Intermountain League

In predicted order of finish

Bonners Ferry Badgers

2004-2005 records: 11-13 overall, 7-1 league champ

Coach: Gordy Allured

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 11-13

Returning lettermen, starters: 7, 3

Key players: Matt Rice, senior, 6-2, post; Matt Simpson, junior, 5-11, guard; Spenser Behrens, jr., 6-2, forward; Josh Hawks, jr., 5-9, g; Kyle Behrens, sr., 6-0, f.

Coach’s comments: “We need to be consistent. The league is tough and if you don’t bring your game, anybody can beat anybody on any given night.”

Outlook: The Badgers are the no-brain pick to defend their first league title in 30 years based on returning experience alone. Rice is the leading candidate to be player of the year and they have plenty of talent to package around him. BF’s schedule will be challenging for a second straight year. The Badgers play 14 of their 20 games on the road.

Kellogg Wildcats

2004-2005 records: 15-11, 5-3

Coach: Kieth Finkbeiner

Years coaching: 1st

Returning lettermen, starters: 3, 1

Key players: Jacob Conboy, sr., 5-11, g; Chris Lund, sr., 6-1, p; Jacob Kagarise, sr., 6-2, w.

Coach’s comments: “I like the kids’ attitudes and work ethic. They’re working very hard. They’re goal-oriented. They definitely would like to experience (state) again this year.”

Outlook: The Wildcats have some adjustments to make with a new coach. They were a solid pick for second by the coaches, but have many things to work on judging by a lopsided, season-opening loss to Lakeland.

Priest River Spartans

2004-2005 records: 12-10, 6-2

Coach: Bill Ryan

Years coaching, record: 3rd, 24-22

Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 0

Key players: Micah Smith, jr., 5-9, g; Dustin Lehman, jr., 6-1, f.

Coach’s comments: “They seem to play together real well. They have good basketball sense and they’re pretty good shooters.”

Outlook: The Spartans probably have the best chance of the others of knocking off Kellogg for second even though they return no starters. The Spartans may be raw in terms of varsity experience, but they’ll be in the mix.

Timberlake Tigers

2004-2005 records: 7-15, 2-6

Coach: Gerald Ely

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 7-15

Returning lettermen, starters: 2, 0

Key players: Logan Cook, jr., 6-2, p; Mitch Douglas, jr., 5-10, g; Cody Jones, jr., 5-8, g; Noel Gonzales, jr., 5-8, g.

Coach’s comments: “If we get a little bit of experience the first part of the season, I think we’ll be competitive toward the end of the season.”

Outlook: The Tigers are at least a year away from challenging for an upper-division finish. Ely is being patient. He kept much of the youth together on the JV last year, not wanting to rush them too fast.

St. Maries Lumberjacks

2004-2005 records: 6-14, 0-8

Coach: Gary Krumheuer

Years coaching, record: 12th, 87-154

Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 2

Key players: Zech Szalasi, jr., 5-9, g; Tucker Bucker, sr., 6-2, p; Caleb Bell, sr., 5-9, g; Josh Masterson, soph., 6-2, p.

Coach’s comments: “We’re braced for a slow start. If we can pick up things defensively we’ll be OK. Overall we’ll shoot better than last year and we’re a lot quicker.”

Outlook: Krumheuer has been down the rebuilding road before, so he’ll be patient with a team that could play up to three freshmen.