Players to Watch:
Brooklyn Charles, Kootenai
Sadie Rose Davidson, Kootenai
Avah Blankenship, Mullan
Alyssa Bosson, Mullan
Written by: Brandon Baney
The Class 1A North Star League’s girls basketball race is wide open this year. Usually, that’s just an empty platitude, but this year, it rings true.
Longtime league power Clark Fork has moved up to the Class 2A ranks, leaving Kootenai and Mullan to duke it out in a two-team league. Coeur du Christ Academy is the third member of this league, but will only be playing boys basketball this winter.
A somewhat young Mullan team went 2-13 a season ago, and as coach Sherry Leitz enters her 30th season on the Mullan sidelines, she’ll have to find a way to replace graduated senior Autumn Charvez. “I will miss her intense game play and leadership,” says Leitz.
Junior forward Avah Blankenship and freshman post Kaydence Elliott will try to pick up the slack from Charvez’ departure. “The inside game will be the focus with our returning big players,” Leitz says.
Senior Alyssa Bosson and freshman Caylee Crandall will lead a promising group of guards. “I hope our outside game improves with more confident shooters,” says Leitz.
Overall, this is a Mullan team with potential, and they only have get past Kootenai to win the North Star League. “I’m excited to watch the young girls find their place and build on their confidence,” says Leitz. “I’m also excited to watch Avah Blankenship step up as leader to guide the team.”
The North Star League was a two-team affair last season, as well, as Kootenai didn’t have enough players to field a varsity team, leaving only Mullan and Clark Fork.
The Warriors went 0-12 in 2022-23 under head coach Alyssa Liermann, but after a year off, seven freshmen and two eighth-graders are ready to lead a new era of Kootenai basketball.
“This is a brand new team,” says Liermann. “I am over the moon for the turnout of the team this season. These girls have played together for years and they’re all so young. The girls all have an amazing drive and willingness to do what it takes. They all want to be there and want to learn so bad, and that’s everything a coach could want.”
The nine members of Kootenai’s team voted on team captains. Brooklyn Charles and Sadie Rose Davidson were selected. “I believe they’ll show up to play every single game and that will be a huge benefit,” says Liermann. “Overall, this team’s drive and intensity will be one of our offensive strengths. I think our overall shooting will need to improve. We have some girls with awesome form that don’t yet have the confidence to shoot.”
While Charles and Davidson will lead the offense, Liermann is excited about the defensive potential of Harleigh Dutton and Annabelle Parish. “They’re quick and play solid defense without fouling,” says Liermann. “Annabelle is that player that’s super annoying to be guarded by because she’s so fast with her hands, which is everything I could have asked for. I think running our man defense needs to improve overall, because these girls played a lot of zone in junior high. I wish to run a man defense all season long. Defense wins games, and competitive varsity teams play man defense.”
While there may be some varsity growing pains for this group of freshmen and eighth-graders, Liermann is excited to watch them develop. “These girls want to play, they’re driven, they’re focused, and they’re intense,” says Liermann. “Being a very young team will benefit us over the next couple of years. Catch us at state when these girls are seniors.”