State Title More To The Point Two-Time Scoring Champion Leads Chewelah Powerhouse

The first league scoring title surprised Jeremy Landram.

The second scoring title meant far less than having a chance to play in a state tournament.

What would a third scoring title mean?

“I would rather have one of my teammates lead (the league in scoring),” said Landram, a Chewelah senior. “What I really care about is doing better as a team, rather than the scoring thing.”

Yet for Chewelah to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish at the State A Tournament, Landram’s scoring touch will be a necessity.

Landram has a rare opportunity to lead the Northeast A League in scoring for a third consecutive year.

Talk to Landram and his coach/father Drew Landram, however, and the conversation focuses on the other nine Cougars on the roster.

”(Jeremy’s) success has been the result of our team,” said the elder Landram, the Cougars’ coach for four years. “…They rebound and play defense for him, and we don’t have anybody that other defenses can leave alone.”

“All the guys understand there’s no favoritism,” Jeremy said. “I don’t have to score because they’ve all become good players.”

This Cougars group has aimed for big things since Drew arrived from Burbank High, near Pasco, for Jeremy’s freshman year.

Jeremy shocked himself by topping league scorers as a 10th-grader, but Chewelah as a whole considered the season a disappointment because of its third-place NEA finish.

The Cougars and repeat scoring champ Landram tied for second in league last year, then caught fire at district and advanced to state. Drew said the league/ district schedule was so rugged that some state games seemed anticlimactic.

The Cougars came home with a fourth-place trophy and the knowledge that eight roster members would return.

Return eventually, that is. Six of the Cougars (see accompanying article) came within one win of the State A football championship game. The six started practicing a good two weeks after everyone else.

Jeremy and starter Chris Boone didn’t play football, but sophomore Jason Landram did. Because of the players in front of him, Jason won’t see the playing time his older brother did as a sophomore.

“This year, our success is in understanding that we have seven seniors and they all have significant contribution to our success,” said Drew Landram.

The coach/dad walks a fine line, wanting to encourage his son’s talents without alienating anyone. He seems to have found the perfect middle ground.

“Scorers usually get the recognition, but we realize … (Jeremy’s) success is more a credit to his team than to him,” he said. “I don’t like to single a person out, even my son. He just has the talent to put the ball in the hole.”

Landram, a part-time math teacher at Chewelah, coached Olympia High from 1977-81. He then worked in real estate for 10 years, but coached Jeremy when the opportunity arose. Jeremy picked up basketball in second or third grade. His interest in the sport hasn’t wavered.

“He’s a good player,” dad said, “but he still has a lot of work to do on his game that can make us a better team.”

“My defense and probably my passing in the open floor,” said Jeremy, filling in the blank. , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: These sidebars appeared with the story: COUGARS WELCOME BACK FOOTBALL STARS The real Chewelah Cougars may take some time to show up. Chewelah’s 52-50 season-opening win over Lakeside last Saturday showed that the Cougars haven’t completely switched gears from football to basketball. Chewelah advanced to the State A football semifinals this year, delaying the turnout of six basketball players who compete in both sports. By the time Chewelah played its first game, many local teams already had four or five games under their belts. “It’s good to get everybody together again,” said guard Jeremy Landram, one of only four Cougars who didn’t play football. Just a couple of weeks removed from the football field are Steve Murbach, a receiver/kicker; Brett Skok, running back/linebacker; Jason Landram, defensive back; Greg Belzer, RB/LB; Jeremy Rogers, tight end/defensive end; and Greg Rainer, tackle. “With our football team, you can see a lot of good athletes who developed themselves above what their natural abilities were,” said Chewelah basketball coach Drew Landram.

NORTHEAST A Information on the Northeast A League: Defending champions: Girls: Lakeside, Colfax and Riverside (which has moved to AA); Lakeside finished seventh at state. Boys: Riverside; Medical Lake and Chewelah tied for second place and finished second (Medical Lake) and fourth at state. Returning all-league players: Girls - First team: Hayden Kristianson, Chewelah; Tracy Tribbett, Colfax. Second team: Angie Hall and Brooke Hansen, Colfax; Lora Jolley, Lakeside; Michele Carrara, Newport; Jaidean Watson, Deer Park. Boys - First team: Jeremy Landram, Chewelah. Second team: Greg Belzer, Chewelah. Favorites: Girls: Lakeside, Colfax, Deer Park. Boys: Chewelah, Lakeside, Medical Lake, Freeman. Departure: Greg Johnston, a secondteam all-leaguer for Kettle Falls, has transferred to Colville. Arrivals: Brian Coe (Springdale) and Ben Spiger (Selah) have transferred to Lakeside. Six-hundred club: Colfax boys coach Bob Bafus has 589 career wins.