Prep girls basketball preview: Teams ready to open — unless COVID says differently

By MARK NELKE

Sports editor

While they attempt to repeat as state 3A girls basketball champions, the Timberlake Tigers have five games scheduled against 5A schools, and four more against 4A schools.

But the Tigers will begin the season missing three varsity players — including two starters — who are quarantining due to COVID-19.

"We were going to have a tough schedule anyway," Timberlake coach Matt Miller said. "But it got even tougher."

Timberlake is scheduled to open Saturday at home vs. 5A Lewiston, then play at 5A Coeur d'Alene next Tuesday, and play host to 4A Sandpoint next Thursday.

Miller said the Tigers will likely be shorthanded for all three games.

St. Maries is also scheduled to open Saturday, at Lapwai.

Next Tuesday, Coeur d'Alene is home vs. Timberlake, Post Falls travels to Sandpoint and Lakeside opens at St. Maries.

Lakeland's opener is now next Thursday at home vs. Post Falls.

Lake City opens Nov. 20 at home vs. Moscow.

Genesis Prep is slated to open Dec. 5 at home vs. St. Maries.

Kootenai's girls (and boys) won't open until January. Kootenai School District officials, citing an abundance of caution due to COVID-19, pushed back the first games for both teams until after the Christmas holidays.

Here are quick previews of local girls basketball teams. More information will be included in the upcoming Press winter sports preview.

Coeur d’Alene: The Vikings lost just one senior from last year’s 18-6 squad which tied for the 5A Inland Empire League title, won the Region 1 title and advanced to state for the first time since 2014.

Sophomore forward Madi Symons was the league's Co-Player of the Year last year as a freshman. Viking junior guard Skylar Burke is also a returning all-league player.

Coeur d'Alene has seven seniors this year, and three of them completed the starting unit last year — guards Jaelyn Brainard-Adams, Jaden Chavez and Tori Younker.

But senior guards Nakisha Matheson and Emma Whiteman gave the Vikings big minutes off the bench last year, and some of the other subs have improved as well, so competition for playing time will be healthy.

"We're deep, and that's never a problem, being able to run kids in and out," second-year Coeur d'Alene coach Nicole Symons said. "We have 10 girls that can play at any time. I think we can play hard, full court, run kids in and out and not miss a beat."

The Vikings added a senior in Jayda Johnson, who transferred from Post Falls.

Lake City: The Timberwolves shared the 5A IEL title with Coeur d'Alene, but lost twice at regionals and didn't qualify for state.

The Timberwolves return four starters from last year's 15-8 club, including senior post Brooklyn Rewers, who has committed to Michigan State.

Also back is junior point guard Kendall Pickford and senior guards Jaya Miller and Brenna Hawkins.

Rewers was second-team all-Idaho last year, and the Co-Player of the Year in the 5A IEL. Pickford is a returning all-league selection.

Senior post Tanai Jenkins, who missed last season while recovering from a torn ACL in volleyball, is back, along with senior guard Ashlynn Shanley.

"We need to stay unified as a team," fourth-year Lake City coach James Anderson said. "Stay strong and play for each other."

Post Falls: The Trojans lost four seniors from last year's 14-12 squad that reached the consolation championship game at state.

Then, Post Falls lost junior guard Lexi Heath for this season due to knee surgery. She tore her ACL two years ago, came back last year but noticed her knee was still bothering her. Doctors found a meniscus tear and a partial MCL tear in that same knee.

"She's our best shooter by far, probably would have been our leading scorer," said Marc Allert, in his 10th season as Post Falls coach. "But we've got 11 kids, and any of the 11 could be a starter."

Back is senior guard Dylan Lovett, along with sophomore post Capri Sims, who shined as a late-season call-up from the junior varsity, and part-time starter Maya Blake, a senior post.

Lovett was an all-5A IEL pick last year.

Several members of last year's undefeated JV team are expected to help this year, Allert said.

Lakeland: The Hawks return senior post Katy Ryan, an all-4A Inland Empire League selection, and junior guard Addisen Kiefer, the league's Newcomer of the Year last year.

Ryan, a Washington State volleyball commit, is one of several members of the Lakeland volleyball team, which recently brought home the program's first state title, who are out for basketball.

"It's nice to have a core group of kids that were part of such a successful fall sports program," said Steve Seymour, in his 26th season as Hawks coach. "Hopefully they can bring some of that drive and determination to basketball season."

Kiefer and senior guard Abbey Neff were also key members of the state title volleyball team. Senior guard Baylee Woempner also started several games last year.

Timberlake: At full strength, the Tigers are the likely state favorites again this year, having lost one senior starter from last year's 20-4 squad.

Back is senior guard Taryn Soumas, the state 3A Player of the Year and the MVP of the Intermountain League; senior forward Brooke Jessen, an all-Idaho first-team selection each of the past two seasons; and senior post Blayre Jeffs, a second-team all-Idaho pick last year.

Jessen has committed to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley an NCAA Division I school in Edinburg, Texas.

Also back is junior Olivia Hammond, an all-IML selection last year, as well as junior McKenna Kronenberg and seniors Bernie Carhart and Kati Bain.

"We have an older group," 16th-year Timberlake coach Matt Miller said, noting his squad's six seniors. "I think they all have the potential to show up and do some really good things."

St. Maries: Gary Krumheuer is the Lumberjacks' fourth head coach in four seasons, replacing Kim O'Connor.

Senior guard Jenna Holder is a returning all-Central Idaho League player for St. Maries, which went 6-14 last year.

The Lumberjacks return all but one player from last season, including Holder and four other seniors — point guard Sami Badgett, wings Maci Rimel and Mackenzie Hammond, and post Kirsten Miller.

"The seniors have had a different system every year since they've been here," Krumheuer said. "And my system is a whole lot different. But they're getting it down."

Genesis Prep: Brent Wilson, father of sophomore wing Ava Wilson, the lone returning play, was named Jaguars head coach in October, replacing Brandon Haas.

Genesis Prep finished 0-18 last season. Freshman point guard Katie Yount and sophomore post Miyah Anderson figure to play key roles on a team which has no junior or seniors.

"It's a green team to say the least; there's a lot of ground to be covered," Brent Wilson said. "We're looking to be more competitive than last year."

Lakeside: The Knights, who also move up to 1A Division I this year, went 15-8 last year and qualified for the state 1A Division II tournament.

Lakeland returns three all-North Star League players — juniors Jolissa Holt (point guard) and Ashlee Holt (forward/post), and sophomore guard Arianna Havier-Gorr. Also back is senior guard Kria Peters.

Another "returnee" is senior guard Tyshea Twoteeth, who transferred back to Lakeside, where she played as a sophomore, after helping Wellpinit (Wash.) finish fourth at state last year.

"We've got a good amount of experience," seventh-year Lakeside coach Chris Dohrman said. "We have some youth too. It'll take a while for our youth to come along, but I think they will."

Kootenai: The Warriors return four starters from last year's 0-13 squad — junior guard Abi Tiller, junior wing Sarah Thaut, junior wind Lauren Addington and sophomore guard Tuesday Glessner.

Also, junior guard Tayva Maitland, who played at Kootenai as a freshman before transferring to St. Maries, has transferred back to Kootenai.

"We're pretty junior-heavy," Kootenai coach Doug Napierala said. "They've been starting since they were freshmen, clawing away at it the last few years. We're hoping things are starting to click more as juniors."