GNL basketball

Outlook

  Boys: First-year Clarkston boys coach Justin Jones, who takes over for Brendan Johnson, walks into a wonderful situation. He inherits a team that returns four starters and seven lettermen.

 The coaches see Clarkston having no difficulty winning the league title.

“With our level of ability and depth, our goal is to compete for the league title and possibly a run at the state tournament,” Jones said.

 Johnson’s contract wasn’t renewed and a fiery debate ensued that dragged out before the school board. Finally, the board decided to go another direction.

 This is Jones’ first head coaching position. Clarkston won the league title last year by a game over Deer Park. Clarkston, DP and West Valley qualified for state, but none played for a trophy.

 Pullman coach Craig Brantner sees a tight race.

 “It will be a real tough league with the addition of East Valley,” Bantner said. “Teams will need to be well prepared and ready for a dog fight each night.”

 WV returns just one starter and faces a tough schedule.

 “Thirteen of our 20 games are on the road so we have to be road warriors,” WV coach Jay Humphrey said. “Our young guys have got to grow up quick.”

 Two first team all-league players return in senior Brady Bagby (WV) and junior Colton Peone (DP).

• Girls: It should be a wildly entertaining season.

 Undefeated league champ WV and Pullman placed third and seventh, respectively, last year at state, and the expectations are for higher finishes this season. Clarkston was the other state qualifier.

 WV is picked to repeat as league champ, but the Eagles will be challenged by Pullman, Clarkston and East Valley, which returns to the GNL from the GSL. It should be ultra competitive.

 League most valuable player Shaniqua Nilles (WV), a 6-foot senior wing, returns. Other first-team all-league returners are senior Hannah Love (WV) and 6-3 senior post Shelby Cheslek (Pullman). Nilles and Cheslek each have signed to play at Gonzaga University.

 The team to watch out for would be Clarkston. The Bantams return two starters in juniors KC McConnell and Ashley Meyers. Where they beefed up immediately was with 5-10 junior Jamie Weisner, a transfer from Walla Walla, whose father, Darcy, former boys basketball coach at Shadle Park, is now the Clarkston superintendent. Jamie Weisner, a first-team All-Columbia Basin Big Nine pick last year, averaged 19.4 points at WaHi.

 Clarkston coach Scott Thompson must be trying to fly under the radar. He picked his team to finish sixth out of seven teams.

 “Pullman and West Valley are the top teams and we will be in the mix of the rest of the league trying to challenge them,” Thompson said. “There are no easy games in the league this season with the addition of East Valley.”

 EV was a 3A state qualifier last year. The Knights graduated their top player, point guard Jenni White, but return three starters.

 “We have a good group of posts back playing in a tough post league,” coach Robert Collins said. “We’re looking forward to a good year in a very tough league.”