Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Coeur d'Alene
2. Lake City
T-3. Lewiston
T-3. Post Falls
Players to Watch
Madi Symons, Coeur d’Alene
Skylar Burke, Coeur d’Alene
Trinidie Nichols, Post Falls
Capri Sims, Post Falls
Kendall Pickford, Lake City
Sophia Zufelt, Lake City
Emily Collins, Lewiston
Ahnika U’Ren, Lewiston
Written by: Will Hoenike
The 5A Inland Empire League in northern Idaho has had more than its share of success in recent years in girls’ basketball. In fact, from 2007 to 2014, the league captured eight consecutive state championships. What may be even more impressive is, during that eight-year streak, each of the league’s four teams received a state-title banner, including a three-peat from Coeur d’Alene in 2008, 2009, and 2010.
The dominance has slowed since 2014, but the league has still claimed a championship (Post Falls, 2018) and had multiple teams playing on Saturday, either for third place or in the consolation final.
The IEL placed three players on Idaho’s second-team All-State list, including Lake City’s Brooklyn Rewers, who can now be found on the roster of Michigan State University of the Big Ten conference. Of the ten players honored by the state’s coaches, only two averaged more points per game than Rewers (17.7): Idaho Player of the Year Naya Ojukwu of Mountain View (24.2) and Meridian’s Jaleesa Lawrence (18.6). Lawrence, like Rewers, is playing Division 1 basketball this season at Eastern Washington University, while Ojukwu is returning for her senior year at Mountain View after committing to play basketball and volleyball next year at the University of Utah.
The other two players who received second-team All-State accolades last season both return for Coeur d’Alene this season. Senior guard Skylar Burke (who has committed to play college basketball at UC-Santa Barbara of the Big West Conference) averaged over 15 points and 8 rebounds per game as a junior en route to IEL MVP honors for the Vikings, while junior Madi Symons averaged over 13 points and 11 rebounds per game as a sophomore as head coach Nicole Symons’ group will look to advance to the state tournament for the third consecutive season.
“We struggled handling the ball in the half-court and outside shooting,” Symons noted as areas her team can improve after going 18-3 last season. “I feel that we will be much better this year with Sky (Burke) playing a little point (guard) for us and adding some good shooters to the team.”
The Vikings must replace five departed seniors. Incoming senior Lily Phenice will see an increased role this season thanks to her defensive tenacity. Junior Libby Awbrey brings some of the shooting prowess than Symons is looking for and sophomore Maddie Mitchell’s quickness and defensive pressure will be an asset for the Vikings as well.
The Post Falls Trojans also qualified for the 2021 state tournament after defeating Rocky Mountain in the 5A play-in game.
The 14-win Trojans return senior Trinidie Nichols, who knocked down pivotal free throws in the district tournament to help Post Falls advance to the play-in game and, ultimately, the state tournament. She'll be joined by senior wings Hanna Christensen and Americus Crane, along with junior post Capri Sims.
"(Senior) Lexi Heath is back after missing two seasons with knee injuries," Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. "She is a great shooter who will help us on the offensive end."
James Anderson, the fifth-year head coach at Lake City, concedes the 2021 version of the Wolves will be a “totally different team” than last year as they look to replace Rewers. Senior guard Kendall Pickford returns after receiving All-IEL honors as a junior and she’ll be joined by guard Sophia Zufelt and forward Emberlyn Reynolds. Lake City got hot down the stretch last season, winning six consecutive games entering the district tournament. But the Wolves were felled in districts by a fourth- quarter comeback by rival Coeur d’Alene and the aforementioned late free throws by Post Falls. Several new players will look to claim larger roles for the Wolves this season, including Avery Waddington, Kursten McKellips, Kamryn Picford, and Kameron Holzer.
Lewiston struggled last season, winning just three games, but second-year head coach Karlee Stefanchik is optimistic that her group is headed the right direction.
“The new coaches (added to the staff) will give a fresh new face to our team and will add their knowledge as well as coaching,” Stefanchick said. “I am hoping to get a little more ‘attack’ mentality to score more points.”
Stefanchick had no issue with her team’s effort and want-to last season and returns a strong guard group that includes seniors Ahnika U’Ren, Emily Collins, and Jenika Ortiz. Junior post Katy Wessels also returns for the Bengals.
Coeur d’Alene appears to be the best bet among IEL teams to be holding a championship banner at the Idaho Center in late February, but the league’s other three teams will each have an opportunity to play their way into the eight-team race to Championship Saturday as well.
The 5A IEL will maintain its scheduling partnership with its 4A IEL counterparts this season. Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Lake City, and Lewiston will play one “league” game each against 4A Sandpoint, Moscow, and Lakeland.