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Lewiston High School
School Info
Conference: 5A Inland Empire League
Classification: 5A
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Head Coach: Jayson Ulrich
Years as Head Coach: 1st season
Previous Experience: LHS varsity assistant last 3 years
State Titles: 1948, 2009
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Team Preview:
After spending the last three years as an assistant for the Lewiston boys basketball team, Jayson Ulrich takes over as head coach at his alma mater.
Since winning the state 5A title in 2009, the Bengals have struggled against the other 5A Inland Empire League teams (Coeur d'Alene, Lake City and Post Falls), but Ulrich is hoping to change that.
"We will not back down," is the team's motto for 2014-15, he said. "I am most excited on how this team will surprise some teams this year. They have a will to never back down or give up."
Lewiston has six returning players from last year's 5-17 squad --Lincoln Carter, a 5-foot-11 senior point guard; Chase Urquhart, a 5-9 senior guard; Brady Merica, a 6-0 senior guard; Dakota Jackson, a 6-1 senior guard; Kyle Whitlock, a 6-4 senior post; and Mason Ulrich, a 6-2 junior post.
"We have a good group of returners who play smart and fast," coach Ulrich said. "We are hoping to improve on our aggressiveness."
Lewiston lost guard Jayden Rayner-Kauffman, the team's leading scorer and an all-5A IEL selection, to graduation.
A potential impact newcomer, Ulrich said, is Trystan Bradley, a 6-7 sophomore post.
"This group will fly around and be scrappy," Ulrich said. "We are hoping to improve on our defensive rebounding."
Aside from the 5A IEL games, Ulrich said one must-see game is the Golden Throne spirit game with nearby Clarkston, which "is like a crazy college atmosphere."
The "X-factor" to Lewiston's success this season, Ulrich said, is "we must be a better rebounding team, and play sound team defense."
Ulrich said he enjoys coaching high school basketball because "I love teaching the game to these students, and being able to coach at my alma mater makes that much more special."
As for what makes Lewiston a nice place coach, Ulrich said, "Other than being a graduate of LHS, it would have to be the students, faculty, administration and community support."
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