PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Brooklyn Charles, Kootenai
Sadie Rose Davidson, Kootenai
Avah Blankenship, Mullan
Kaydence Elliott, Mullan
Written by: Brandon Baney
Life’s hard in the 1A North Star League, comprised of just two teams: Kootenai and Mullan.
For starters, it’s almost impossible to fill out an entire varsity schedule. Both teams routinely have to rely on playing JV or Freshmen teams from larger schools in the Coeur d’Alene metro area, which doesn’t really move the needle when it comes to the MaxPreps rankings that Idaho relies so heavily upon when it comes to state tournament seeding.
Along those same lines, since the NSL is only a two-team league, very rarely does the district champion receive a bid to state. Oftentimes, the district champ has to win a state tournament play-in game as well, before they can head south to Boise.
But this year offers a glimmer of hope. One whole bid has been awarded to the district, which means that whichever team wins the NSL tournament title, will go straight to the 1A State Tournament.
But the question remains: which youthful squad will actually claim the crown?
KOOTENAI
The Warriors finished 5-12 a season ago, but won the games that mattered most: two wins over Mullan in the regular season (by scores of 50-27 and 50-12), along with a 35-12 triumph over the Tigers to win the district tournament.
Kootenai’s journey ended later that week after a 55-17 loss to Nezperce in a state play-in game, but optimism is high for coach Alyssa Liermann and her team in 2025-26.
The main reason? Kootenai’s nine-player roster consisted of seven freshmen and two eighth-graders a season ago. Yes, you read that correctly: an entire nine-player varsity roster was filled with freshmen or eighth-graders.
With another year of seasoning, Kootenai fans are hopeful that the Warriors can fend off Mullan and earn a spot at state. Sophomores Brooklyn Charles, Sadie Rose Davidson and Madeline Loucks are expected to leave the way, and freshman Hunter Charles has progressed nicely from her eighth grade season to her freshman campaign this year.
MULLAN
Similarly to Kootenai, the Mullan Tigers will also be a very young squad in 2025-26. Sherry Leitz, in her 31st season as Mullan’s head coach, does have senior forward Avah Blankenship to build around. Sophomore post Kayden Elliott saw valuable time last season, as did sophomore guards Caylee Crandall and Raelynn Kostelich. Freshman Lacie Morris is another guard expected to contribute immediately.
“I am excited to watch Avah take control of her game and lead the team to success,” says Leitz. “I am also excited to see how Lacie will adapt to high school ball and continue to improve her game.”
For Mullan to close the gap on Kootenai this season, Leitz stresses the need for her team to hustle, never give up, communicate on the floor, and support each other off of it.
“With a team still on the younger side, I am looking forward to each girl stepping up her individual game and becoming a part of the whole team,” Leitz concludes.