High-achieving junior shooting guard Nate Adamson, a first-team All-State selection last winter, led the Carey High School boys’ basketball team into its 20-game season that opened Tuesday at home against Glenns Ferry’s Pilots.
All Adamson (416 points, 15.4 ppg, 133 rebounds, 4.9 per game) did in his first varsity season for Carey last winter was propel the Panthers (16-11) to second place in the tough Northside Conference 1A Division 2 district, then set state tournament scoring records.
He led all scorers at the Idaho High School Activities Association state boys’ basketball tournaments with a class record 75 points for a 25.0 ppg scoring average, and he also established a new state record for most field goals, 29.
Carey hoops coach Dick Simpson said about Adamson, who also quarterbacked Carey’s football team into the state playoffs this fall, “Nate is a phenomenal passer, sees the entire floor, shoots the ball well and plays good defense. And he’s grown a little.
“If we’d had a little more help for Nate at state last year, it might have helped us go a little farther.”
As it was, Carey in making its 17th boys’ state tournament trip in 21 seasons won its first game 50-37 over Kootenai before falling by 17 points to eventual state champion Salmon River of Riggins (25-1) and 62-51 to third-place Kendrick (18-9). Adamson scored 50% of the Panther points at state. He played 93 of 96 minutes and made 46% of the shots he took.
“We do have players. We have some key ingredients. But we’re not as deep as we’ve been and we’re younger this year,” said Simpson about his 12-player varsity that has only one senior, guard Luis Garcia.
Nevertheless, Adamson along with junior 6-1 Matt Whitworth and 6-4 sophomore Joe Parke give Simpson a solid core of three strong returning starters to build around.
As a sophomore Whitworth averaged 6.2 ppg with 97 rebounds (3.7 per game). Ninth-grader Parke gave the Panthers a big boost down the homestretch and finished with a 6.2 ppg scoring average and 92 boards (3.8). He ranked second in offensive rebounds and shot 60% from the charity stripe, behind only Adamson (71%) and Whitworth (64%).
Simpson said, “Matt is a big-bodied physical player, which worries me a little because I’d like to keep him in the ball game. He’s got a good little shot. Although he’s not a great jumper, he gets into good position for rebounds.”
Last year’s Carey team had more depth in the post position, but Parke’s progress could help in that respect.
Simpson said, “Joe is more mature, he’s got a little more weight on him, he’s a talented rebounder and he’s quick. He has a way of getting to where he needs to be. He’s deadly from the free throw line and has a nice 10-foot jump shot. We’re working with him on a baby hook—with the length he has, that should help.”
The coach hopes to have 6-1 junior Alex Durtschi back from an injury sometime this month. Durtschi broke his arm during Carey’s first of two football games against Lighthouse Christian Oct. 18.
Meanwhile, Carey will have its usual schedule of tough match-ups against bigger schools in the 2A and 1A Division 1 class like Glenns Ferry, Hagerman (this Friday at home), Valley, Oakley, Butte County and Shoshone before plunging into its Northside 1A Division 2 league challenges.
“I don’t believe in playing a weak schedule,” said Simpson.
He added, “Our goal is always to try to win as many home games as we can. Playing this summer, we had good success going against some of the bigger schools. The kids learned some things and got to play together.”
Defending league tournament champion Dietrich (23-3) enjoyed great successes last season for coach Wayne Dill. The Blue Devils won their final two state tournament games over Mackay in overtime and Sho-Ban to secure the consolation trophy.
Simpson said Dietrich has the most seniors returning and should probably be considered the favorite in the nine-team 4th District 1A Division conference for 2013-14. He said, “I kind of hope that Dietrich overlooks us this year.”
Carey will have both of its league-counting games against Dietrich and last year’s third-place district finisher Lighthouse Christian at home this season, both in February. There is no state play-in game this year. Only two Northside squads make it to state.
Here is the 2013-14 Carey roster:
VARSITY
Head coach, Dick Simpson (13th year, 255-63, .802 winning percentage). Since 1991, covering 23 seasons, Carey teams are 426-154 for a .734 winning percentage.
Seniors (1): 5-9 Luis Garcia.
Juniors (6): 6-0 Nate Adamson; 6-1 Matt Whitworth; 5-8 Chris Peck; 6-0 Alex Durtschi; 5-8 Jesus Morales; and 5-5 Corban Johnson.
Sophomores (3): 6-4 Joe Parke; 6-1 Dallin Dilworth; and 5-11 Collin Whitby.
Freshmen (2): 6-1 Derrick Baird and 5-7 Toby Whitworth.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Head coach, Danny Simpson (11th year, 9 appearances in the Northside JV title game, 5 first-place finishes, 4 second places.
Sophomores (5): Dallin Dilworth, Collin Whitby, Zach Olsen, Salvador Ramos and Colton Metzler.
Freshmen (7): Derrick Baird, Toby Whitworth, Wyatt Thompson, Jessy Harshbarger, Chayton Castle, Nik D’Orazio and Keith Andrews.
2013-14 Carey Boys Basketball Schedule
A total 20 games for the 2013-14 Carey boys' varsity; 10 home and 10 away. Home games at Carey School gym. There are 8 games denoted by an asterisk that count toward the 4th District 1A Division 2 league standings. Home varsity games in bold. In general, starting times are 6 p.m. JV and 7:30 p.m. varsity. When girls and boys play on the same night, boys' JV starts 4:30 p.m., girls’ varsity 6 p.m., boys’ varsity at 7:30 p.m.
| DATE, DAY |
OPPONENT |
LOCATION |
| Dec. 3, Tuesday |
Glenns Ferry |
Home, 6/7:30 |
| Dec. 6, Friday |
Hagerman |
Home, 4:30/7:30 |
| Dec. 9, Monday |
ISDB (JV only) |
Gooding, 6:30 |
| Dec. 12, Thursday |
Valley |
Home, 6/7:30 |
| Dec. 13, Friday |
Oakley |
Home, 4:30/7:30 |
| Dec. 17, Tuesday |
Butte County |
Arco, 6/7:30 |
| Dec. 19, Thursday |
Shoshone |
Home, 4:30/7:30 |
| Jan. 4, Saturday |
Valley |
Hazelton, 6/7:30 |
| Jan. 9, Thursday |
Richfield* |
Away, 6/7:30 |
| Jan. 10, Friday |
Butte County |
Home, 6/7:30 |
| Jan. 13, Monday |
Comm. School* |
Sun Valley, 6/7:30 |
| Jan. 14, Tuesday |
Shoshone |
Away, 6/7:30 |
| Jan. 16, Thursday |
Castleford* |
Home, 4:30/7:30 |
| Jan. 21, Tuesday |
Camas County (V only)* |
Home, 7:30 |
| Jan. 23, Thursday |
Murtaugh* |
Away, 4:30/7:30 |
| Jan. 24, Friday |
Castleford |
Away, 6/7:30 |
| Jan. 27, Monday |
ISDB (JV only) |
Home, 6:00 |
| Jan. 28, Tuesday |
Bliss (V only)* |
Away, 7:30 |
| Jan. 31, Friday |
Oakley |
Away, 6/7:30 |
| Feb. 4, Tuesday |
Lighthouse Christian* |
Home, 4:30/7:30 |
| Feb. 8, Saturday |
Hagerman |
Away, 12/1:30 |
| Feb. 14, Friday |
Dietrich (Sr. Night)* |
Home, 6/7:30 |
| Feb. 17, Monday |
4th Dist. 1A Div. 2 JV semi-finals |
ISDB, Gooding, 6/7:30 |
| Feb. 18, Tuesday |
4th Dist. JV championship |
ISDB, Gooding, 6:00 |
| Feb. 18, Tuesday |
4th Dist. 8th/9th play-in game |
ISDB, Gooding, 7:30 |
| Feb. 19, Wednesday |
4th Dist. 1A Div. 2 tourney |
4 games, high seed host |
| Feb. 24, Monday |
4th Dist. 1A Div. 2 tourney |
4 games, high seed host |
| Feb. 25, Tuesday |
4th Dist. 1A Div. 2 tourney |
Gooding High, 6/7:30 |
| Feb. 26, Wednesday |
4th Dist. 1A Div. 2 tourney |
Gooding High, 6/7:30 |
| Feb. 27, Thursday |
4th Dist. 1A consolation/championship |
Gooding, 6/7:30 |
| Feb. 28, Friday |
4th Dist. 1A second-place game |
Gooding High, 7:00 |
| March 6, Thursday |
State 1A Div. 2 tournament |
Caldwell High |
| March 8, Saturday |
State 1A Div. 2 championship |
Idaho Center, Nampa |
NOTES—The Northside 4th District 1A Division 2 boys' league includes Carey, Camas County of Fairfield, Bliss, Community School of Sun Valley, Richfield, Dietrich, Castleford, Murtaugh and Lighthouse Christian of Twin Falls……The 4th District 8-team single elimination consolation bracket tournament is set for 5 nights at different sites, Feb. 19-28, with varsity finals at Gooding High School. The 4-team JV single elimination tournament will be played entirely at the ISDB gym in Gooding Feb. 17-18.……The conference gets 2 seeds to state…..The top 2 teams automatically qualify for the state tourney in Caldwell…….At the state tournament, the District 4 1A Div. 2 champion plays the Boise-area (Dist. 3) runner-up team in the first round, while the Northside runner-up goes against the Boise-area (Dist. 3) champ in the first round.
