It’s a season of change for the 1A Division 2 North Star League. The reigning district champion and representative at the annual state tournament, Lakeside, has moved up to the 1A Division 1 classification. Past powerhouse Genesis Prep, coming off of a down season, is also no longer a member of the league.
That leaves three programs – Clark Fork, Kootenai, and Mullan – in the North Star.
The last time one of those three programs reached the 1A Division 2 state tournament? Kootenai, in 2013. Clark Fork appeared in the tournament in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Mullan’s dry spell goes back even farther. For the past seven seasons, the district had been represented by either Lakeside or Genesis Prep.
“I believe that the conference will be more balanced than it has been in years,” said long-time Mullan head coach Sherry Leitz. “I am looking forward to seeing what everyone brings to the court.”
All three teams will be replacing key pieces. For instance, Clark Fork must replace reigning North Star Player of the Year Ellie Kiebert, who is now a member of the volleyball program at the Community Colleges of Spokane. Down the road in Harrison, Kootenai will need to replace Jacey Grange and Amanda Wine, each of whom was selected to participate in the annual District 1 All Star game.
In Mullan, Leitz will have the benefit of the return of Talowa Fallingwater, a senior forward who received All-North Star honors following last season. Senior guard Emily Dykes also returns for the Tigers, along with sophomore guard Sariah Haig and sophomore post player Leah Frazier. The program welcomes in freshman point guard Jazzmyn Nelson, whose speed and intelligence will help the Tigers’ offense.
Offense was a bugaboo at times for each of the three remaining North Star teams last season. Mullan eclipsed 40 points just twice, Kootenai never reached 40 points. Clark Fork fared better, but only reached fifty points just three times during their seven-win campaign.
Among the three remaining teams, Clark Fork won all four matchups against Kootenai and Mullan last season. Mullan defeated Kootenai three times, including a one-point nailbiter in the district tournament.
How will the season play out this winter? It seems obvious, but it largely hinges on which team has the most success generating baskets. Can Kootenai knock down more open shots? Can Clark Fork replace Kiebert? Can Mullan manufacture more buckets on offense? Given Mullan’s returning players and Clark Fork’s athletic aptitude (the school’s volleyball team has reached the state tournament each of the past four seasons), it seems they may have an early edge.
“I am looking forward to the matchup with Clark Fork,” Leitz said. “They have dominated in the past and, this year, I believe we will match up with them.”
The wild card is Kootenai. The Warriors, coached by Doug Napierala, will have a say in which team represents District 1 in the 1A Division 2 state tournament.
Which team breaks its state-tournament drought? As the old saying goes, that’s why they play the games. The door is open, with three teams vying to be the team that barges through and becomes one of the last eight teams standing in Idaho.