Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Lapwai
2. Prairie
3. Kamiah
T-4. Genesee
T-4. Troy
6. Clearwater Valley
7. Potlatch
8. Logos
Players to Watch
Sakey Green, Lapwai
Grace Sobotta, Lapwai
Sayq'is Greene, Lapwai
Morgan Blazzard, Troy
Jordan Reynolds, Potlatch
Kadance Schilling, Clearwater Valley
Kristin Wemhoff, Prairie
Tara Schlader, Prairie
Isabelle Monk, Genesee
Shelby Hanson, Genesee
Written by: Keller Sherman
The White Pine League could pack some big surprises in the 2021-22 season. Lapwai looks like the clear runaway favorite after being only two years removed from a state title and a third place finish at state last season, but don’t pencil them in as conference champion just yet. Prairie will be right there as a contender as well, but the coaches in the White Pine League have plenty of good things to say about every team in a conference that might not be decided until the very end of the season. If there is one conference race that should provide no shortage of excitement, look no further than the White Pine League.
Genesee knows full well that they lost plenty of talent on their roster as Claire Osborne, the White Pine League MVP and an all-state player, graduated and is now playing for Washington-based Community College of Spokane. She was the team’s leading scorer and rebounder a year ago. Genesee also lost Bailey Leseman, who scored over 1,000 points in her career with the Bulldogs and was a two-time All-State selection. Bailey’s sister, Riley Leseman, is expected to come up from the JV level and make an impact. Head coach Greg Hardie knows his team will be young and for that he feels that “all games will be a good experience for them.” He hopes that the team’s fast pace will continue to be a major strength as the season goes on.
Prairie’s proud program will return five key players from last season’s campaign including two that received honors. Among these are Delaine Lockett, Kristin Wemhoff, Tara Schlader, Molly Johnson, and Laney Fousmann. Wemhoff was the team MVP and a second-team all-state selection last season. Schlader was an all-state honorable mention and won the team rebounding and defense award. Even with these key returners, the Pirates will also be dealing with some notable losses; none bigger than Madison Shears, the state player of the year and a “great role model and MVP of our team” in the eyes of head coach Lori Mader. In addition, Ellea Uhlenkott and Hope Schwartz will also be missed from last year’s team. Uhlenkott will be missed for “her speed and athleticism” while Schwartz will be missed for being a “great team captain and good leader.”
Prairie will bring in a new assistant, Angela Wemhoff, who Mader expects “will bring great new energy and enthusiasm as well as knowledge to the game.” She is also excited for games against Lapwai and Genesee this season as she states “they seem to push us to our full potential and they bring out the most in us to compete.” The Pirates found their key strength in pressing and running the floor well, but “finishing the big games and staying mentally strong” will be a key area of focus for Mader’s Prairie squad this season.
Clearwater Valley is expected by many to finish in the middle of the pack this season. However, Genesee coach Greg Hardie feels the Rams “could be a force” this season and Lapwai coach Ada Marks has Kadance Shilling of Clearwater Valley among her White Pine players to watch. Last season saw Clearwater Valley finish 5-9 in conference play and 9-11 overall. The highlight win for CV came in a 50-37 decision at Kamiah.
The Kubs finished with an even 7-7 conference record and 9-12 overall record. While they could not do much against the league’s best teams last season, they are receiving praise from other teams around the conference as a team to watch out for. Lapwai coach Ada Marks says that a majority of their players “have played a lot together since they were in the 4th grade.” Troy head coach Aaron Dail also states “Kamiah has improved steadily over the last three years. Look for them to have a breakout.”
The defending conference champion Lapwai Wildcats come into the 2021-22 campaign as the favorites to do so yet again. After a 3rd place finish at state last season, they are ready to take the next step and win a title after last doing so in 2020. Multiple all-conference selections are back for the Wildcats including Grace Sobotta and Lauren Gould who were first team selections in addition to Jordyn McCormack-Marks who was an honorable mention. Head coach Ada Marks also mentions three departed seniors in Omari Mitchell, Ciahna Oatman, and Glory Sobotta and states “We will miss their speed and their impact on both ends of the court.”
There is one notable player in particular that Marks has high expectations for this season. “We have returned Sayq’is Greene who didn’t get to play last year and was on the State Championship team in 2020,” Marks said. She is also very familiar with a majority of the players on her team from when they were younger, but a lot of her players have known each other since 1st grade which she feels “will have a great impact on this year’s team with our style of play.” Last year’s COVID season can often be seen by many as a negative, but the Wildcats were able to play through those changes well. The team has also been able to come together well when it matters most and push the ball up the court. However, if there is one area that Marks hopes to improve on this season, it is the defense. She states, “We struggled a little with our defensive communication and at times defensive transition, so we’ve been working on that a little more.”
Troy is continuing the trend of excitement around the White Pine League. Coming off of the 1A Division I state volleyball title, the Trojans have caught the eyes of Prairie head coach Lori Mader. “They are well coached, good athletes, very disciplined, and fundamental.” Mader said of Troy. The Trojans return five juniors in Morgan Blazzard, Isabelle Raasch, Halee Bohman, Kassidy Chaberlin, and Betty McKenzie. Troy head coach Aaron Dail also names an incoming player to the varsity level that he expects should also get some playing time this season in Alaura Hawley. His team looks forward to playing Genesee this season as they look to “build on experience” while also improving in “rebounding and starting quickly in games.”
Potlatch is coming off a last place finish in the White Pine League last season finishing 2-12 in conference and 4-16 overall, but Jordan Reynolds is a player for the Loggers that Lapwai will be keeping an eye on. She’ll look to help the team to finish outside of the basement of the conference this season. Both of Potlatch’s conference wins last year came against Logos.
The Knights also notched two conference wins last season, but played one less conference game than Potlatch and one less game overall, also finishing with four wins. The two conference wins are slightly more impressive however, with wins against Kamiah and Troy. Even with many picking them to finish towards the bottom of the conference, the Knights are still seen as a team that should be improved in the eyes of Genesee coach Greg Hardie.