PLAYERS TO WATCH
Asha Abubakari, Bonners Ferry
Taren Bateman, Bonners Ferry
Avery Bayer, Bonners Ferry
Jozee MacArthur, Timberlake
Kursten McKellips, Timberlake
Payton Young, Timberlake
Written by: Christian Weaner
For only having two teams, the 3A Intermountain League (IML) will feature a lot of new faces for the 2023-24 season. A new coach, a highly-touted freshman and an experienced senior forward are just a few of the new additions to the league this winter.
One constant in the IML, however, will be Timberlake coach Matt Miller, who is entering his 19th season at the helm.
After leading his Tigers to a 10th consecutive IML regular season title and a 3A State Championship Game appearance last year, Miller will look to reload after losing several key pieces from his 2022 squad that went 22-3 and won all four games against Bonners Ferry.
Shifty guard Ciara Soumas graduated, senior sharpshooter Jenna Chase decided not to play this year and sophomore guard Malia Miller — Coach Miller's daughter and the 2022 IML Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State selection and North Idaho 3A-1A Player of the Year — suffered a season-ending injury.
Despite the numerous losses, Timberlake still has a bevy of talent returning, including all-league guards Jozee MacArthur and Payton Young and Lake City transfer Kursten McKellips, a senior forward who was a major contributor for the 5A Timberwolves over the past several years. Morgan Dickinson (senior forward), Marissa Needs (junior guard), Diana Nelson (junior post), Lucy Simpson (junior forward) and Sophi Soumas (sophomore guard) are all expected to play key roles as well.
"We will have much better size than we did last season," Timberlake head coach Matt Miller noted. "Hopefully that will translate into protecting the paint a little better."
Miller is hoping to see his team develop a more balanced scoring attack, utilizing the height and post-up ability of McKellips while also leaning more heavily on MacArthur and Young to score from the perimeter.
"We will have a lot of players taking on bigger roles than they have in the past," Miller noted. "I’m excited to see that develop."
At Bonners Ferry, longtime boys and girls basketball assistant coach Mike Cowley was hired as the Badgers' new head coach after Travis Hinthorn stepped down during the offseason.
Cowley inherits a team that went 11-11 last year and returns most of its production. Senior post players Asha Abubakari and Markynn Pluid are both back for one more go at it, and they will be joined by freshman Teran Bateman, who is expected to be a major contributor for the Badgers this season.
Bonners Ferry will also have Avery Bayer (senior guard), Brooke Petesch (junior wing/post) and Sydney Hinthorn (junior guard) back this season to help provide veteran leadership. While they don't have a ton of height, Cowley is excited for the versatility that many of his players possess.
"We've got a lot of diversity," Cowley said. "Our post players are good medium-range shooters and they run the floor well."
The Badgers have three or four players who could lead the team in scoring on any given night, and most of the team can guard any spot on the floor, which gives Cowley options in how he uses his lineup.
Timberlake has the championship pedigree, but Cowley believes he has the talent and potential to give the Tigers a run for their money in the IML this season.