B Preview Basketball
Bi-County boys
The Bi-County League is arguably the toughest B league in the state.
Two-time defending state champion Northwest Christian is off to a strong start. The Crusaders are 2-0 in league play, 2-1 overall, with the lone returning All Bi-County first teamer in junior Chase Ramey. NWC also returns senior John Graham, a second-team pick.
Reardan (3-1, 2-1) will also contend for a district title and a postseason run. The Indians return eight players from last year’s roster, including senior Ryan Schulz, a second-team selection last season.
Other players to watch: Jamie Stevenson, soph., Lind-Ritzville (3-1, 1-1); Lane Salsbury, sr., Liberty (2-3, 2-1); Kyle Tucker, jr., Almira/Coulee-Hartline (0-1, 0-1); Jamie Bennett, jr., Valley Christian (1-4, 0-3); Austin Snavely, soph., Wilbur-Creston (1-3, 0-2); Taylor Morgan, jr., Davenport (3-0, 3-0); Bryce Todd, soph., Odessa (1-1, 0-1).
Panorama boys
It’s a year of transition for many teams in the always-competitive Panorama League.
On the 2B side, St. George’s hopes to not only take the league title, but follow up on a successful postseason run last year. The Dragons (5-2, 2-0) were one win away from a guaranteed state trophy, and return several key players from last year’s roster, including seniors Henry Butler, a first-team selection last season, and Jeffrey Livingston. Sophomore Jordan Dickson will also contribute.
Wellpinit (4-1, 2-0) will be a tough competitor as well, with scoring power in sophomore Cody Flett and seniors Cody Stensgar and T.J. Flett.
Among the 1B teams, Curlew and Cusick will battle for the league title, with Northport a possible contender.
Curlew (5-0, 3-0) finished sixth in the state tournament last year and is off to a strong start this season with solid offensive output from juniors Austin Mannick and Tyler Keeley. Mannick was an all-league first-team pick last year.
Other players to watch: Joel Kohlstedt, sr., Springdale (4-1, 1-1); Desmond Anderson, sr., Selkirk (2-3, 1-1); Jesse Beck, jr., Republic (0-4, 0-3); Raymond Ostlie, sr., Cusick (3-1, 1-0); Tucker Guglielmino, sr., Northport (1-5, 0-3); Donny Carson, sr., Inchelium (1-4, 1-2); Trevor Johnson, sr., St. Michael’s (1-3, 1-1); Jason Denison, sr., Columbia (1-3, 1-2).
Whitman County boys
League competition begins this weekend and early on, St. John-Endicott (2-2), Garfield-Palouse (4-1) and Tekoa-Oakesdale (4-2) look like the teams to beat.
SJE and LaCrosse-Washtucna (1-3) made the trip to state last year, so the league looks to be highly competitive once again.
Gar-Pal returns two all-Whitman County League players in junior Todd Pinter, a first-team pick last season, and junior Tyson Palmer, a second-team selection. Tekoa-Oakesdale also has a first-teamer back in junior Kelly Cook.
Other players to watch: Terry Kissler, sr., Sprague-Harrington (1-2); Casey Cook, jr., Tekoa-Oakesdale; Nick Heitstuman, sr., Colton (2-2); Warren Miller, soph., St. John-Endicott; Adam Roberts, sr., LaCrosse-Washtucna; Zach St. John, soph., Rosalia (2-2).
Bi-County girls
The league is pretty much wide open, with Lind-Ritzville, Reardan and Northwest Christian looking to battle it out for a league title.
The Crusaders are 2-0 in league play, 2-1 overall, including a 52-39 victory over Reardan on Tuesday. Senior Kyla Schmidt, a returning second-team selection, and Galina Price will be key players.
Other players to watch: Laura Cain, sr., Lind-Ritzville (3-1, 1-1); Maddisen Peterson, sr., Wilbur-Creston (3-1, 1-1); Brook Ferderer, sr., Reardan (2-2, 2-1); Katie Worley, soph., Valley Christian (0-5, 0-3); Breanna Martin, sr., Almira/Coulee-Hartline (1-0, 1-0); Jordan Frederick, sr., Odessa (1-1, 0-1); Mariah Mielke, jr., Davenport (1-2, 1-2); Kelly Hennessey, soph., Liberty (2-3, 2-1).
Panorama girls
A young St. George’s team had a strong finish last season, qualifying for the State 2B tournament and advancing to the third round before elimination.
The Dragons (5-1, 2-0) return several key players, including first-team pick Chessey Thomas, who made a considerable impact last season as a freshman. With Lena Leverett-Standal inside and Thomas at point, the Dragons should make a run for the league title.
On the 1B side, Northport’s (2-4, 2-1) Kaprina Goodwin, also a first-team selection last year, looks to have a strong senior year as the top player in the league.
Other players to watch: Maria Villegas, jr., Selkirk (1-4, 1-1); Salena Flett, soph., Columbia (0-4, 0-3); Serena Condon, jr., Inchelium (3-2, 1-1); Katie Urann, jr., St. Michael’s (0-3, 0-2); Mackenzie Wilson, sr., Curlew (3-2, 2-1); Holly Edwards, soph., Cusick (3-0, 1-0); Karissa Lehn, sr., Republic (2-3, 2-1); Holly Howard, sr., Springdale (2-2, 2-1); Lauren Flett, fr., Wellpinit (0-5, 0-2).
Whitman County girls
The league made a strong statement at the state level last season, with four teams finishing in the top eight: Sprague-Harrington (1), Colton (3), Tekoa-Oakesdale (6) and Garfield-Palouse (8).
The defending state champion Falcons lost some key players, and several teams remain undefeated with league play set to begin this week.
With no true front-runner, the league title is anyone’s to take.
Players to watch: Alisa Moehrle, sr., Colton (5-0); Karla Koller, sr., LaCrosse-Washtucna (4-0); Shelby Puckett, jr., Tekoa-Oakesdale (4-3); Courtney Shoemaker, sr., Garfield-Palouse (5-0); Kelly Van Lith, soph., St. John-Endicott (2-2); Kate Hodges, jr., Rosalia (4-0); Katlyn Lowman, jr., Sprague-Harrington (1-2).
Jessica Brown