Conference Preview 3A Intermountain League
Written by: Sven Alskog
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Kellogg
2. Timberlake
3. Bonners Ferry
4. Priest River
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Gavin Luna, Junior, Kellogg
Jacob James, Junior, Timberlake
Chase Gardom, Senior, Timberlake
Seth Bateman, Senior, Bonners Ferry
Keegan Hegel, Senior, Priest River
After a successful season which saw Kellogg push Sugar-Salem to double overtime in the consolation championship at state, the Wildcats enter the new year as the favorites again in the 3A IML despite losing an immense amount of talent from that team.
Gavin Luna is expected to see an increased workload with the new-look roster, which had nine players graduate and has just Luna and senior guard Brennan Atkins back.
Despite that, you can never count out Jeff Nearing’s team.
“Kellogg was hit hard by graduation, but will still be the top team until someone knocks them off,” said Timberlake head coach Mike Menti.
In his first year as the head coach in Spirit Lake, Menti has a team that was picked second in the preseason coaches poll.
Jordan Hardy and Colton Counts will be difficult pieces to replace, but with multiple starters back and plenty of other options that have varsity experience also returning, the Tigers should be able to make a run at state again.
Seniors Chase Gardom, Dylan Kluss, JT Wilfong, Sheldon Kistler, Denton Meijerink and Dawson Cramer join junior All-League returning guard Jacob James to lead the way for the team.
“I’m excited to see what these seniors can do. They are a bunch of great young men and I’m looking forward to coaching them. If we can get on the same page with knowing our roles and our chemistry we will be tough to beat,” said Menti.
The style for the team is simple.
“Play great defense and take great shots. Defense is the key to any game, and taking shots within the offense will be a focus for us,” added Menti.
All-League guard Seth Bateman is back for a Bonners Ferry team that went 10-13 last year.
Seth is joined by newcomers Matt Morgan and Ty Bateman and fellow returner Dylan Hittle to form a good group of talent for the Badgers.
“We are quicker this year with more ball handlers then what we have had in the past. We have great team chemistry this year. Everyone seems to be on the same page already about what we want to accomplish,” said Bonners Ferry head coach Andy Rice.
Priest River was selected fourth out of four teams in the preseason coaches poll and brings back Keegan Hegel to provide a scoring punch out of the backcourt.