PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kenadie Kirk, Deary
Araya Wood, Deary
Harley Heimgartner, Kendrick
Ruby Stewart, Kendrick
Hailey Taylor, Kendrick
Aubree Lux, Nezperce
Erica Zenner, Nezperce
Julia Wassmuth, St. John Bosco
Sara Waters, St. John Bosco

Written by: Jesse Richens

Last season the top spot in the 1AD2 Whitepine League came down to just a one-game difference. Kendrick (18-5) and Deary (18-4) split their regular season meetings, before the Tigers won the game that really counted, picking up a 44-35 win in the district tournament championship game.

The Whitepine standings are again up in the air as many teams have retained starters from last season. Now that these teams have more experience all around, it should make for another exciting battle to the very end of the season.

Kendrick has many returnees to help push the Tigers towards that first place spot in the conference, including four seniors (guards Hailey Taylor, Harley Heimgartner and Ruby Stewart, and post Morgan Silflow) who have a lot of experience on the court together.

Head coach Ron Ireland is excited to work with this group, stating, “We have a senior-loaded team, and they know how to run the floor.” Ireland adds that the biggest key to success this season is being able to stay healthy.

Ireland can expect Deary to challenge his Tigers once again this year, though. Head coach Kendra Keen welcomes back dynamic juniors and All-Conference performers Kenadie Kirk and Araya Wood. Madelyn Proctor, Kaylee Wood and Karmen Griffin all made the varsity team as freshmen a year ago, and their development will be critical to Deary’s chances this season.

Nezperce finished third in the Whitepine a year ago with a 14-8 record, and coaches are predicting a similar finish in 2023-24. Coach Callie Zenner only had seven varsity players a year ago, and lost four (Katharine Duuck, Brianna Branson, Darlene Matson and Morgan Wemhoff) to graduation. Senior Erica Zenner and junior Aubree Lux are great athletes, but coach Zenner needs to find complementary pieces.

St. John Bosco finished last season with a 4-12 record, but All-Conference performers Sara Waters and Julia Wassmuth are back for the Patriots. Unfortunately, more than half of the team will be comprised of newcomers. It’s a double-edged sword that has coach Alyssa Frei excited. “This is one of the biggest teams that St. John Bosco has had in a long time, in regards to numbers,” she says.

The x-factor of the Patriots’ season will be figuring out a great defensive scheme. “I am a big proponent of defense, as I have told my teams that anyone can have an ‘off night’, or the entire team can have an ‘off night,’ Frei explains. “But as long as they can make a stop on the other end, the offense will take care of itself.”

Highland went 1-17 a year ago, and averaged only 17 points per game. Increasing scoring will of course be a point of emphasis for the Huskies, and it isn’t impossible. Last season, Highland scored a single game high of 39 points, so the potential is there. They just have to figure out how to string together successes.

Timberline didn’t have enough players to field a team that year, but school officials have put together a varsity schedule for the Spartans this season, which is exciting for the fans in Pierce and Weippe.

The Whitepine League should be another nail-biter this season. With some high-powered and experienced teams in the conference, no one can predict how this conference will pan out.