Border Boys Basketball
Cheney Blackhawks
1999-2000 records: 18-5 overall, 15-3 league
Coach: Denny Humphrey
Years coaching, record: 32nd, 526-251
Key players: Ben Woodard, senior, 6-4, wing/ post; Rhett Humphrey, junior, 5-10, point guard; J.D. Larson, sr., 6-1, w; Ryan Harris, sr., 5-11, g; Tyler Marsh, sr., 6-0, p; Miles Strampe, sr., 6-5, p; Jim Oswald, sr., 6-3, p.
Returning starters: 4; Woodard, Humphrey, Larson, Marsh
Bonus shot: Five of the 10 players were key contributors to Cheney’s playoff-qualifying football team.
Coach’s comments: “There’s been competition at every spot. I like their attitudes and work habits.”
Outlook: With the best post in the league (Woodard) and capable guards to get the ball inside, Cheney will field a balanced lineup that will be difficult to defend. Humphrey’s teams are known for their defense, too. Cheney has no glaring weaknesses.
West Valley Eagles
1999-2000 records: 23-3, 16-2 (league champ)
Coach: Jamie Nilles
Years coaching, record: 3rd, 42-10
Key players: Lance Pecht, sr., 6-4, w; Craig McIntyre, sr., 6-1, g; Luke Gordon, sr., 6-1, w; Kyle Gazaway, sr., 5-10, g; B.J. Harris, sr., 6-2, p; Jordan Allen, sr., 6-1, p.
Returning starters: 2; Pecht, Gordon
Bonus shot: The Eagles graduated three players, but the inside workhorse efforts of league most valuable player John Focht will be the most difficult to replace.
Coach’s comments: “We can shoot it. We’re going to give people fits. We’ll be difficult to defend. The biggest question for us is an inside presence. But I think size is overrated at the high school level.”
Outlook: Eagles have made a living out of shooting the ball - early and often. They haven’t met a shot they didn’t like in recent years, and that will be true again. They’ll have to create ways to score if they go cold, though.
Clarkston Bantams
1999-2000 records: 4-16, 4-14
Coach: Tim Winters
Years coaching, record: 4th, 11-53
Key players: Justin Fraser, jr., 5-10, g; Scott Shelden, jr., 6-1, pg; Shawn Burke, sr., 5-10, g; Brandon Hally, jr., 5-10, g.
Returning starters: 3; Fraser, Shelden, Hally
Bonus shot: The Bantams were optimistic last year that they’d get the program closer to a winning record. That didn’t happen, but the optimism hasn’t waned.
Coach’s comments: “I think we’ll have a continuation of what we did over the summer. I think we’re ready to make some steps in the Border League.”
Outlook: The Bantams, with one of the shortest lineups in the league, face a tall task, though they will be improved.
Colville Indians
1999-2000 records: 11-10, 9-9
Coach: Dick Trudgeon
Years coaching: 19th, 2nd at Colville
Key players: Jeff Banich, sr., 6-2, w; Stephen Goble, jr., 5-9, pg; Brett Ferguson, sr., 6-3, p; Dane Bassett, sophomore, 6-4, p; Matt Trudgeon, jr., 6-1, g.
Returning starters: 1; Banich
Bonus shot: The Indians may lead the league in 3-point shots attempted. Trudgeon says he has five players who can shoot the trey.
Coach’s comments: “I like the way we shoot the ball. I expect us to be somewhere in the top half of league.”
Outlook: For the Indians to finish in the upper division, they’ll have to win some games on the road. That’s a difficult chore in this league.
This sidebar appeared with the story: Predicted finish
1, Cheney; 2, West Valley; 3, (tie) Coeur d’Alene and Lake City; 5, Lewiston; 6, Moscow; 7, Sandpoint; 8, Clarkston; 9, Colville; 10, Post Falls.