North Star League Girls Basketball Preview

In predicted order of finish:

Lakeside Knights

1995-96 record: 7-1 NSL, league and district champ, 18-6, 3rd at state

Coach: Ron Miller

Years coaching, record: 7, 109-68

Top returners: Margaret SiJohn, 5-8, senior, forward; Alicia Hoffman, 5-7, senior, guard; Harmony Hammons, 5-10, sr., post.

Newcomers: Angela Flint, 5-7, jr., f; Mindy Middleton, 5-6, jr., g.

Bonus shot: Miller didn’t run any practices until earlier this week because he coaches the football team, which plays Friday against Deary in the A-4 semifinals.

Coach’s comment: “We’ve got a solid starting five, but after that we’re very untested. It’s going to be a lot of guesswork early in the season.”

Outlook: Although there is a question of depth, the Knights are the defending league champions and have the best starting five. SiJohn might be the best player in the league. If she gets quality play from her teammates, this is the team to beat. Knights open Nov. 22 at Lakeland.

Kootenai Warriors

1995-96 record: 2-6, 8-10

Coach: Scott Shafer

Years coaching, record: 2, 8-10

Top returners: Jamie Bornitz, 6-0, jr., p; Annie Goodson, 5-7, jr., f; Danyel Hunter, 6-0, sr., p; Lindsey Kraack, 5-8, sr., f; Natalie Damiano, 5-7, jr., point guard.

Newcomers: Emily Anderson, 5-9, soph., f; Shennelle Kraack, 5-7, soph., g.

Bonus shot: Lakeside’s Miller said that Kootenai is the team to beat.

Coach’s comment: “We need to take this season one game at a time or we could fall on our face. It will be a dogfight to the end for the two state berths we get in the league.”

Outlook: This could be the deepest team in the league. Expect Kootenai and Lakeside to battle for the title and get the two state berths. The Warriors open Friday at home against Genesee.

Clark Fork Wampus Cats

1995-96 record: 4-4, 9-11

Coach: Mark Stevens

Years coaching, record: 3, 20-22

Top returners: Heidi Hager, 5-10, jr., wing; Carla Haller, 5-10, sr., p; Erin Manderscheid, 5-6, jr., pg.

Newcomers: Jill Miller, 5-5, soph., g; Alicia Rocha, 5-6, sr., f; Cindy Worcester, 5-10, sr., f.

Bonus shot: Worcester is back after moving away for a year, and Stevens expects her to be a big contributor.

Coach’s comment: “We’ve got good size and look to be in there among the favorites.”

Outlook: The Wampus Cats are big, but young and untested. Most of the players also played on the volleyball team so they have state tournament experience that Stevens hopes will transfer to maturity in basketball. Wampus Cats open Tuesday at Priest River.

Falls Christian Eagles

1995-96 record: 6-2, 15-6

Coach: Mike Teall

Years coaching, record: 1st

Top returners: Emily Jackson, 5-8, jr., f; Heidi Gilnette, 5-6, jr., pg; Kara Moate, 6-0, soph., p; Meghann Jenkins, 5-8, jr., f.

Newcomers: Carmi Eberle, 5-2, frosh., g; Ashley Taylor, 5-0, soph., g.

Bonus shot: In his first year as head coach, Teall surrounded himself with quality assistants. His assistant varsity coach, Catherine Jones, played basketball at the University of Idaho and was an assistant at North Idaho College.

Coach’s comment: “We want to be the surprise of the league. With the addition of our coaches we can cover all aspects of the game and we should play an up-tempo style that the A-4 hasn’t seen.”

Outlook: With no seniors on the team, the Eagles will have to grow up quickly to equal their second-place finish in the league last year. The Eagles open Saturday at home against Genesee.

Mullan Tigers

1995-96 record: 1-7, 3-16

Coach: Kelli Zufelt

Years coaching, record: 1st

Top returners: Katie Elwood, 5-7, jr., f; Charity Boyd, 5-7, sr., p; Amanda Hegbloom, 5-4, sr., pg.

Newcomers: Natalie Autio, 5-6, frosh., w; Liz Winstead, 5-6, frosh., w.

Bonus shot: The Tigers had seven girls come out for the team this season.

Coach’s comment: “We’ll have to try and play aggressive and not be overly concerned with fouling out.”

Outlook: Zufelt has quite a chore in her first season with only seven players on the roster. She said she will focus on conditioning and good interior defense. Mullan opens against Wallace in the Silver Valley Tournament at Mullan on Nov. 22.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH 1. Margaret SiJohn, 5-foot-8, senior, forward, Lakeside 2. Jamie Bornitz, 6-0, junior, post, Kootenai 3. Annie Goodson, 5-7, junior, forward, Kootenai 4. Katie Elwood, 5-7, junior, forward, Mullan 5. Angela Flint, 5-7, junior, guard, Lakeside