CALDWELL - The pressure may be a little different this time around, but, in truth, it's nothing new to the Salmon River Savages.
Just months after securing its second straight state title in football, the Riggins school will try to repeat the feat in basketball when the Idaho Class 1A Division II tournament kicks off today at Caldwell High.
"I think there's definitely a little bit more pressure on us as far as expectations," said Charlie Shepherd, who coaches the football and basketball teams. "Last year, we were hunting for that elusive title and we knew that we had the potential to get it, but now, with bringing almost everybody back - everyone except Charlie (Shepherd Jr.) - we know we have the potential to get it."
Not only do the Savages have the potential to go get it, they're probably the odds-on favorite considering their lofty position as the unanimous No. 1 team at the Division II level in the final regular-season media poll.
Salmon River opens with Carey (14-10) at 8 p.m. MST today.
Boasting a 20-2 record that includes a victory over 1A Division I District II champion Prairie of Cottonwood, the Savages are well-aware of their position and have done well to absorb each opponent's best shot throughout the season - all the way up to their district title win over No. 3 Ambrose of Meridian.
"Just like in football, I've had other teams' fans as well as coaches say that they've been practicing all year just to play us," Shepherd said. "That means that obviously we don't have any room for error when it comes to game time, but on the other hand, that's a huge compliment to our program and where it's at."
However, even if the Savages do happen to make a mistake or two, it sure helps to have a team that is built around the dynamic duo of all-world forward Leighton Vander Esch and diminutive floor general Jimmy Shepherd.
A more physical presence than he has been in previous seasons, Vander Esch, akin to his final season in football, raised his game to a new level this season.
Seemingly a lock for 1A Division II Player of the Year award, the future Boise State football walk-on regularly thumped the competition, averaging nearly a double-double this season and providing the Savages with some interior steel on the defensive end.
Flanked on the other side of the paint by McCoy Hale and a much-improved Nolan Richerson as well as on the perimeter by Shepherd and Terrun Zolman, teams were duly punished for attempting to double-team perhaps the most physically gifted player in the state.
"We have to worry about us and go down and execute with what we do, because the challenge for the other team is to stop us," Charlie Shepherd said. "That's probably the No. 1 thing I've drilled in these boys this season. The only ones, in my opinion, that can stop us is us."
On top of Salmon River's opening-round opponent, two other teams aiming to dethrone the defending champions are Kendrick and Summit of Cottonwood.
Kendrick is back in the state tournament for the second straight year, although probably no one would have picked them to return after the Tigers started 0-8 and 1-11 before eventually charging through No. 1 seed Deary and No. 2 seed Summit in the District II tournament.
Armed with a completely retooled lineup after losing four starters from a year ago, the 8-15 Tigers have the worst record but perhaps the most momentum, of any team in the Division II tournament.
"They're real excited," Kendrick coach Morgan LeBlanc said. "We've had kind of a rough season and the kids have done a good job as far as keeping their spirits up, staying optimistic and pulling through.
"They've known all along that they could do it and it was nice to see the younger kids step up and play up to their potential and the older kids provide positive leadership roles - it all came together."
It sure did.
With its two wins in the district tournament, Kendrick not only expanded its season win total by more than 30 percent, it also became the first team outside of Nezperce to win a District II title since the 1A level split into two divisions in 2009.
"It was nice to win," LeBlanc said. "It was nice to get that district championship.
"I don't know if it's like this in all small schools or not, but we have exceptional support from families, from community members, the school, our girls' basketball team, the cheerleaders - they do a really great job of supporting us. I just want to thank the fans and all the community members for all the support."
Sparked by the return of senior guard Morgan Kerby from a groin injury sustained during the football season and led by the post pairing of freshman Wyatt Hardin and sophomore Braden Smith, the Tigers appear to have found the recipe for success - and not a moment too soon.
In the district title win over Summit, Hardin and Smith erupted for 48 combined points.
Add to that the leadership of DJ White and Dillon Blair and suddenly Kendrick has a team that, despite its early-season struggles, seems to be peaking at precisely the right time.
"We not only lost the four starters, but we lost our two main bench contributors as well," LeBlanc said. "But the kids we have now have done a good job replacing them."
The Tigers open their tournament today against Cascade (15-9) at 5:15 p.m. PST.
Summit, the other Whitepine League team to the make the tournament, opens at 12:15 p.m. PST today against Rockland (14-8).
Paced by Michael Waters and Matthew Schwartz, the guard-heavy Patriots were felled by Kendrick in the district title game, but survived with a loser-out win over Nezperce and then outlasted Kootenai in the State play-in game.
"I think playing the extra games help," Summit coach Ron Frei said. "Good competitive competition is better than what the bench can do otherwise, so going this route might be a blessing in disguise."
Reflective of Frei's calm demeanor, Waters is a stoic and supremely talented guard who is usually the straw that stirs the Patriots.
Schwartz, who, like Waters, can both shoot from range and drive to the rack, is the more emotional of the two and just as potent on the floor.
In the Patriots' win over Kootenai on Saturday, Schwartz and Waters combined for 29 of Summit's 50 points - repeatedly coming up with big baskets to hold off the Warriors in an explosive fourth frame that featured 40 total points.
"Waters and Schwartz are good leaders and great examples," Frei said. "They are able to motivate the other kids and keep things rolling.
"The whole team is outstanding. We're blessed with some real gentlemen and motivated athletes. We have some underclassmen that are above average in natural ability and that has helped us grow and become better as a team."