Intermountain League
In predicted order of finish:
Lakeland Hawks
1998-99 records: 17-5 overall, 9-1 league (champs)
Coach: Steve Seymour
Years coaching, record: 5th, 39-46
Top returners: Anika Duvall, senior, 5-5, wing; Megan Egbert, sr., 6-0, post; Micki Desmarais, sophomore, 5-9, p/w; Ashley Jamison, soph., 5-7, w; Jessica Austad, soph., 5-7, w; Stacey Douglas, soph., 5-5, g.
Top newcomers: Desirae Crocker, junior, 5-6, w; Sarah Hansen, soph., 5-10, p; Lindsay Von Behren, soph., 5-7, w/p.
Bonus shot: Last year, six freshmen were playing on varsity by season’s end. Four starters return: Duvall, Egbert, Desmarais and Jamison.
Coach’s comments: “I’d be lying if I didn’t say we’re pretty excited about the season. We have appropriate goals. It goes beyond just playing in one of those games to go to the state tournament.”
Outlook: Lakeland lost two heartbreakers to end the year last season - the district final and the cross-district playoff with Grangeville after winning the league title. The Hawks will be heavily favored to get to state.
Priest River Spartans
1998-99 records: 16-9, 7-3
Coach: Jamie Poncho
Years coaching, record: 3rd, 28-20
Top returners: Tiffany Troudt, jr., 5-4, point guard; Emily Oscarson, jr., 5-6, g; Angie Turner, jr., 6-0, p; Nikki Yount, jr., 5-11, p; Shandra Guthrie, sr., 5-8, w/p; Mary Lemm, sr., 5-8, g; Tambi Cork, jr., 5-9, p.
Top newcomers: Sally Brooks, sr., 5-7, g; Roni Naccarato, soph., 5-3, g.
Bonus shot: Priest River returns 11 lettermen, nine of whom saw considerable playing time last year. Four starters return: Troudt, Oscarson, Turner and Yount.
Coach’s comments: “With all the familiar faces we don’t have to work on too many new things.”
Outlook: The Spartans qualified for state for the first time in school history last year, and they’ll seriously challenge to return. Priest River will feature a post-dominated team.
Bonners Ferry Badgers
1998-99 records: 10-12, 8-2
Coach: Jim Nash
Years coaching, record: 6th, 77-42
Top returners: Julie Bateman, jr., 5-11, f; Jasmine Robertson, jr., 5-4, pg; Kayla Howlett, sr., 5-10, g/f; Taylor Cady, jr., 6-0, f; Lynsey Rice, jr., 5-9, f.
Top newcomer: Sikora Armstrong, soph., 6-0, p.
Bonus shot: The Badgers can field guard- or wing-strong lineups, but won’t have a true post.
Coach’s comments: “We’re real young. The goal is to be jelling by district.”
Outlook: The Badgers have a tradition-rich program, and Nash is a great motivator and developer of talent. Bonners Ferry will be in the hunt by season’s end.
St. Maries Lumberjacks
1998-99 records: 9-12, 4-6
Coach: Bryan Chase
Years coaching, record: 2nd, 9-12
Top returners: Tiffany Holdahl, sr., 5-7, g; Nikki Gibson, sr., 5-10, p; Karin Grieser, jr., 5-5, pg; Lindsey Harpole, sr., 5-6, g; Amanda Kachelmeir, sr., 5-10, p; Alana Hammons, jr., 5-6, g; Essie Nelson, sr., 5-9, p.
Top newcomers: Jessica Yearout, soph., 5-6, g/p; Shena Charles, soph., 5-8, p.
Bonus shot: All five starters return in Holdahl, Gibson, Grieser, Harpole and Kachelmeir. The Lumberjacks graduated just one player.
Coach’s comments: “We’re hoping for a breakout season this year. We think we have a good shot at going to state.”
Outlook: The Lumberjacks are on the verge of turning the corner. They finished the season strong last year, and could put a scare in favorites Lakeland and Priest River.
Timberlake Tigers
1998-99 records: 7-12, 2-8
Coach: Paul Stoddard
Years coaching, record: 2nd, 7-12
Top returners: Angie Campbell, sr., 5-7, w; Casi Reisenauer, sr., 5-2, pg; Nicole Lower, sr., 5-9, p.
Top newcomers: Jackie Hedding, jr., 5-9, w/p; Amy Logan, sr., 5-0, g; Jessica Forsberg, sr., 5-5, g.
Bonus shot: The Tigers hope to make up for their lack of size with quickness and defensive tenacity.
Coach’s comments: “We’re not starting from scratch this year and it makes a big difference. We’ve been able to add a few things and throw in a few new wrinkles instead of just the basic stuff.”
Outlook: Middle-of-the-division finish is a realistic goal. The Tigers don’t have the depth to challenge for a top-division finish.
Kellogg Wildcats
1998-99 records: 5-15, 0-10
Coach: Michael Moore
Years coaching, record: 1st
Top returners: Cara Burkgart, sr., 5-4, g; Heather Hoeck, sr., 5-5, g; Tabatha Paulson, 5-7, g; Kacie Martello, jr., 5-11, f/center.
Top newcomers: Jennifer Absec, soph., 5-9, f; Jenny Mercado, soph., 5-5, g; Jodi Schonewald, jr., 5-4, g; Emilee Scudder, jr., 5-8, c.
Bonus shot: Moore is in his second year as the school’s principal. His father was a highly successful boys coach in western New York.
Coach’s comments: “We’ve set some high expectations. A lot of people might think they’re too high for what we have coming back. We want to get into the (state) playoffs. That may be very high, but we’re not going to set our goals any lower.”
Outlook: State playoffs is quite lofty, but the Wildcats have no where to go but up after winless season in league last year. Kellogg will have to take baby steps first, though.
Players to watch Anika Duvall, senior, 5-foot-5, wing, Lakeland Angie Turner, junior, 6-0, post, Priest River Julie Bateman, junior, 5-11, forward, Bonners Ferry Tiffany Holdahl, senior, 5-7, guard, St. Maries Megan Egbert, senior, 6-0, post, Lakeland Tiffany Troudt, junior, 5-4, point guard, Priest River Casi Reisenauer, senior, 5-2, point guard, Timberlake Micki Desmarais, sophomore, 5-9, post/wing, Lakeland Cara Burkgart, senior, 5-4, guard, Kellogg