Inland Empire League

In predicted order of finish:

Coeur d’Alene Vikings

2004-05 records: 21-5, 11-1 league champ

Coach: Dale Poffenroth

Years coaching, record: 19th, 395-108

Returning starters, lettermen: 3, 4

Key players: Jenna DeLong, junior, 5-foot-11, forward; Jackie Lenz, senior, 5-4, guard; Lindsay Stark, jr., 5-5, g; Deanna Dotts, sophomore, 6-1, post.

Coach’s comments: “Last year Lake City was the team to beat until we beat them, so I guess we’re the team to beat until someone beats us. I expect the same results as last year.”

Outlook: The Vikings took fourth at state and Poffenroth expects nothing less, if not a bigger trophy. CdA will use as many as four freshmen to go with its nucleus. So there could be a few bumps along the road early.

Lake City Timberwolves

2004-05 records: 14-10 overall, 9-3 league

Coach: Darren Taylor

Years coaching, record: 7th, 102-43

Returning starters, lettermen: 1, 3

Key players: Richelle Fenenbock, jr., 5-7, wing/point guard; Emma Hawn, soph., 5-8, pg; Brittany Bemis, jr., 5-7, w; Riki Moreland, jr., 6-0, p; Amy Brytensen, jr., 5-5, w; Katy Baker, freshman, 6-0, p; Caitlin Crimp, jr., 5-8, w.

Coach’s comments: “We’ve got to get the ball in the hoop so we can press and run. We want to keep the tempo the way we like it. This year we’ll be back to our system.”

Outlook: The Timberwolves will not start a senior. But that’s not bad news. The mixture of players reminds Taylor of his team that finished second at state in 2003. LC will challenge Coeur d’Alene for the Region I championship.

Lakeland Hawks

2004-05 records: 16-8, 7-5

Coach: Steve Seymour

Years coaching, record: 11th, 155-76

Returning starters, lettermen: 3, 6

Key players: Brigitte Boucher, sr., 6-0, p; Kayla Stiegemeier, sr., 5-4, w; Bridgitt Bohannon, sr., 5-11, p; Natalie Nichols, jr., 5-8, g; Amanda Findlay, soph., 5-7, w; Amanda North, jr., 5-6, w/p.

Coach’s comments: “We’re a little rough right now. It’ll take us a while to get into basketball mode.”

Outlook: This will be a typical Seymour team in time. It will play hard-nosed defense, all over the court, and pick its spots on offense. Boucher is a nice anchor in the post, and Stiegemeier and Nichols, a good tandem on the soccer pitch, will be a good duo on the hardwood.

Moscow Bears

2004-05 records: 9-14, 4-8

Coach: Lisa Carscallen

Years coaching, record: 4th, 28-41

Returning starters, lettermen: 1, 6

Key players: Kelsey Taylor, sr., 6-3, p; Kelly Scott, sr., 5-10, g; Meredith Dolny, sr., 5-8, f; Kaleigh Roberts, sr., 5-3, pg; Sara Picard, sr., 5-9, f; Molli Lee-Painter, sr., 5-3, g.

Coach’s comments: “It’s been real comfortable. We have so many people returning we’ve been able to get so much more done in practice.”

Outlook: The Bears bring confidence from their undefeated state champion volleyball team. It’s something that’s been noticeable at practice, Carscallen said. They’ll be in the middle of a battle for 4A honors.

Sandpoint Bulldogs

2004-05 records: 14-8, 7-5

Coach: Jim Alsager

Years coaching: 1st

Returning starters, lettermen: 2, 5

Key players: Ashleigh Mire, sr., 5-7, pg; Kendal Burt, sr., 6-0, p; Amanda Swerin, sr., 5-8, g.

Coach’s comments: “We’re spending a lot of time on good basketball principles. We think defense is just as important as offense. They’re working hard.”

Outlook: First-year coach Alsager has spent 12 of his 13 years as a head coach of boys teams in the Boise area. He got the job at Sandpoint late, so he’s taking his time implementing his system. His girls have responded well to his ideas. The Bulldogs will be a team that peaks later in the season.

Post Falls Trojans

2004-05 records: 2-20, 0-12

Coach: Chris Johnson

Years coaching, record: 12th, 155-108

Returning starters, lettermen: 4, 6

Key players: Sean Topp, jr., 6-0, p/w; Candice McArthur, soph., 5-5, g; Heather Arnone, soph., 5-7, w; Jenny McVeigh, soph., 5-8, w; Becky Mathewson, sr., 5-9, w; Laura Feasline, sr., 5-9, p.

Coach’s comments: “These kids have a fantastic work ethic and positive attitudes. It’s like night and day from last year.”

Outlook: The future is very bright. It appears Johnson has weathered a couple of tough seasons since the back-to-back state titles. The wins should be more plentiful this season.

Lewiston Bengals

2004-05 records: 8-13, 4-8

Coach: Pat Teichmer

Years coaching, record: 2nd, 8-13

Returning starters, lettermen: 1, 6

Key players: Lisa Cannon, sr., 6-0, w; Alex Luke, jr., 5-10, f; Brittney Devorak, jr., 5-7, pg; Whitney Lohman, sr., 5-5, g; Cara Judd, jr., 5-10, p.

Coach’s comments: “I love the effort and enthusiasm. I’m sure we’ll be picked toward the bottom of the league, but our girls aren’t acting like that.”

Outlook: Lewiston has some key spots to fill. To be competitive, though, the Bengals must cut back on turnovers from a year ago.