Intermountain League Girls Basketball Preview

In predicted order of finish:

Moscow Bears

1996-97 record: 9-1 (co-league champ), 15-9 overall

Coach: Robin Barnes

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 15-9

Top returners: Anna Allen, 5-7, senior, guard; Tami Goetz, 5-8, sr., g; Courtney Goetz, 6-1, sophomore, post; Amber Matthews, 5-11, junior, p.

Newcomers: Christina Thornton, 5-9, sr., g; Shai Workman, 5-8, sr., forward.

Bonus shot: Thirteen Moscow players participated in an AAU exchange program this summer in Brake, Germany, where they finished in second place with a record of 12-1.

Coach’s comment: “We’re really concentrating on defense and with the six guards I have, we’re going to put a lot of pressure on the ball. Plus, with the team chemistry, I think the offense is going to flow a lot better than last year.”

Outlook: With much experience back, the Bears should repeat as league and district champions and could challenge for a high placing at state. They have won six straight league titles. Of eight seniors, six have varsity experience. Moscow showed its strength when it defeated Grangeville 45-25 in a season-opener last week. Matthews led with 17 points.

Bonners Ferry Badgers

1996-97 record: 9-1 (co-league champ), 16-6

Coach: Jim Nash

Years coaching, record: 4th, 49-23

Top returners: Sarah Walter, 5-3, sr., point guard; Amber Paulson, 5-11, sr., f; Kara Braniff, 6-2, sr., p; Sara Carey, 5-4, sr., g.

Newcomers: Amanda Ashby, 5-10, jr., f; Dana Robertson, 5-9, jr., g; Hailey Larson, 5-11, jr., f.

Bonus shot: All four seniors - Walter, Paulson, Braniff and Carey - have played together since the fifth grade, when they participated in AAU.

Coach’s comment: “We’re pretty balanced, but not quite as deep in the bench as we have been in the past. But we have a really family oriented atmosphere on the court and everybody’s really committed.”

Outlook: Although the Badgers lost eight seniors, a league title is within reach. They return two all-league players in Walter and Paulson. Bonners Ferry hopes to use its height advantage to dominate the boards. The Badgers started their season with a 56-33 victory over Sandpoint. Paulson finished with 21 points. The Badgers should finish no worse than second.

Lakeland Hawks

1996-97 record: 4-6, 10-12

Coach: Steve Seymour

Years coaching, record: 3rd, 14-28

Top returners: Alyssa Douglas, 5-7, sr., g; Tina Foldvik, 5-7, sr., guard/wing; Angie Campbell, 5-7, so., g.

Newcomers: Cassie Beyer, 5-6, jr., w; Sarah Waller, 5-10, jr., p; Megan Egbert, 5-10, so., p; Lacie Berger, 5-8, jr., w/p.

Bonus shot: This will be the last season the girls play together as the school splits next year with the opening of Timberlake in Spirit Lake.

Coach’s comment: “These girls have been a very coachable group. They’re quick, experienced and intelligent. Unfortunately, we look like we all have been stamped by the same cookie cutter at 5-7, 5-8.”

Outlook: The Hawks have quickness, and defense should be a strength. Their offense will need work after struggling last year. Lakeland opens at Post Falls on Friday. The Hawks could challenge for third.

Priest River Spartans

1996-97 record: 4-6, 12-11

Coach: Jamie Poncho

Years coaching, record: 1st

Top returners: Jacey Vogrig, 6-1, sr., p; Candice Carpenter, 5-10, sr., p; Melanie Duley, 5-8, jr., wing.

Newcomers: Sally Kreager, 5-5, jr., g; Shandra Guthrie, 5-8, soph., w; Cami Cook, 5-5, sr., g.

Bonus shot: Poncho, the boys junior varsity coach last year, takes over for athletic director Ron Hopkins, who resigned after four years.

Coach’s comment: “We’re inexperienced as far as varsity time goes, yet we have some pretty good senior leadership to help out the younger kids.”

Outlook: With four players who are 5-10 or taller, the Spartans will try to take advantage of their size. Priest River lost just two seniors to graduation, but will miss junior wing Krissi Ruiz, who transferred to Coeur d’Alene. The Spartans open at Clark Fork on Tuesday.

St. Maries Lumberjacks

1996-97 record: 1-9, 6-15

Coach: Todd Gilkey

Years coaching, record: 3rd, 12-29

Top returners: Jolie Kunkel, 5-11, sr., center; Jamie Wolfe, 5-7, sr., g.

Newcomers: Jennifer Allen, 5-7, sr., w/g; Monica Osier, 5-8, jr., w; Lauren Cuvula, 5-2, soph., g.

Bonus shot: The Lumberjacks will still be a young team even though they lost just three to graduation. St. Maries has just three seniors on the roster.

Coach’s comment: “We have seven kids returning who have been through the varsity war and know the speed of the varsity play and the physicalness of the game. I think our overall team experience will be a plus for us.”

Outlook: Gilkey sees Moscow and Bonners Ferry finishing in the two top spots. “But I think it’s going to be a dog fight for third through sixth. Any of us other teams can beat up on each other and it’ll be a struggle all through the season.” The Lumberjacks opened the season with a loss at Potlatch, 50-22.

Kellogg Wildcats

1996-97 record: 3-7, 6-14

Coach: Dale Hunt

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 6-14

Top returners: Cammie Connors, 5-10, sr., p; Brianne Grebil, 5-10, sr., p/f; Jody Hunt, 5-6, sr., g/w; Casey Magnus, 5-8, sr., f.

Newcomers: Heather Hoeck, 5-6, so., g; Lezlie Delcomte, 5-7, jr., f.

Bonus shot: The Wildcats opened Tuesday missing three players to illness or injury.

Coach’s comment: “We just need to improve in every area right now and play together. That’s going to be our big strength, I guess. Or weakness. Whichever way it turns out.”

Outlook: Kellogg may struggle after losing four starters and 75 percent of its scoring. The Wildcats will have to tighten their defense and look to their returners for leadership. Kellogg is 0-1 after losing to Sandpoint 46-26.

A-3 Independent

Wallace Miners

1996-97 record: 7-13

Coach: Art Krulitz

Years coaching, record: 5th, 38-47

Top returners: Meghan England, 5-foot-9, senior, center; Renee Sleezer, 5-4, junior, guard.

Newcomers: Jessica Krulitz, 5-7, sophomore, forward; Lindsay Carrico, 5-7, so., g.

Bonus shot: Krulitz’s twin brother Kirby helps his brother as an assistant coach.

Coach’s comment: “We’re going to take it slow. We’re putting in some new offenses and putting in some different types of things. We’re going to be a more up-tempo team.”

Outlook: The Miners will have six sophomores who saw some playing time last year. They have a strong defense, but need to work on their shooting. Wallace’s future is bright, but Miners may take some lumps in the building process.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Amber Paulson, 5-foot-10, senior, forward, Bonners Ferry Courtney Goetz, 6-1, sophomore, post, Moscow Sarah Walter, 5-3, senior, point guard, Bonners Ferry Alyssa Douglas, 5-7, senior, wing, Lakeland Anna Allen, 5-7, senior, guard, Moscow Jacey Vogrig, 6-1, senior, post, Priest River Amber Matthews, 5-11, junior, forward, Moscow