Northeast 2B

Around the league

Historically, the Northeast 2B is one of the toughest conferences in the state and that will be no different this season. Defending champ St. George’s is loaded again and once Lind-Ritzville/Sprague’s football season is over, the Broncos will give the champs a serious challenge. … St. George’s returns four starters. They are seniors Erik Muelheims, Dexter Sienko and Will Tender and junior Cody Peplinksi. Senior Corey Spalding started part of the season including at state. “We have a lot of experience,” coach Ryan Peplinksi said. “Three of our starters have been starting since their freshman year and two other seniors have been in the rotation for four years. We have a bunch of guys who can shoot the ball, good size and very good quickness. We have gotten much stronger in the offseason and that should help us improve as well.” Sounds like the makings of a state repeat. … Lind-Ritzville/Sprague also returns four starters. They are seniors Dylan Hartz, Connor O’Neill, Tyler Frederick and Ryan Whitmore – arguably the Broncos’ four best football players. LRS returns seven of its top eight players, will have quickness and solid shooting at the guard positions, size and length inside and they’re unselfish, reports coach Dustan Arlt. Hartz, the Broncos’ point guard, is a four-year starter. “We made it to the state semifinals last year and we should be back to the (Spokane) Arena contending for a championship,” Arlt said. … Northwest Christian’s first-team all-league selection, Nick Kiourkas, a standout receiver at Shadle Park, has decided to not turn out so he can lift weights and condition for an opportunity to play football in college. … Reggie Peone and Dwayne Watts have taken over as co-coaches at Springdale, which was 0-22 last year.

All-league returners

Sienko, Muelheims, Hartz, Nick Brockman of Reardan and Match Burnham of Liberty.