Conference Preview
 Written by: Sven Alskog
3A Intermountain League
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Kellogg
2. Timberlake
3. Bonners Ferry
4. Priest River
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chase Jerome, Senior, Kellogg
Tyler Gibbons, Senior, Kellogg
Grant Nearing, Senior, Kellogg
Chris Sabin, Senior, Bonners Ferry
Brady Bateman, Senior, Bonners Ferry
Robbie Anselmo, Junior, Priest River
Keegan Hegel, Junior, Priest River
Colton Counts, Senior, Timberlake
Jordan Hardy, Senior, Timberlake
Jacob James, Sophomore, Timberlake
There have been many strong Kellogg basketball teams in recent memory, but the one taking the floor this winter for second year head coach Jeff Nearing may very well be the best yet.
Led by the return of Second Team All-State guard Chase Jerome and All-IML guard Tyler Gibbons, the Wildcats appear ready to make some noise come February and March.
With so much experience and depth, there are plenty of reasons for optimism for Kellogg. On the same hand, the Wildcats will need multiple players to step up and fill the rebounding and interior void lost with the graduation of Toby Colburn.
“We push the ball [and] we have a ton of depth and experience. We have to rebound. Last year at times we relied too much on Colburn for our boards,” said Nearing.
Not many teams can match the experience the Wildcats will have, highlighted by ten returning seniors.
After Kellogg, the second spot in the IML to the state tournament looks to be up for grabs.
Timberlake was the representative last season, and while seven seniors from that team are gone, the Tigers still have the senior trio of Colton Counts, Jordan Hardy and Jacob James.
“We have a lot of players that can score. All three of our returners could have started last year and we wouldn’t have missed a beat,” said Timberlake head coach Michael Scott.
Chase Gardom, Steven Simpson and Sheldon Kistler are some of the potential impact newcomers that the coach listed, helping lead a group that can play a variety of styles.
“We like to set the tempo whether fast or slow. We have the athletes to run and the skill to slow down. The key for us to have success this year is going to be defense. We need to commit to playing defense for 32 minutes,” added Scott.
Further north, the Badgers of Bonners Ferry are led by senior multi-sport athletes Chris Sabin and Brady Bateman, with a young core around them.
The youth could lead the team to success in the years to come.
“Bonners Ferry has a good group of young players coming up,” said Scott.
Priest River went 7-16 last season and could struggle again this year, although juniors Robbie Anselmo and Keegan Hegel have the ability to put up points for the Spartans.
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