Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Clark Fork
2. Mullan
3. Kootenai
Players to Watch
Luke Trodgen, Mullan
Floyd Nelson, Mullan
Austin Zingler, Mullan
Carter Sanroman, Clark Fork
Sam Barnett, Clark Fork
Written by: Keller Sherman
After playing as a two team league in 2020-21, the North Star League should be back to a three team league in 2021-22 as Kootenai will once again field a boys basketball team. Mullan will look to beat Clark Fork when it matters most to punch a ticket to state for themselves, while Kootenai will try to improve this season after failing to field a team last season.
Mullan lost one senior in Riley Trodgen whom head coach Paul Elston describes as “the guy who cleaned up the boards and worked inside for us the previous four seasons.” Despite the loss of Riley Trogden, the Tigers will return an all-conference player from last season in Luke Trodgen. “He brings quickness, toughness, and competitiveness to the floor. He was injured during the last part of the season last year and his absence was very noticeable,” Elston says of Trodgen.
Elston names two players that he expects to make an impact this season in Floyd Nelson and Austin Zingler. “Floyd will have an opportunity to do good things for us this year. He brings quickness and outside shooting ability to the floor for us,” Elston says. “Austin made several starts for us last season and played a big contributing role as a freshman. We look for him to continue to improve this year.”
However, there are still several question marks around the team and Elston acknowledges this when he states “Outside of that (core), we'll look for scoring and defense by committee. We will look a lot different than we have in years past, so I am not really sure what we will be as of right now. Guys will have chances to contribute this season.”
A non conference game against White Pine League foe Timberline is seen as a great opportunity for Mullan to gauge where they are with their neighbors just a little bit to the south. “A non-league game we look forward to is playing Timberline,” Elston says. “This will give us a good barometer reading as to where we stand in relation to the White Pine League, as our champion will play the 2nd place team from that league in order to qualify for the state tournament.”
Kootenai did not field a team last season so what will be seen from the Warriors will be a major unknown. The last time Kootenai fielded a team in 2019-20, they failed to notch even a single win and will look to improve after a year away from the court.
Clark Fork won the league last season, but could not do much at state as the Wampus Cats went two and out at the hands of Rockland and Carey. Competing in a two team league with Mullan last season, the two teams split their regular season series with Mullan going on the road and winning a 57-56 thriller before the Wampus Cats got revenge with a 63-32 rout. Clark Fork followed that up with a similar result in the district tournament, a 53-24 victory that sent the team to state. The Wampus Cats return All-Conference performers Carter Sanroman and Sam Barnett from last year’s squad.