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The Spokesman-Review

Boys

The consensus among the coaches is that the league would like to improve when it comes time for postseason play. Colfax and Lakeside look like the teams to beat, with Freeman and Chewelah in the mix.

Colfax (1-0) won the league title last season and has five returning lettermen, including all-league first-team senior Jared Berarducci, a 6-foot-3 guard/post.

Greg Hannan takes over as the head coach at Freeman (2-0), which won the district title last season. The Scotties lost three key players to graduation, including league MVP Andrew Dresback, but returners Marc Soelberg and Jake Heinen are expected to produce.

The Lakeside Eagles (0-1) should be in the hunt for a league title with an experienced roster that includes returning second-team pick Leif Parcell. The Chewelah Cougars (2-0), last year’s fourth-place team, return senior Mike Naccarato, a second-team selection last year. The Cougars could surprise some teams.

Kettle Falls (0-1) graduated two key players last season in Brian Strobel and Weston Sellars, but the Bulldogs have some returning seniors who will look to fill their shoes. Newport (1-1) is young but will compete.

Girls

The four-time defending state champion Colfax Bulldogs “have a lot of work to do to overcome the losses suffered from graduation,” said fifth-year coach Corey Baerlocher, who added that the league is wide open this year.

The Bulldogs (0-1) return six seniors and a junior from last year’s team – including first-team pick Jordan Harazin and Megan Teade, a second-team selection last year.

The Freeman Scotties (1-0) and Lakeside Eagles (1-0) are also expected to challenge for the league title. The Scotties return Carley Heinen, a first-team pick last year, while Lakeside has back Kelli Tikker, a second-team selection.

Chewelah (0-2) lost league MVP Nikki Nelson but looks to compete with returners such as all-league second-teamer Kelsey Schalock.

Newport (1-2) is young and will be led by senior Alicia Smith, a second-team pick last year. Kettle Falls (2-0) is also a young squad but has scoring power in juniors Chelsea Brisbois and Jessica Coots.

League play

Non-league games continue through December. League play begins Jan. 4 with Freeman at Newport, Lakeside at Kettle Falls and Colfax at Chewelah.

–Jessica Brown