PLAYERS TO WATCH

Landon Schlieper, Clearwater Valley
Kolby Murray, Genesee
Teak Wareham, Genesee
Rehan Kou, Kamiah
David Kludt, Kamiah
Joseph Payne, Lapwai
Kase Wynott, Lapwai
Ahlius Yearout, Lapwai
Jack Driskill, Logos
Jack Clark, Potlatch
Chase Lovell, Potlatch
Everett Lovell, Potlatch
Jaxon Vowels, Potlatch
Lee Forsmann, Prairie
Joseph Bendel, Troy
Eli Stoner, Troy

Written by: Will Hoenike

If someone were to venture into Whitepine territory and ask about the boys’ basketball scene, that person might mistakenly think their question was answered with another question.

But they’re not asking, “why not?” They’re saying Wynott. As in, Lapwai senior forward Kase Wynott.

The 6-foot-6 star is the latest in an impressive run recently of college-level basketball players to come out of Lapwai. From Ivory Miles-Williams to Emmitt Taylor III to Titus Yearout to Wynott, the younger generation of Wildcat stars have maintained a legacy passed down for years of strong basketball play in Lapwai. Yearout is currently playing NCAA Division 1 basketball at Idaho and Wynott will be a D-1 player himself next year as he has already signed a commitment to Utah State of the Mountain West Conference.

Wynott opened his senior season with a triple-double, scoring 48 points, grabbing 15 rebounds, and dishing out ten assists in a Lapwai win as the team looks to finish what it couldn’t last year. Lapwai was a perfect 26-0 going into the 1A Division 1 state title game, where the Wildcats were felled in an immensely entertaining overtime game by Lakeside.
As good as Wynott is, he’s not a one-man team. Head coach Zachary Eastman leads a senior-heavy squad that features guards Quenten Kipp and Joseph Payne along with wing Ahlius Yearout and forward Christopher Bohnee who are in their final seasons in the baby-blue Lapwai jerseys.

There will be challengers to Lapwai’s throne, to be certain. Head coach Ryan Ball’s Potlatch Loggers return All-Conference forward Jaxon Vowels along with guards Everett and Chase Lovell to a squad that won 20 games last season, ultimately claiming the consolation title trophy at the 1A Division 1 state tournament in March. The two Lovells combined to tally 39 points in the team’s season-opening win over 2A St. Maries in early December.

Another team that poses a roadblock for Lapwai is Kamiah. The Kubs, like Lapwai and Potlatch, broke the 20-win threshold last season (20-6) and the team returns some legitimate size in 6-foot-6 senior Rehan Kou and also 6-foot-5 junior David Kludt. Kou excels in the post while Kludt is a threat inside and out on offense and his tremendous overall athleticism is evidenced by his superior play on the football field, where he serves as the Kubs’ quarterback and defensive back.

“Height and speed will be our strengths (on offense),” said Kamiah head coach Aaron Skinner. “Our concept is about team defense and being on the same page. We are aggressive in the front court in hopes of getting easy points off turnovers.”

The Troy Trojans didn’t get to 20 wins, but had a strong season (15-8) in the deep and talented Whitepine. Senior guard Eli Stoner and senior forward Joseph Bendel give the Trojans a nice 1-2 punch that should keep them in the race for a possible berth in the state tournament at the end of the season.

After that, it’s a collection of teams jockeying to move up in the standings. Alana Curtis has taken over as head coach of the boys’ basketball team at her alma mater, Clearwater Valley, and has senior forward Landon Schlieper to lean on. Hyson Scott and Matthew Louwien will provide balance for the Rams. Logos should have its usual array of shooters, led by senior Jack Driskill, and could pose a threat any given night.

Prairie returns All-Conference forward Lee Forsmann and should expect good support from
young guards Briggs Rambo (junior), Riley Shears (sophomore), and Phil Schwartz (sophomore). And Genesee will be led by first-year head coach Tyler Bollman, who returns athletic senior guard Teak Wareham. The Bulldogs also welcome 6-foot-5 post threat Kolby Murray to the lineup this season. Bollman wants to see his team improve its rebounding, where he says they were badly outrebounded last season.

“Kolby will change the style when he is in the game due to his size,” Bollman said. “Our team has to improve in getting high quality shots.”

With two automatic berths up for grabs to the 1A Division 1 state tournament, competition will be intense. The teams that were at the top last season will look to ride continued strong play from their returning players to stay at the top, while the teams that fell behind in the standings last season will look to close the gap and give themselves a chance to play basketball in March.