---

Conference Preview

1ADII White Pine Conference

COACHES POLL:
1. Timberline
2. Deary
3. Logos
4. Kendrick
5. Highland
6. Nez Perce

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Brayden Stapleton, Deary
Bodee Swanson, Deary
Rylan Larson, Timberline
Carson Sellers, Timberline
Chase Hunter, Timberline

Written by Jamey Vinnick

Leading the charge for the 2019-20 season in the White Pine Conference will be the Timberline Spartans, lead by returners Rylan Larson, Carson Sellers and Chase Hunter.

Right on Timberline’s heels however will be the combination of Brayden Stapleton and Bodee Swanson for Deary. The Mustangs are just two years removed from a near perfect season in 2017-18, and while there was some regression last year, they look to return to the top of the White Pine this year. While it’ll be a new face at the helm this year, new head coach Gary Krumheuer has all kinds of experience having coached basketball for around 20 years. Krumheuer is very much ready for the new challenge as well.

“Being a first year coach at Deary this is purely speculative. We appear to have some very good 3 point shooters and seem to be pretty fair on the defensive end. We have 6 players with a lot of varsity experience and the young men are determined to improve on last year’s finish. We will run a full court press and fast break. Not run and gun, run and score.”

Right there with Deary is going to be Logos who despite turning over much of their roster, does return a pair of veterans in Isaac Blum and Jonah Grieser to a team that went 16-7 last season. On top of the returners, head coach Matt Whitling identified three newcomers that could make an immediate impact in the form of Will Casebolt, Jasper Whitling and Roman Nuttbrock. Entering his 19th season at Logos, Whitling certainly knows how to win and certainly knows how to create success at Logos even with a very youthful lineup.

“We are excited to rebuild with a young enthusiastic group of guys who bring energy to our program.It is likely that we will be starting 3-4 sophomores this year. Last year, we started 4 seniors and one junior

Last year was one to forget for the Kendrick Tigers who went just 2-21 in a tough, tough year. Health will be a big key for the Tigers, who missed Alex Sneve for most of last season with injury. The senior guard will likely be the x-factor for Kendrick with health being the most important part of his success. Sneve already missed some time during football season as Kendrick’s starting QB and there is little doubt that Kendrick will need him to be successful. Head coach Tim Silflow also spoke about how integral Talon Alexander and Chase Burke will be to the teams success, along with incoming freshman Jagger Hewett.

“We will have to be fast and aggressive on both ends of the floor this year. We will lack size but should be quick and athletic. We need to improve our man to man defense, rebounding, shooting and our confidence to be successful. This team will be more experienced and quicker than last year. The main thing will be is if they are more confident.”

Likewise to Kendrick, 2018-19 was a tough year for Patty Weeks and the Highland Huskies. They went just 2-16 and losing outside shooters Alex Crea and Ignacio Tinoco will make things tough. The key for Highland is going to be speed this year, along with the return of inside presence David Boswell who Weeks hopes can clean up on the offensive glass. With the speed, Weeks intends on running the floor and pushing the ball in order to be successful.

“We have 4 to 5 fast sprinters which will change how we play. All of the players on the team like to facilitate the scoring pass. We’ll also have more speed from a year ago.”