Border League Boys Basketball
In predicted order of finish:
West Valley Eagles
1997-98 records: 13-11 overall, 9-7 league
Coach: Jamie Nilles
Years coaching: 1st
Top returners: Brad Groh, sr., 6-3, w; Eric Deno, sr., 6-1, w; Chris Gregg, sr., 6-4, p; Kris Sly, jr., 5-10, g; Ryan Browning, sr., 6-1, w; Ryan Spivey, sr., 6-2, p.
Top newcomers: John Focht, jr., 6-2, p. Nick Fusare, sr., 6-10, p.
Bonus shot: Nilles, in his first head coaching job, inherits a program that won eight Frontier titles in nine years under previous coach Joe Feist.
Coach’s comment: “I’m excited. I told the kids we’ll all make mistakes, I’ll make them, too. We’ll learn from them and hopefully are pointed in the right direction.”
Outlook: The Eagles, who bring back eight regulars, are extremely deep and mature and will score points. If Deno plays like he’s capable and if Fusare helps the defense improve against strong opposition, the Eagles will be tough to beat. Opener: Friday, at home against Shadle Park.
Lewiston Bengals
1997-98 records: 19-8, 13-3
Coach: Dick Richel
Years coaching, record: 18th, 134-91
Top returners: Jason Eck, sr., 6-3, g; Carl Holmes, sr., 6-0, pg; Ryan Klamper, jr., 6-3, w; Shawn Holder, sr., 5-10, g; Josh Wolf, sr., 6-1, p.
Top newcomers: Craig Cone, sr., 6-2, w.
Bonus shot: This is the smallest team Richel has had in his 11 years at Lewiston.
Coach’s comment: “This is easily the most athletic team I’ve had. We’ve got tremendous team speed. We’re gifted with the best athletes up and down the line in my 11 years. I’m really excited about the defensive end of the floor, but we have to find some proven scoring.”
Outlook: The Bengals could finish as high as second or as low as fifth. Much depends on Eck, who has had seven dislocated kneecaps - five on one knee, two on the other. It’s a genetic defect, Richel said. If he stays healthy, he could be premier player in Idaho. Opener: Friday, Bengals Shootout Tournament.
Lake City Timberwolves
1997-98 records: 12-11, 8-8
Coach: Jim Winger
Years coaching, record: 7th, 89-58
Top returners: Justin Nipp, sr., 6-5, p; Jacob Lenz, jr., 5-9, pg; J.J. Barlow, sr., 6-2, w; Jeff Schuh, sr., 6-0, g/w; Sam Stroh, sr., 6-2, w; Chad Bramlet, sr., 6-0, g.
Top newcomers: Daryl Wilder, jr., 6-0, g; Richard Novotny, sr., 6-0, w; Connor Quinn, sr., 6-2, w; Tom Dennis, jr., 6-2, p.
Bonus shot: Winger hopes he doesn’t have the all-training room team. He kept an extra player or two because a handful of T-Wolves have had a propensity to suffer minor but nagging injuries.
Coach’s comment: “Everything boils down to us staying injury free and playing defense. Everything else will come.”
Outlook: The Timberwolves may not have the go-to player of recent seasons, but that shouldn’t matter. They’ll spread the offensive load around among as many as eight players. LC must play solid defense, though. Opener: Friday, at home against Cheney.
Moscow Bears
1997-98 record: 19-5 (first year in BL)
Coach: Don Dudley
Years coaching, record: 5th, 69-25
Top returners: Darnell Williams, soph., 6-3, w; Corey Comstock, sr., 6-4, w; Jon Shupe, sr., 6-3, w; Ryan Gilmore, sr., 6-1, p; Adam Busch, jr., 6-0, g.
Top newcomers: Chris Walker, sr., 5-10, pg; Levi Johnson, jr., 6-4, p; B.J. Garrett, sr., 5-10, g; Josh Keep, jr., 6-7, p.
Bonus shot: Moscow, a State A-2 finalist the past three years and state champ two years ago, should have no problem making the move to A-1. The Bears are 8-4 the last three years against Inland Empire League teams including a victory over eventual state champ Coeur d’Alene last season.
Coach’s comment: “We have nice pieces to our puzzle. But I can’t tell you how it’s all going to fit together. We have eight games before Christmas. We’ll learn a whole lot between now and then.”
Outlook: Can the Bears step up and challenge for the region’s automatic state berth? Absolutely. Depending who you listen to, Moscow could be the favorite. Certainly, the Bears will be one of the top defensive teams in the league. Opener: Friday, at home against Clarkston.
Cheney Blackhawks
1997-98 records: 18-7, 12-4
Coach: Denny Humphrey
Years coaching, record: 30th, 18th at Cheney, 498-235
Top returners: Chris Bond, jr., 6-4, p; Chris Oyolokor, sr., 6-2, g.
Top newcomers: Ben Woodard, soph, 6-3, p; Chris Mount, jr., 6-2, p; Charley Berryhill, jr., 6-3, p; Shon Volk, jr., 6-0, g.
Bonus shot: Humphrey is nearing a milestone as one of the state’s winningest active coaches.
Coach’s comment: “We’re restarting which is OK. Everybody’s got to go through it sometime.”
Outlook: This is Cheney’s least experienced team in some time. But, if history is a good teacher and Bond and Oyolokor come through, don’t look for the Blackhawks to be a pushover. Opener: Thursday, at home against Shadle Park.
East Valley Knights
1997-98 records: 3-13, 5-18
Coach: Drew Vanderpool
Years coaching, record: 15th, 1st at EV, 169-98
Top returners: Andrew Burgess, jr., 6-2, w; Blake Horgan, jr., 6-2, p; Jesse Quirk, sr., 6-4, f.
Top newcomers: Jason Paul, jr., 5-10, g; Jamie Quirk, jr., 6-4, f; Austin Brown, soph., 5-10, g.
Bonus shot: Vanderpool coached high school boys basketball 12 years in California and for the last three years was girls coach at Rogers.
Coach’s comment: “They’re very receptive to new things. I’ve taught different things and they’ve taken to them well.”
Outlook: Knights have an electrifying player in Burgess and seven returnees, including starters Horgan and Quirk. They should improve substantially on last year. Opener: Friday, at Rogers.
Sandpoint Bulldogs
1997-98 records: 6-15, 3-13
Coach: Kurt Lundblad
Years coaching: 1st
Top returners: Paul Nieman, sr., 6-3, g/w; Jevon Watson, sr., 6-3, w; Adrian Menard, sr., 6-5, forward; Joe Singleton, sr., 6-0, g.
Top newcomers: Scott Evans, jr., 6-0, pg; Devon Rinaldi, jr., 6-5, p; Greg Malone, soph., 6-2, g/w.
Bonus shot: Lundblad, a 1984 Coeur d’Alene grad, is Sandpoint’s third coach in three years, and this is his first head-coaching job. His father, Dean, the former successful Coeur d’Alene coach, is a Sandpoint graduate. Kurt will be assisted by longtime North Idaho College men’s coach Rolly Williams.
Coach’s comment: “I’m sure my expectations are a little higher than (the team’s). I see us at least in the middle of the pack. I’d like to think we’ll push Lake City and Lewiston. We won’t back down that’s for sure.”
Outlook: Lundblad takes over a program that hasn’t enjoyed much success since the late 1970s. And the Bulldogs were winless (0-9) against IEL teams last year despite fielding an athletic team. If the Bulldogs respond to Lundblad’s enthusiasm they could challenge Lewiston, LC and Moscow. Opener: Tonight, at home against Post Falls.
Post Falls Trojans
1997-98 records: 11-12, 7-9
Coach: Wade Quesnell Years coaching, record: 3rd, 18-27 Top returners: Scott Klaudt, jr., 5-11, pg; Eli Thornley, sr., 6-1, p; Josh Miller, sr., 6-0, w/f.
Top newcomers: Darren McKinnon, jr., 6-0, g/f; Jon Garrett, jr., 5-10, g; Austin Richards, sr., 6-0, g/f; Tyler Smith, jr., 6-2, p; Chris Dreckman, sr., 6-1, p.
Bonus shot: Quesnell, the Border League coach of the year in the league’s inaugural season, must find a way to replace son Chad, the do-everything guard who was the league’s most valuable player. Although Chad led the league in scoring, his speed and defensive abilities will be equally difficult to replace.
Coach’s comment: “We’re short on height and short on experience. It’ll be a little similar to last year.”
Outlook: Klaudt will be asked to run the show - offensively and defensively. But he’s going to need some help. The Trojans could be the proverbial nagging fly. Wins won’t come easy, though. Opener: Tonight, at Sandpoint.
Clarkston Bantams
1997-98 records: 3-13, 6-16
Coach: Tim Winter
Years coaching, record: 2nd, 6-16
Top returners: Rodney Harrington, sr., 6-5, f; Nathan Cummings, sr., 6-2, g; Brandon Cridlebaugh, sr., 6-2, g.
Top newcomers: Ryan Hayes, jr., 6-3, f; Travis Howell, jr., 5-10, g; Drew Storm, jr., 6-3, f.
Bonus shot: Last year was a learning experience for players and new coach who made changes to his lineup as the season progressed.
Coach’s comment: “I’m pretty optimistic. Our scrimmage was leaps and bounds ahead of where we were last year at the same time.”
Outlook: The Bantams are more athletic, have adequate size and a year with Winter. They could be a surprise in the league this year. Opener: Lost 77-43 to Pullman on Tuesday. Next: Friday, Bantams are at Moscow.
Coeur d’Alene Vikings
1997-98 records: 23-4 (state champ), 14-2
Coach: Larry Bieber
Years coaching, record: 5th, 49-45 Top returners: Jeff Rupp, sr., 6-0, g; Kyle Chambers, sr., 5-11, w.
Top newcomers: Jason Rupp, soph., 5-10, pg; Robert Findley, jr., 6-4, p; Nate Alderman, soph., 6-3, p; Alex Keil, sr., 5-11, g; Pat Goodwin, sr., 5-8, g.
Bonus shot: The Vikings graduated all starters and return just two lettermen. But opposing coaches don’t expect CdA to “fall off the face of the planet,” as two IEL coaches identically put it.
Coach’s comment: “I think we’ll be in the middle of the mix. I hope we’re playing good ball by the time (regionals) rolls around. We have a different mix of kids. We’re a real unknown quantity.”
Outlook: Middle of the pack would be a realistic goal. The Viks won’t drop to the record-low level of Bieber’s first season. The pride of being the defending state champs will be a motivation. The Viks, post-heavy last year, will seek an uptempo style with a perimeter attack. Opener: Friday, at home against Lakeland.
This sidebar appeared with the story: PLAYERS TO WATCH Brad Groh, sr., 6-3, wing, West Valley Andrew Burgess, jr., 6-2, wing, East Valley Jason Eck, senior, 6-3, sr., guard, Lewiston Chris Bond, jr., 6-4, post, Cheney Eric Deno, sr., 6-1, wing, West Valley Justin Nipp, sr., 6-5, post, Lake City Paul Nieman, sr., 6-3, guard/wing, Sandpoint Jeff Rupp, sr., 6-0, guard, Coeur d’Alene Darnell Williams, soph., 6-3, wing, Moscow Jevon Watson, sr., 6-3, wing, Sandpoint Scott Klaudt, jr., 5-11, point guard, Post Falls