Hardison, two of the Rams' four seniors, played with the top team even as freshmen.

Jordan Holman is the only one of the Rams' three juniors this year who suited up regularly for varsity last season, but four sophomores are expected to contribute in today's season opener against Blackfoot, forming a roster than is balanced between three classes.

"I've been in their situation," Hardison said of the sophomores. "I was nervous, so I tell them to relax. I try to help them as best I can."

Added Harding: "It's good to get used to playing at the varsity level and then gaining confidence there, because then you have two years to give everything you've got."

Hansen expects Van Every and senior Emma Filiaga, both 6 feet tall, to form a dominant duo in the post. At practice, though, the Rams were getting baskets from seemingly everyone, inside the post and on the perimeter.

But coaches also cautioned that this is still the preseason, and they expect the five-team district to be better than it was a year ago. The Rams can't be thinking about the state tournament before they actually earn a spot in it, they said.

Still, players seemed rather pleased with their summer ball performance, when they won all five of the games they played against Treasure Valley schools.

"We've all meshed really well," Holman said. "The more we play, we're going to get stronger as a team."

Especially if their best competition does turn out to be the team they face in practice.

Highland

Predicted finish (out of five): First

Coach: Scott Hansen

Last year's record: 18-7 (7-1 conference)

Returning seniors: 4

Key graduates: Lauren Jones, Katie Swore