Intermountain League girls basketball
In predicted order of finish:
Priest River Spartans
2003-04: 22-3 (overall, state runner-up), 9-1 (league)
Coach: Marty Landry
Years coaching: 6th, 1st at Priest River
Returning lettermen, starters: 4, 2
Top players: Calli Jo Turner, senior, 5-foot-9, post; Rachel Schlechte, sr., 5-6, guard; Ellen Bryant, sr., 5-6, wing; Lesa Barber, sr., 5-2, g.
Coach’s comments: “The girls have made it a lot of fun. They work hard. They’re very driven.”
Outlook: With Lakeland gone, the Spartans are the team to beat until proven otherwise. Turner, Schlechte, Barber and Bryant give Priest River a solid nucleus after some key losses to graduation.
Bonners Ferry Badgers
2003-04 records: 12-12, 5-5
Coach: Travis Hinthorn
Years coaching, record: 2nd, 12-12
Returning lettermen, starters: 6, 3
Top players: Becky Lowther, sophomore, 5-9, w/g; Katie Poston, soph., 5-9, p; Jennifer Youngwirth, jr., 5-8, w; Tyga White, jr., 5-8, p/w; Amanda Johnson, sr., 5-7, w; Olivia Hanson, sr., 6-0, p.
Coach’s comments: “Last year we had to create everything out of our half-court offense. There were games we had zero points out of transition. We need to get easier points of transition this year.”
Outlook: If the Spartans stumble, the Badgers could be poised to leap ahead. The Badgers will play hard for Hinthorn. Lowther and Poston shined as freshmen and should continue to turn in big numbers this year.
Kellogg Wildcats
2003-04 records: 12-10, 4-6
Coach: Lisa Cheney
Years coaching, record: 5th, 39-49
Returning lettermen, starters: 7, 2
Top players: Cami Wendt, sr., 5-8, point guard; Jamie Brower, sr., 5-2, g; Jordan Budd, jr., 5-7, w.
Coach’s comments: “We’ve got a lot of speed. Hopefully that will create turnovers. We’ll be able to push the ball a little more.”
Outlook: The Wildcats will challenge for one of the league’s two state berths. Speed, depth will be keys.
St. Maries Lumberjacks
2003-04 records: 8-12, 3-7
Coach: Bryan Chase
Years coaching, record: 7th, 69-68
Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 2
Top players: Rachelle Solom, sr., 5-9, p; Kristi Smith, sr., 5-6, g; Sam Siron, soph., 5-5, pg; Mallory Lehman, soph., 5-10, p.
Coach’s comments: “We have to stay healthy because we’re not deep. If we stay healthy, we have the firepower to battle.”
Outlook: St. Maries will need some young players to mature quickly if it hopes to challenge for an upper-division finish.
Timberlake Tigers
2003-04 records: 2-18, 0-10
Coach: Jeff Horton
Years coaching, record: 7th, 1st at Timberlake
Returning lettermen, starters: 3, 1
Top players: Kim Marsan, sr., 5-8, forward; Alisha Puckett, jr., 5-5, g; Lynsie Powers, jr., 5-6, g; Kelly Kincella, jr., 5-8, f.
Coach’s comments: “To be honest, I’m more concerned with what we’re going to do. If we run and do what we’re supposed to do, we should be competitive.”
Outlook: New coach and new ideas means growing pains. The Tigers have athletes, but it will take a while before things come together.