PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Allie Vincent, Deary
Kaylee Wood, Deary
Sydney Banks, Genesee
Chloe Grieser, Genesee
Kylee Beck, Highland
Hailey Click, Highland
Kairys Grant, Nezperce
Helen Wilcox, Nezperce
Savannah Peririn, St. John Bosco
CeCe Remacle, St. John Bosco
Jaimie Binder, Timberline
Cassidy Thomson, Timberline
Written by: Brandon Baney
The Genesee Bulldogs ripped through the 1A Whitepine League a season ago, finishing 10-0 in league play and 22-2 overall on their way to a second place finish at the 1A State Tournament.
The battle for second place was infinitely more exciting. Deary and Nezperce each tied for second with 6-4 Whitepine records, while Highland finished one game back at 5-5.
With Genesee hit with a couple of graduation losses, the expectation among WPL coaches is that the gap has narrowed between the Bulldogs and the rest of the field.
GENESEE
Bulldogs coach Greg Hardie enters his ninth season with a solid frontline of senior wing Sydney Banks, senior post Sophie Johnson, and junior post Miley Grieser. Also back for the Bulldogs is Whitepine League MVP Chloe Grieser.
Grieser’s backcourt mates, fellow 1st Team All-WPL standouts Monica Seubert and Kendra Meyer graduated, however, which means that coach Hardie is searching for production from a newcomer or two.
No matter who steps in for Genesee, one thing is certain: the Bulldogs will only get stronger as the year progresses. After defeating Nezperce and Deary by just nine and five points, respectively, during the first half of last year, the Bulldogs won against the same duo by 26 and 18 points on the back half of the schedule.
NEZPERCE
First-year head coach Kaci Ralstin skippered the Nighthawks to the 1A State Tournament in his rookie season last winter, but the journey there was not easy. After falling to Genesee in the district championship game by just six points (57 to 51), Nezperce barely survived Highland in the second place game, winning a nail-biter 28 to 27.
Then came a State Tournament Play-In Game against Kootenai, a 55-17 laugher. So when Nezperce had finally clinched a berth to state, they had to be dismayed at the first round opponent, determined via MaxPreps rankings: a rematch with Genesee. A 55-32 loss to Genesee at state, followed by a 51-40 setback to Dietrich, ended Nezperce’s stay at state earlier than expected.
This year’s Nezperce team is on the shorter side height-wise, but their skill more than cancels out that negative attribute. Senior Kairys Grant and junior Helen Wilcox both earned All-League honors a season ago, and sophomores Avery Lux and Paityn Ralstin are a year further in their development after both saw extensive time as freshmen last year. Junior Abigail Duuck and senior Morgan Kirkland are also savvy veterans that should have Nezperce in position for a second consecutive trip to state.
DEARY
The Mustangs have been the most consistent performing team over the past several WPL campaigns, but last year’s season ended in disappointment after Deary fell to Highland by a single basket, 32 to 30, in a loser-out game at districts. The Mustangs finished the year 14-6 overall, and plenty motivated to atone for the surprising loss to Highland.
Kendra Keen returns for her 19th season as Deary’s head coach, and will lean on six experienced seniors to lead the way in 2025-26: Kori Bovard, Kyleigh Eastman, Karmen Griffin, Madelyn Proctor, Allie Vincent and Kaylee Wood. Wood (1st Team All-WPL), Vincent (2nd Team All-WPL) and Proctor (Honorable Mention All-WPL) should especially stand out this year.
HIGHLAND
The Huskies nearly pulled of the impossible dream a year ago. Entering district tournament play as the #4 seed, Highland nipped Deary in a loser-out game 32 to 30, before falling to Nezperce in the third place game in gut-wrenching fashion, 28 to 27. It ensured that Highland ended the season right at 12-12 overall, the Huskies’ first season of at least 12 wins since 2004.
“We didn’t lose any players,” says coach Mathu Thomason. “Not losing any players after our first 12-win season since 2004 is pretty exciting. On top of that, we have built a great culture and have a team full of leaders.”
Not only is the team full of leaders, but it’s full of height. “Our size is our biggest strength,” Thomason explains. “We run three six-footers (Kylee Beck, Allie Mae Moddrell and Laramie Finnell) and look to pound the ball inside.”
As if that weren’t enough, Thomason adds, “We have a dynamic playmaking guard in Sheradyn Stamper, and a three-point shooting threat in Hailey Click.”
Beck, Stamper and Click each picked up All-WPL honors a year ago, and those three are also the tip of the spear for Highland’s defense. “Defense is our identity,” says Thomason. “We play a variety of zones and we held our opponents to 36 PPG last year. We have the best shot blocker in the state in Kylee Beck, and Stamper and Click are quick guards who look to play the passing lanes.”
It certainly appears that Highland has all the right ingredients for another deep district run in 2025-26.
“If we play the same level of defense we played last year, rebound at a high level, and take care of the basketball, we will be very difficult to beat,” concludes Thomason.
ST. JOHN BOSCO
The Patriots of St. John Bosco will have a new coach this season, but it’s a name familiar to fans of the private Christian school in Cottonwood. Gene Weckman, who has been a teacher/administrator for over 20 years at St. John Bosco, takes the reins from previous coach Alyssa Frei.
Weckman inherits a team that said goodbye to three senior starters, yet still has opposing Whitepine coaches nervous about facing them.
While it’s not quite the frontline that Highland boasts, the Patriots start three players 5-foot-10 or 5-foot-11 in juniors Catherin Seubert and Mia Mager, and sophomore Catherine Beckman. Senior Savannah Perrin and sophomore CeCe Remacle will handle the guard spots for a team that several WPL coaches have identified as a sleeper in 2025-26.
TIMBERLINE
The Spartans endured a winless campaign a year ago, finishing 0-10 in league and 0-16 overall. The Spartans had zero seniors on last year’s team, so the hope for first-year head coach Jake Jared is that continued progression and continuity results in a couple of breakthroughs this season. Seniors Kathryn Anderson and Jaimie Binder, along with sophomore Cassidy Thomson, will be critical pieces to this year’s team.