Early Returns Suggest Iml, Iel Loaded With Talent
If for no other reason than to stir up conversation in North Idaho boys and girls basketball locker rooms, we offer our prepostseason Inland Empire and Intermountain all-league teams.
We’ll start with the boys.
In the Inland Empire League, Lake City is represented by three players on the all-league team - point guard Mike Thompson and wings Scott Hoover and Jon Chatfield.
Thompson is in his third year as a starter. He may not be a flashy scoring threat, but he makes few mistakes. If you need to get the ball upcourt, hand the ball to Thompson.
Hoover and Chatfield can shine in a passing-game offense and are also able to create something out of nothing.
Joining the LC trio are Post Falls guard Brett Hollenbeck and Lewiston post Ben Feider. Both must have solid seasons for their teams to be competitive.
Perhaps the best player in the region is at Kellogg. The Wildcats’ 6-foot-7 post Casey Fisher should earn top honors in the Intermountain League.
When he’s not dishing passes inside to Fisher, Kellogg guard Jeremy Behm should be among the top perimeter players in the league. Joining the Kellogg duo are Moscow guard Adam Miller and 6-10 post Jason Keep and St. Maries’ post Steve Raebel.
Sandpoint’s Alli Nieman, meanwhile, has her place well secured as the top player in the state, not to mention the IEL.
Talent abounds in the IEL in LC point guard Katie Hatrock, Post Falls guard Heidi Umthun, Lewiston wing Andrea Gomez, LC wing Lindsay Herbert and Lewiston post Laura Bloom.
There’s enough talent for a competitive second team, too.
In the IML, Moscow guard Amy Lemm and post Angie Sorbel are joined by Bonners Ferry forward Denelle Ripatti, Kellogg guard Amy Lemon, St. Maries post Amanda Tams and Priest River guard Sara Suchocki.
Coaches hired
Todd Jackson has been hired as head wrestling coach at Kellogg, replacing Shawn Amos.
Amos, who was named All-North Idaho coach of the year last winter, resigned after taking over this fall as head football coach.
Bryan Duncan will take over as head track coach at Coeur d’Alene, replacing Bryan Rasmussen.
Duncan, a CdA High grad, was previously a head coach in track for two years in Ashland, Mont., and five years in Riverton, Wyo. He also was the head football coach at Kellogg for one season in 1989.
Rasmussen was head coach one season at CdA. He resigned to become an assistant coach at North Idaho College.
Volleyball honors
Sandpoint’s Nieman became the first player to be named to the State A-1 all-tournament first team for a fourth time.
The A-1 and A-2 state all-tourney teams are sponsored by the Bonner County Daily Bee in Sandpoint and voted by the coaches.
No other Idaho player has ever been a four-time first team selection.
Nieman, a 6-1 middle hitter, was joined on the team by teammates Stacey Moline (setter) and Tiwi Bond (middle hitter). The trio led Sandpoint to a 27-1 record and second straight state title.
Also named to the first team were: Cori Freeman of Capital (outside hitter), Krista Charles of Hillcrest (setter) and Leslie Almond (outside hitter) of Hillcrest.
St. Maries’ Amanda Tams (middle hitter) and Angie Epler (backrow) were named to the A-2 first team.
‘Dogs grapplers ranked
The Sandpoint High wrestling team is believed to be the first Idaho team ever to be rated in the Prep Wrestling Coast-to-Coast Super 25 prep poll.
The two-time State A-1 champion Bulldogs were ranked 21st in the preseason poll, published in the magazine’s November issue.
Sandpoint, which is favored to capture a third state title this season, returns three state champs and one previous champ: senior Brett Lawrence (125 pounds), a three-time state champ; junior Pat Larson (152), a two-time state champ; sophomore Jared Lawrence (112), a returning state champ; and junior Shawn Garner (130), a state champ as a freshman.
Walsh Jesuit High of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, is the preseason No. 1-ranked team and two-time defending Super 25 national champion. Sandpoint will face many of the teams ranked in the poll at the Reno Tournament of Champions Jan. 12-13.
, DataTimes