Intermountain League Boys Basketball
In predicted order of finish:
St. Maries Lumberjacks
1997-98 records: 17-9 overall, 7-3 league
Coach: Todd Bitterman
Years coaching, record: 4th, 36-32
Top returners: Derick Driggs, sr., 6-4, post; Caleb Krebs, sr., 5-10, point guard; Trent Duffey, junior, 5-9, guard; Kyle Stevenson, jr., 6-3, p; Pat Eberlin, jr., 6-1, w.
Top newcomers: T.J. Grieser, sr., 5-9, g; Alan Raebel, jr., 6-0, w/p; Greg Sindt, jr., 6-0, w/p; Derek Hanson, jr., 5-11, g; Dan Harvey, jr., 5-9, g.
Bonus shot: Will the magic continue? St. Maries won three key games last year on last-second shots by Duffey. The first clutch shot secured a first-round district bye; the second earned the Lumberjacks a state berth; and the third, from just inside half court, secured a first-round win at state.
Coach’s comment: “We exceeded a lot of expectations last year. This year we’ve got confidence. They’re overachievers to a certain extent.”
Outlook: Cinderella last year, the Lumberjacks won’t need as much magic this season. With Moscow gone, St. Maries is considered the odds-on favorite to claim conference championship. Opener: Saturday, home against Grangeville.
Bonners Ferry Badgers
1997-98 records: 10-13, 3-7
Coach: Ken Robertson
Years coaching, record: 5th, 36-53
Top returners: Todd Bateman, sr., 6-0, g; Andy Rice, jr., 6-6, p; Chris Blandford, sr., 5-11, pg.
Top newcomers: Scott Solumn, jr., 6-3, forward; Mark Elliston, jr., 5-9, g; Rama Scarlett, sr., 6-0, g.
Bonus shot: Robertson isn’t going to miss Moscow - especially playing at Moscow. The Badgers and Bears had the longest road trips.
Coach’s comment: “I’d like to think we’re going to be in the top two or three. It depends on whether we’re going to play together. We didn’t play together Saturday (season-opening loss against Timberline). We struggled. Hopefully it’s an eye-opener.”
Outlook: If the Badgers put the team before themselves they will challenge St. Maries for league crown. The Badgers’ potential has league coaches wary. Opener: Lost 53-50 to Timberline last Saturday. Next: Saturday, home against Sandpoint.
Kellogg Wildcats
1997-98 records: 14-10, 7-3
Coach: Tony Kerfoot
Years coaching, record: 10th, 4th at Kellogg, 109-103
Top returners: Mark Mangum, sr., 6-3, f; Brady Bircher, sr., 6-1, f; Wayne Blalack, sr., 5-10, g; Brandon Neff, sr., 6-2, p; Jerrod Oertli, jr., 6-0, g.
Top newcomers: Barry Absec, sr., 6-4, p; Luke Smith, jr., 6-0, g; Ryan Mann, jr., 6-3, p.
Bonus shot: Several players stepping up from 15-3 junior varsity team must mature quickly for Wildcats to be in the hunt.
Coach’s comment: “I really don’t know what our strengths are going to be. We’re still trying to identify things. We’re really unproven.”
Outlook: The Wildcats may be unproven, but if anybody can motivate his players it’s Kerfoot. He’s masterful at getting the most out of average talent. If St. Maries or Bonners Ferry stumbles Kellogg could slip into top two. Opener: Friday, at Bengals Shootout in Lewiston.
Lakeland Hawks
1997-98 records: 6-13, 3-7
Coach: Trent Derrick
Years coaching, record: 3rd, 14-27
Top returners: Taylor Skidmore, sr., 6-3, p; Harrison Bertsch, sr., 6-1, w; Ryan Hanson, soph., 5-11, g.
Top newcomers: Joe Finley, jr., 5-11, pg; Mike Banks, jr., 5-11, w; Matt Wunische, jr., 6-0, w.
Bonus shot: Similar to football, the split with Timberlake was kind to Lakeland. But the Hawks basketball team isn’t nearly as talented as the football team.
Coach’s comment: “They’re very hard workers. We can probably put a lot more pressure on teams because of our depth. After St. Maries and Bonners Ferry, the rest of us will be battling.”
Outlook: The future is good. Of 21 players on varsity and junior varsity, 18 are underclassmen, with eight juniors on varsity. For the future to arrive early, Lakeland must have big seasons from Skidmore and Bertsch and several players must fill critical roles. Opener: Tonight, at Lakeside.
Priest River Spartans
1997-98 records: 5-16, 1-9
Coach: Gary Stewart
Years coaching: 1st
Top returners: Dane Ackley, sr., 5-11, w; Ryan Bodecker, jr., 5-10, pg; Del Pound, sr., 6-0, w.
Top newcomers: Jay Zmuda, jr., 6-1, w/p; Roger White, soph., w/g.
Bonus shot: Stewart, a 1981 Priest River grad, is fourth coach in four years. Last year’s coach, Mitch Stratton, resigned to take head coaching job at his alma mater, Newport, where he also teaches. Stewart was JV coach last year.
Coach’s comment: “I think we’ll surprise some teams with our speed. We just want to be competitive. We’d like to split home and away games.”
Outlook: The Spartans will be short, but hope to make up for it with quickness. If supporting cast develops the Spartans could be a darkhorse, if not a spoiler. Opener: Lost 41-40 to Clark Fork. Next: Tonight, Newport at home.
Timberlake Tigers
1997-98 records: 1st year
Coach: Paul Kautzman
Years coaching: 1st
Top players: Travis Puckett, sr., 6-1, g; Thor Yarbrough, sr., 6-5, p; John Baker, jr., 6-2, w/g.
Bonus shot: Puckett had 80 seconds of varsity time at Lakeland last year. One other player was on Lakeland’s JV. Four of seven seniors have never played in high school.
Coach’s comment: “They’re enthusiastic and really want to play. They definitely don’t have any experience. We’ll just have basic goals and try to improve with every game.”
Outlook: The Tigers will be one of the tallest teams in the league. But they’ll need more than height to be competitive. Improvement will come with baby steps. Opener: Friday, at Lakeside.
PLAYERS TO WATCH Todd Bateman, senior, 6-0, guard, Bonners Ferry Trent Duffey, junior, 5-9, guard, St. Maries Taylor Skidmore, senior, 6-3, post, Lakeland Derick Driggs, senior, 6-4, post, St. Maries Mark Mangum, senior, 6-3, forward, Kellogg Dane Ackley, senior, 5-11, wing, Priest River Andy Rice, junior, 6-6, post, Bonners Ferry Harrison Bertsch, senior, 6-1, wing, Lakeland Thor Yarbrough, senior, 6-5, post, Timberlake Caleb Krebs, senior, 5-10, point guard, St. Maries