North Star League

In predicted order of finish:

Kootenai Warriors

1996-97 record: 5-3 in league, 10-12 overall

Coach: Scott Shafer

Years coaching, record: 3rd, 18-22

Top returners: Jamie Bornitz, 6-0, senior, post; Annie Goodson, 5-8, sr., forward; Nat Damiano, 5-6, sr., guard; Shennelle Kraack, 5-3, junior, g; Emily Anderson, 5-9, jr., f.

Newcomers: Monica Kraack, 5-5, freshman, g; Kara Schlepp, 5-9, frosh., p; Janelle Scheffelmaier, 5-10, frosh., f.

Bonus shot: Both Bornitz and Goodson, the Warriors’ top two players, are all-around athletes who participate in volleyball and track as well as basketball.

Coach’s comment: “We’re going to be in shape this year. We have a lot of endurance and the only time we’re going to slow down is when we don’t have a fastbreak.”

Outlook: The Warriors are the league favorites based largely on experience and size. Kootenai qualified for state last year as the league’s second seed behind league champ Lakeside. The Warriors will be the chased team this winter.

Lakeside Knights

1996-97 record: 7-1 (league champ), 15-8

Coach: Ron Miller

Years coaching, record: 8th, 124-76

Top returners: Angela Flint, 5-7, sr., g; Mary Kolar, 5-10, sophomore, p; Mindy Middleton, 5-6, sr., wing.

Newcomers: Michelle Kelly, 5-9, soph., p; Shantelle Scott, 5-7, jr., f.

Bonus shot: The Knights will be quite familiar with each other as all but one player played on the volleyball team. Scott is a transfer from Lapwai.

Coach’s comment: “We graduated six seniors last year, so everything will be brand new this year. The chemistry is going to be a lot different. All the starters are going to be different and we’re going to have to fill some critical jobs.”

Outlook: With a new team, the Knights will look to Flint for leadership. She finished as the league’s leading scorer last year (12.7 points per game). Lakeside will likely get off to a slow start, but could finish strong.

Falls Christian Eagles

1996-97 record: 4-4, 8-12

Coach: Catherine Jones

Years coaching, record: 1st Top returners: Emily Jackson, 5-10, sr., f; Kara Moate, 6-0, jr., p; Heidi Gelnette, 5-2, sr., g.

Newcomers: Jackie Poole, 5-6, frosh., g.

Bonus shot: Jones was the assistant coach last year and stepped up after head coach Mike Teall resigned. Jones is the fourth coach in four years.

Coach’s comment: “We’re still trying to get going because some of the girls went to state in volleyball. Right now we’re switching players around for different positions, trying to see which girls mesh together the best.”

Outlook: The Eagles should fare well. They fell short of a state berth last year in a narrow loss to Kootenai. FCA, which didn’t have a senior last year, returns most of the team and adds five new players. The Eagles’ biggest loss was sophomore point guard Carmi Eberle, who transferred to Post Falls.

Clark Fork Wampus Cats

1996-97 record: 4-4,7-14

Coach: Mark Stevens

Years coaching, record: 4th, 27-36 Top returners: Jill Miller, 5-6, jr., g; Erin Manderscheid, 5-6, sr., g.

Newcomers: Charlotte Scofield, 5-7, frosh., g; Katie Heff, 5-6, soph., w; Katie Dugan, 5-8, jr., center.

Bonus shot: The Wampus Cats will have the youngest team this year after losing five seniors to graduation.

Coach’s comment: “We’re young and it’s going to take a little while for us to come together, but they’re looking a lot better than I anticipated.”

Outlook: Clark Fork may have a problem competing with the top teams because of a lack of experience. The Wampus Cats will have to pick up on their outside shots because their lack of size could hurt them inside.

Mullan Tigers

1996-97 record: 0-8, 1-16

Coach: Kelli Zufelt

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 1-16 Top returners: Katie Elwood, 5-7, sr., w; Amanda Hegbloom, 5-5, sr., g; Laura Hendrix, 5-5, sr., w.

Newcomers: Adina Winstead, 5-8, frosh., p; Tiffany Hoven, 5-6, sr., g; Stephanie Bigler, 6-0, jr., p.

Bonus shot: Mullan will be entering this season with 14 players compared to only six last year. The Tigers were forced to forfeit their last three games last year because they were down to four players.

Coach’s comment: “This year we’ve got a lot more depth. We have people who can play two or three different positions, and our first subs will be quality players.”

Outlook: The Tigers will have to look to last year’s returning five players for leadership. The team should be much improved. , DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Players to watch Angela Flint, 5-foot-7, senior, guard, Lakeside Jamie Bornitz, 6-0, senior, post, Kootenai Annie Goodson, 5-8, senior, forward, Kootenai Katie Elwood, 5-7, senior, wing, Mullan Jill Miller, 5-6, junior, guard, Clark Fork Emily Jackson, 5-10, senior, forward, Falls Christian