Players to Watch:
Madelyn Proctor, Deary
Kaylee Wood, Deary
Chloe Grieser, Genesee
Kendra Meyer, Genesee
Kylee Beck, Highland
Hailey Click, Highland
Kairys Grant, Nezperce
Aubree Lux, Nezperce
Julia Wassmuth, St. John Bosco
Sarah Waters, St. John Bosco
Kathryn Anderson, Timberline
Kylie Green, Timberline
Written by: Brandon Baney
The Class 1A Whitepine League was dominated by Kendrick a season ago, as the Tigers went a perfect 8-0 in league play and 23-3 overall. A storybook season culminated in a two-point win in overtime over Dietrich in the Class 1A Division 2 state championship game.
Then, Kendrick moved up a classification level during the offseason. Great news for the remaining five members of the 1A WPL, right? Not so fast.
The league added a sixth member when Genesee dropped down a level, from 2A to 1A. A feisty Bulldogs team went 14-11 a season ago, and will immediately be in the mix for the 1A Whitepine crown.
Greg Hardie enters his seventh season as Genesee’s head coach. He has a trio of returning starters to rely on: junior point guard Chloe Grieser, senior wing Monica Seubert, and junior wing Kendra Meyer.
So the Bulldogs will lean on their guards as the season begins, as Hardie tries to find a replacement for four-year varsity forward Riley Leseman.
However, reinforcements are on the way. “Two players that I expect to have a major impact this year are sophomore post Miley Grieser and junior guard Sydney Banks,” says Hardie. “Miley has played in big games and is unfazed by the pressure. Expect her to be a major inside presence for us this year. And Sydney is quick, aggressive, a scorer, and a fierce defender.”
Deary is expecting to field a strong, competitive team once again this year. Veteran coach Kendra Keen steered the Mustangs to the state tournament a season ago, and boasts several strong returnees like Kaylee Wood, Madelyn Proctor and Allie Vincent. If they can replace the scoring and rebounding of departed seniors Kenadie Kirk and Araya Wood, the Mustangs will be a tough out in 2024-25.
St. John Bosco is another squad teeming with potential. 4th-year head coach Alyssa Wemhoff has four strong seniors to build around in guards Sarah Waters and Noelle Chmelik, and forwards Julia Wassmuth and Rachel Sonnen. Junior Savannah Perrin, and freshmen Katie Beckman and CeCe Remacle will compete for the fifth starting spot in the Patriots’ lineup.
“The biggest strength I have seen with this team through the years is our aggression,” says Wemhoff. “This year’s team is led by a huge group of seniors that are fast and quick on their feet, especially the guards. Our seniors will also push the tempo for the rest of the group. And, our huge incoming freshman class has great basketball IQ and will push the upperclassmen.”
Ultimately, Wassmuth says, “Our experience will be a huge factor. These seniors have been playing varsity basketball since they were freshmen. This will hopefully play a huge factor going in to the season.”
Highland High School in Craigmont has received a fair amount of preseason buzz, as well. One Whitepine coach says, “Highland has slowly been gaining confidence as a team and at times has pushed teams toward the end of games.”
Hailey Click is the focal point of the Huskies’ attack, and she is supplemented by athletes like Kylee Beck, Laramie Finnell and Alli-Mae Moddrell.
Nezperce has a new head coach this year, as Kaci Ralstin takes the reins from Callie Zenner. The Nighthawks went 8-12 last season and are led by senior forward Aubree Lux and junior forward Kairys Grant.
There’s also preseason buzz in Weippe, as the Timberline Spartans are fielding a varsity team for the first time in three years. Julie Jared will coach the Spartans, and juniors Kathryn Anderson and Kylie Green will help establish a new culture in Weippe.