North Star League girls basketball
In predicted order of finish:
Wallace Miners
2003-04 record: 11-12
Coach: Art Krulitz
Years coaching, record: 12th, 107-135
Returning lettermen, starters: 6, 2
Top players: Cara Hayman, sophomore, 5-foot-2, point guard; Staci Hinsz, junior, 5-8, guard; Shala Wild, jr., 5-9, wing/post; Lisa Carver, soph., 5-8, forward; Torrie Heinig, senior, 5-5, g.
Coach’s comments: “This is going to be a good group of kids. We should be very competitive this year.”
Outlook: The Miners’ first year in the NSL will be golden. Wallace should be a runaway champion.
Lakeside Knights
2003-04 records: 12-11, 6-2
Coach: Ron Miller
Years coaching, record: 13th, 1st year back in second stint, 188-108
Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 2
Top players: Corina Hendrickx, sr., 5-2, g; Wynona Johnson, jr., 5-6, g; Krystal Stockdale, jr., 5-7, p.
Coach’s comments: “Even after two weeks we have a lot of things to prove.”
Outlook: Miller returns and it won’t take him long to get the Knights playing his all-over-the-court style. Lakeside will challenge for one of the league’s two state berths.
Kootenai Warriors
2003-04 records: 19-7, 8-0
Coach: Doug Napierala
Years coaching, record: 7th, 71-70
Returning lettermen, starters: 2, 2
Top players: Nikita Amy, jr., 5-9, p; Cassie Scheffelmaier, soph., 5-6, pg; Hannah Nyrop, freshman, 5-10, w; Kendra Willms, soph., 5-10, p.
Coach’s comments: “We’re going to go through some growing pains. It’s going to take a while, but they’re working hard.”
Outlook: The Warriors don’t lack athletes. They’re just young and unproven. If Kootenai matures quickly, it could challenge by season’s end.
Mullan Tigers
2003-04 records: 5-13, 3-5
Coach: Sherry Leitz
Years coaching, record: 5th, 10-61
Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 3
Top players: Anali Carrico, sr., 5-8, p; Katlyn Valerio, soph., 5-4, pg; Fawn Story, fr., 6-0, p.
Coach’s comments: “It’s nice to have a little bit of height for a change. It opens up a lot that we can do with an inside and outside game.”
Outlook: The Tigers lack depth, but they could challenge for an upper-division finish if they develop a consistent inside-outside game.
Clark Fork Wampus Cats
2003-04 records: 4-17, 3-5
Coach: Mark Stevens
Years coaching, record: 11th, 1st year back in second stint, 119-88
Returning lettermen, starters: 5, 3
Top players: Tiffany Van Buren, jr., 5-5, g; Jolene Meredith, jr., 5-5, p/g; Tia Becker, jr., 5-6, g.
Coach’s comments: “It’s going to take some time for us to get where they need to be. Midway through the league you’re going to start seeing us come around a little.”
Outlook: Stevens will get this team to a competitive level by season’s end.
Post Falls Christian Eagles
2003-04 records: 0-16, 0-8
Coach: Becky Jansen
Years coaching, record: 2nd, 0-16
Returning lettermen, starters: 8, 4
Top players: Katie Hoye, soph., 5-7, g/w/p; Sophie Salamina, sr., 5-4, pg; Renae Hoye, sr., 5-4, g.
Coach’s comments: “The team cohesiveness is good. The girls want to go to state. But we’re looking at it realistically. We want to continue to grow as a team.”
Outlook: The Eagles snapped their 92-game losing streak in their season opener. PFC should post more than one victory.