Preseason Coaches Poll
T-1. Clark Fork
T-1. Kootenai
Players to Watch
Katelyn Matteson, Clark Fork
Paige Valliere, Clark Fork
Emily Myers, Clark Fork
Written by: Keller Sherman
Last year, the North Star League was one team short because Kootenai didn’t field a varsity team. This season, Kootenai will field a varsity team, but defending conference champion Mullan will not. That fact becomes sadder when you consider everything the Tigers accomplished last season. They had the North Star League MVP in Talowa Fallingwater, in addition to two other all-conference selections. Those include graduated senior Emily Dykes and sophomore Jazzmyn Nelson. The Tigers also graduated one additional senior in Linsay Waters.
While the 9-9 overall record may seem like a disappointment, do not let it overshadow what they accomplished last season. Mullan went to state for the first time since 1986 and swept two regular season games as well as a third district game against Clark Fork. While the losses came by wide margins capped off by going two and out at state, perhaps the biggest disappointment is the fact that Mullan will not field a varsity team this season to repeat the accomplishments of last year’s team.
With Mullan out, Clark Fork looks to be the favorite to win the two-team league this season. Though a 2-13 record last season is a disappointment for the Wampus Cats, they only have to worry about getting past one team to make it to state for the first time since 2012. Clark Fork will have to navigate a schedule that features several 1A Division I schools, but those will not count in the conference standings as the Wampus Cats look to make it to state. Three all-conference selections return in Katelyn Matteson, Paige Valliere, and Emily Myers which should give Clark Fork confidence that they’ll be able to find success this season outside of just their conference.
Kootenai would like to forget its last season with a varsity team on the hardwood which was the 2019-20 campaign. The result of that was a winless 0-11 overall record, 0-4 in conference. The Warriors are back, however and they are confident that they can go toe-to-toe with Clark Fork for a conference title and that coveted ticket to state. If Kootenai can get there, it would be the first trip to state for the Warriors since 2013.