Intermountain League Basketball

In predicted order of finish

Moscow Bears

1996-97 record: 10-0 (IML), 20-3 (state champ)

Coach: Don Dudley

Years coaching, record: 4th, 50-20

Top returners: Kirby Brown, 6-0, senior, point guard; Tony Rinaldi, 5-8, sr., g; Russ Cosgrove, 6-0, sr., wing.

Newcomers: Jamie Westberg, 6-2, sr., forward; Jon Shupe, 6-2, jr., f; Shawn Reynolds, 5-8, sr., g; Jeremy Nielson, 6-1, sr., f; Corey Comstock, 6-4, jr., post.

Bonus shot: Dudley is carrying 10 players on varsity and all will play. He doesn’t distinguish between starters and reserves. All players have a part in his team’s success or they’re not on varsity.

Coach’s comment: “I think the thing you’ll find out about this team is you better not leave anybody unguarded. All the players can score and have good medium shooting range. This team will be different than last year’s team, but our goals are the same.”

Outlook: Repeat? Pencil the Bears in as league champ. They will be one of the most athletic teams in the league. Several players step up from 19-1 junior varsity team. Another trip to state will go far in Dudley’s attempt to build a consistent program. Moscow opened with a 65-50 loss against Lewiston at home Tuesday.

Lakeland Hawks

1996-97 record: 3-7, 8-14

Coach: Trent Derrick

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 8-14

Top returners: Jared Mudge, 6-2, jr., p; Kurt Reese, 6-4, sr., p; Mike Moore, 6-0, sr., g; Brad Rasor, 6-0, sr., g; Harrison Bertsch, 6-1, jr., w.

Newcomers: Chad Lunsford, 6-2, sr., p; Brian Schaffer, 6-3, sr., w; Taylor Skidmore, 6-3, jr., w/p.

Bonus shot: If it looks like some of the Hawks should be wearing shoulder pads, consider that 8 of 10 players were on the semifinal football team.

Coach’s comment: “The kids are dedicated, competitive, athletic and know how to work hard. They want to prove some things.”

Outlook: The Hawks hope to be tradition-busters this season. They want to prove they’re more than a football and wrestling school. You have to go back to the early 1970s to find the last time a Lakeland team won an IML title. Hawks should contend, but might not have enough firepower to contend with the Bears. Lakeland opens Friday at Riverside.

Kellogg Wildcats

1996-97 record: 7-3, 16-10

Coach: Tony Kerfoot

Years coaching, record: 9th, 3rd at Kellogg, 95-93

Top returners: Brian Carlson, 6-0, sr., g; Casey Marek, 6-2, sr., g/w; Cory Lewis, 5-9, sr., g.

Newcomers: Roland Vetten, 6-6, sr., p; Mark Mangum, 6-4, jr., p; Brady Bircher, 6-1, jr., f; Wayne Blalack, 5-9, jr., g; Brandon Neff, 6-2, jr., p.

Bonus shot: Vetten is a foreignexchange student from Germany who’s expected to start. Returning starter Heath Marek (6-7, sr., p) is ineligible, but could return in mid-January.

Coach’s comment: “We’ve got decent quickness and shooting ability, but if you get the ball across halfcourt you’ll probably score against us. We’ve got to learn how to defend the basket. We have some potential.”

Outlook: Contenders. Don’t send Kerfoot any sympathy cards. As usual he’ll get every ounce of energy and talent out of his team. Which means Kellogg will contend for another state berth. They could even challenge for a district title if Marek returns. Kellogg opens Friday against Pendleton, Ore., in the Bengals Shootout in Lewiston.

St. Maries Lumberjacks

1996-97 record: 5-5, 10-12

Coach: Todd Bitterman

Years coaching, record: 3rd, 19-23

Top returners: D.J. Eberlin, 6-1, sr., g; Mark Raebel, 6-2, sr., p.

Newcomers: Caleb Krebs, 5-10, jr., pg; Derick Driggs, 6-4, jr., p; Skyler Willard, 6-1, sr., w; Trent Duffey, 5-9, sophomore, g.

Bonus shot: The Lumberjacks graduated eight players, but welcome nucleus of 15-3 junior varsity team that was second only to Moscow.

Coach’s comment: “As a group they’ve got pretty good court sense. That’s something you can’t really coach. I think we’re going to compete OK.”

Outlook: Dark horse? The Lumberjacks will be much improved. It may not be measurable in league standing, but the Lumberjacks will cause teams problems. Lack of size could be downfall. St. Maries opens Friday at Potlatch.

Bonners Ferry Badgers

1996-7 record: 5-5, 15-9

Coach: Ken Robertson

Years coaching, record: 4th, 3rd at Bonners Ferry, 26-40

Top returners: Leo Zimmerman, 6-3, sr., f.

Newcomers: Zeb Barry, 6-2, sr., g; Todd Bateman, 5-11, jr., pg; Steve Merrill, 6-3, sr., f; Andy Rice, 6-5, soph., p.

Bonus shot: Talk about gutted by graduation. Robertson returns one letterman whose time was limited last year.

Coach’s comment: “We don’t have any one guy who we’ll depend on like Adam (Hiatt) last year. I see us improving a lot during the year.”

Outlook: A safe pick here. But by district, the Badgers may be primed to pull off an upset. The nucleus of the team is a year away. This may be a year when Robertson hears less from usually vocal boosters since expectations won’t be as high. The Badgers fell to Sandpoint 64-51 in an opener Tuesday at Sandpoint.

Priest River Spartans

1996-7 record: 0-10, 2-18 (includes two forfeits for use of ineligible player)

Coach: Mitch Stratton

Years coaching, record: 1st

Top returners: Dane Ackley, 5-10, jr., pg; Kevin Behnke, 6-0, sr., p; Luke Baker, 5-9, sr., g.

Newcomers: Justin Kershaw, 5-8, jr., g; Ryan Bryson, 6-2, jr., p; Ryan Bodecker, 5-7, soph., g; Jay Zmuda, 5-11, soph., g.

Bonus shot: Priest River is on one-year probation after Spartans were issued eight technicals in one game and involved in three fights. Stratton, a disciplinarian, vows none of the garbage from last year will be evident this season.

Coach’s comment: “I knew what I was getting into. I’ve wanted to be a head coach and build a program for a long time. We’re not very big, but the attitude and effort has been outstanding.”

Outlook: The Spartans will struggle. But Stratton has program headed in right direction after last season’s debacle. Stratton has cleaned house. Lack of size and untested players will cause the Spartans problems. Priest River opened Tuesday with a 63-52 win against Clark Fork.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Tony Rinaldi, 5-foot-8, senior, guard, Moscow Jared Mudge, 6-2, junior, post, Lakeland Brian Carlson, 6-0, senior, guard, Kellogg Mark Raebel, 6-2, senior, post, St. Maries Kirby Brown, 6-0, senior, point guard, Moscow Dane Ackley, 5-10, junior, point guard, Priest River Casey Marek, 6-2, senior, guard/wing, Kellogg