North Star League
In predicted order of finish
Lakeside Knights
2003-2004 records: 17-9 overall (4th at state), 9-1 (league)
Coach: Stacey Sonder
Years coaching, record: 3rd, 22-22
Returning lettermen, starters: 8, 4
Key players: Tim Wolfe, senior, 5-foot-11, guard; Andrew Sonder, sr., 6-1, g/forward; Mike Sifford, sr., 5-10, g/f; Arthur Elwell, sr., 6-4, post; Keith Greensky, junior, 5-9, g.
Coach’s comments: “Everything looks good. We’ll be pretty solid. We’ll just take every game to get ready to make a run at state.”
Outlook: Sonder’s Knights are loaded with experience – particularly state experience. They can only hope that they’ll be pushed in league, because that will prepare them more for state. The Knights should have little problem repeating as league champs.
Wallace Miners
2003-2004 record: 3-19
Coach: Josh Hemphill
Years coaching, record: 4th, 16-50
Returning lettermen, starters: 4, 2
Key players: Craig Birdsong, sr., 6-3, p; Stefan Norris, sr., 6-2, p/w; Paul Norris, sr., 5-11, pg.
Coach’s comments: “We have a little bit of everything. I love the mix of older kids and younger kids. It’s nice to be in a league where we can compete.”
Outlook: The Miners’ presence in the NSL will make the league better. Wallace will give Lakeside its stiffest tests and challenge for the second of the two state berths.
Clark Fork Wampus Cats
2003-2004 records: 10-9, 6-4
Coach: Jamie Hand
Years coaching, record: 3rd, 17-23
Returning lettermen, starters: 4, 2
Key players: Clayton Hewitt, sr., 6-3, p; Tyler Broggi, jr., 6-4, p; Kyle Ruen, jr., 6-1, w; Stephen McDaniel, sr., 6-0, g/w; Bill Clayton, jr., 5-10, g.
Coach’s comments: “We’ll be pretty good inside. Our weakness is our guard play. If we’re healthy we’ll be competitive.”
Outlook: Hand’s Wampus Cats will definitely be in the mix, especially as the season winds down. If guard play develops, Clark Fork could pose plenty of problems.
Post Falls Christian Eagles
2003-2004 records: 5-11, 2-8
Coach: Tim Mitchell
Years coaching, record: 2nd, 5-11
Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 4
Key players: Tim Laux, jr., 5-8, g; David Park, jr., 5-7, g; Brack Adkins, sr., 6-0, f; Brad Shaw, sr., 6-4, p; Daniel Anderson, soph., 6-3, p.
Coach’s comments: “We should be in the top three (in the league). The key will be teamwork. We need all-around team play.”
Outlook: The Eagles certainly won’t be a pushover. Whether they can finish as high as Mitchell predicts remains to be seen. It’s a big jump from next-to-last in league to the top three.
Mullan Tigers
2003-2004 records: 13-9, 8-2
Coach: Bruce Bailey
Years coaching, record: 3rd, 24-18
Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 1
Key players: Randy Scales, sr., 5-10, g; Cory Pehan, jr., 6-3, p; Jesse James, jr., 6-3, p; Matt Murray, jr., 6-0, w; Joe Ploharz, jr., 5-9, g.
Coach’s comments: “I see us in the middle of the pack. (Craig) Birdsong was the heart of our team last year. We’re going to miss him.”
Outlook: Birdsong transferred to Wallace and that presents a big loss to Mullan, which will lack depth with just seven players available.
Kootenai Warriors
2003-2004 records: 11-15, 5-5
Coach: Mike Lafountaine
Years coaching, record: 7th, 55-73
Returning lettermen, starters: 4, 2
Key players: Tony Kraack, sr., 5-5, pg; Robert Goodson, sr., 6-0, p; David Palmiter, sr., 5-10, w; Zach Harns, sr., 5-9, g; Scott Pankratz, jr., 6-1, p.
Coach’s comments: “We’re as inexperienced offensively as we’ve been in years. We’re going to be tested early.”
Outlook: The Warriors will have to try to create offense out of defense. That will be difficult with as much inexperience as Kootenai possesses.
Coeur d’Alene Charter Panthers
2003-2004 records: 3-14, 0-10
Coach: Bill Proser
Years coaching: 1st
Returning lettermen, starters: 3, 1
Key players: David Baker, soph., 6-1, f; Austin Folnagy, soph., 6-5, p; Nash Zebedeo, jr., 5-10, g; Micah Leger, sr., 6-1, g; Michael Gleixner, soph., 5-9, g.
Coach’s comments: “They’re hard-working kids. But we’re very young.”
Outlook: The Panthers will struggle mightily with a roster featuring seven sophomores. Proser assisted for four seasons under former Coeur d’Alene coach Don Haynes. He’s called his former boss for some advice.