Coach Jim Winger returns to LC

Jim Winger wants to take the Lake City High boys basketball team back to where he left it.

The last time the Timberwolves qualified for state was Winger’s next-to-last year as coach in 2001-02. That year, Lake City played for the state championship.

After being out of coaching for five years, Winger returns this year, and he’s as excited about this opportunity as he was in his first head coaching job at Coeur d’Alene, or when he started the program at LC.

“It’s like starting over,” Winger said. “It’s been kind of different that way. It’s been fun and exciting.”

The Winger II era began well last Saturday when Lake City pulled out a 53-47 win at Wenatchee before a packed gym against a team that is picked to challenge for a league championship.

There’s a reason why there’s an air of excitement at LC these days. Back when Winger coached, LC was a frequent state qualifier.

Winger inherits a team that returns five lettermen and two starters. Senior guard Jason Wheelock (6-foot-2) and senior post Nate Frisbie (6-3) are the returning starters, and senior guard Logan Frederickson (5-8), the Inland Empire League’s newcomer of the year last season, junior post Wes Beusan (6-3) and senior guard Ben Frisbie (6-0) are the other returning lettermen.

Sophomore guard Chris Wheelock (5-8), sophomore guard Mark Smyly (6-3), senior post Jordan Anderson (6-4) and senior post Jesse Cornelius (6-5) are battling for playing time. Wheelock, who broke a knee cap during soccer, is expected to return this week.

Sophomore Clint Hartz and juniors T.J. Philp and J.J. Stoddard will likely be swing players between varsity and junior varsity initially. Senior guard Kyle Gutterud rounds out the roster.

“Their attitudes and the chemistry are the best attributes so far,” Winger said.

Winger’s previous teams had a reputation for overachieving. Winger has an ability to get marginal athletes to overachieve.

“We need some kids to step up,” Winger said.

The T-Wolves were a methodical, disciplined team under former coach Jim Thacker. Winger wants to unleash his players and allow them to play up tempo.

“There are a lot of things we’ll do that’s quite a bit different than what they’ve been doing,” Winger said. “It’s going to take them awhile to totally digest the changes.”

Winger doesn’t expect his team to adapt to the changes overnight.

“I’ve reminded them it’s a marathon not a sprint,” Winger said. “We have a whole month to get where we need to be after the Christmas break. This is high school basketball. If your kids believe they can do it and they play hard they can do some good things.”

Expect to see a lot of the brother combinations of Wheelock and Frisbie.

“I have high expectations of these kids,” Winger said. “They’re very athletic.”

If Winger has an early concern, it’s his team needs to shore up its ballhandling.

“We’re turning it over a little too much right now,” he said. “We want to play fast, but you’ve got to be able to play fast and use your head.”

LC’s starters will be Jason Wheelock, the Frisbies, Frederickson and Beusan. Chris Wheelock and Smyly will be the first reserves off the bench. Cornelius and Anderson will give LC depth in the post.

“We’ve got some kids who can shoot the ball,” Winger said. “We need Nate (Frisbie) to play well. When he gets after it he’s tough underneath. That’s the biggest key for us. He’s got a lot of natural ability.”

Lewiston is heavily favored to capture the league title and automatic state berth. LC and Post Falls figure to battle for second at regionals. The runner-up can earn a state berth in a play-in game against the District III fifth-place team.

“If everything falls together we’ve got a good shot,” Winger said. “It’s going to be a dogfight. I really like this group. We’ve got a shot at doing some really good things.”