Intermountain
In predicted order of finish:
KELLOGG WILDCATS
1994-95 record: 9-1 IML co-champs, 21-4 overall
Coach: Tony Kerfoot
Years coaching: 7, first at Kellogg
Career record: 58-78
Top returners: Casey Fisher, 6-7, sr., post; Jeremy Behm, 6-0, sr., guard; Tim Kohal, 6-1, sr., point guard; Josh Hansen, 6-2, sr., forward; Mike Little, 6-0, jr., f.
Newcomers: Nathan Corkill, 6-2, jr., g; Mike Mercado, 6-0, jr., g; Seth Rice, 6-4, jr., p.
Coach’s comment: “I know their expectations are high and I have high expectations. I like their work ethic, dedication and commitment.”
Outlook: Kellogg has had the most consistent program in recent years, and former coach David Roberts deserves much credit for a firm foundation. Kerfoot will continue that success. Fisher is the top player in the league and the Wildcats will go as far as Fisher carries them - and that could be far. Kellogg opens Friday by playing host to the Silver Valley Tournament. The Wildcats meet Priest River in their opener.
MOSCOW BEARS
1994-95 record: 4-6, 10-13
Coach: Don Dudley
Years coaching: 2
Career record: 10-13
Top returners: Adam Miller, 5-10, jr., g; Jason Keep, 6-10, jr., p; Jeff Lathen, 6-2, sr., w; Zeke Johnson, 6-2, sr., p.
Newcomers: Drew Owen, 6-7, jr., p; Ryan Dudley, 5-9, jr., pg; Scott Strobel, 6-1, jr., forward.
Coach’s comment: “We moved the program ahead by all the different things we did (during the summer). But it might take us a while to put it all together. We have a lot of parity in our kids; we can go with a huge lineup or a small, quicker lineup. You can see the dilemma. We’ll hit somewhere in-between.”
Outlook: Bears could start a lineup that goes 6-10, 6-7, 6-6, 6-2, 6-2. Huge is an understatement. Many consider the Bears to have the most talent in the league. The big question is will the Bears, who suffered through undisciplined streaks last year, focus on basketball. “Our greatest challenges are mental, not physical,” Dudley said.
BONNERS FERRY BADGERS
1994-95 record: 9-1 IML co-champs, 19-7
Coach: Ken Robertson
Years coaching: 2, first at BF
Career record: 1-21
Top returners: Allen Ashby, 6-6, jr., p; Brigham Hubbard, 5-10, sr., g.
Newcomers: Adam Hiatt, 6-0, jr., g; Brian Meeker, 6-2, jr., f.
Coach’s comment: “Even though we’re young and inexperienced I think with their work ethic we should be quite competitive come the latter part of the season.”
Outlook: The Badgers must fill some big scoring holes left by the graduation of Kris Gravelle and Gavin Glindeman. Bonners Ferry will find itself competing with St. Maries and Lakeland for third behind Kellogg and Moscow. The Badgers might be able to pull an upset by season’s end if players fit into their roles.
LAKELAND HAWKS
1994-95 record: 1-9, 3-16
Coach: Mike Bayley
Years coaching: 5
Career record: 29-52
Top returners: Doug Freed, 6-6, sr., p; Brett DeBoer, 6-5, sr., swing; Al Bevacqua, 5-10, sr., g; Scott Rothrock, 5-10, jr., g.
Newcomers: Ryan Banks, 6-1, jr., s; Jared Mudge, 6-2, freshman, p; Paul Kowalczyk, 6-6, jr., p.
Bonus shot: Bayley has been sick since football season, and recently had a stay in the hospital with pnuemonia. As of Tuesday he had not attended a team practice. But he hopes to return to the team soon.
Coach’s comment: “I would expect us to do fairly well. We had a good summer and we played fairly well most times. It’s going to depend on how well we shoot the ball. If we shoot the ball well we’ll do well.”
Outlook: Bayley won’t likely be on the bench Friday when the Hawks open at home against Coeur d’Alene. Athletic director Brad Murray and junior varsity coach Paul Stoddard have been running practices. Bayley’s absence no doubt will have an affect on his team’s play in December. But Bayley has never put much stock in non-league games anyway. If things come together Hawks might push Kellogg and Moscow.
ST. MARIES LUMBERJACKS
1994-95 record: 2-8, 3-17
Coach: Todd Bitterman
Years coaching: First
Top returners: Steve Raebel, 6-4, sr., p; Ty Konkright, 6-1, jr., g; John Dawson, 6-4, sr., p; D.J. Eberlin, 6-0, sophomore., g; Jason Holdahl, 6-1, sr., w.
Newcomers: Jeff Sindt, 5-9, sr., pg; Jeremy Craner, 5-11, jr., g; Jim Spooner, 6-3, sr., w-p.
Bonus shot: What the Lumberjacks could use is a huge infusion of enthusiasm and competitiveness that infected the football team.
Coach’s comment: “We have a lot of guys who have played at the varsity level. I think they’re hungry for some wins, and I think what happened in football will carry into basketball.”
Outlook: This is a win-starved program, so any success the Lumberjacks experience during their non-league schedule will be beneficial. The Lumberjacks have set a realistic goal of a .500 season and middle of the pack in league. Anything higher would be unrealistic.
PRIEST RIVER SPARTANS
1994-95 record: 5-5, 10-13
Coach: Kelly Reed
Years coaching: 2
Career record: 10-13
Top returners: Matt Rabe, 6-0, sr., f; Davis Score, 5-10, sr., g; Jeremy Walters, 6-3, sr., p; Darin Bradbury, 5-10, sr., g.
Newcomers: Robert Thornton, 6-1, sr., g; Brett Storro, 6-2, soph., g.
Bonus shot: Wins could be few and far between this season, though it won’t be for a lack of coaching. Reed is one of the bright young coaches around who has put up with more baloney than he should just because he loves to coach.
Coach’s comment: “We have to find a scorer and defensively we’re going to have to be solid and control tempo. We’ll get better over the course of the season.”
Outlook: Graduating league most valuable player Kyle York is a big blow to the Spartans. He carried a huge offensive load, but it was his decisions on the court that Reed will miss. Reed is in for a long season.
, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Players to watch 1. Casey Fisher, 6-foot-6, senior, post, Kellogg 2. Steve Raebel, 6-4, senior, post, St. Maries 3. Doug Freed, 6-6, senior, post, Lakeland 4. Jeremy Behm, 6-0, senior, guard, Kellogg 5. Adam Miller, 5-10, junior, guard, Moscow