PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Sypress Martinez, Clearwater Valley
Seasha Reuben, Clearwater Valley
Emma Krogh, Kamiah
Rainbow Moses, Kamiah
Hali Anderson, Kendrick
Mercedes Heimgartner, Kendrick
Madden Bisbee, Lapwai
Skylin Picard, Lapwai
Jemma Driskill, Logos
Elena Vowels, Potlatch
Sage Elven, Prairie
Kylie Schumacher, Prairie
Tessa Stoner, Troy
Written by: Brandon Baney
The 2A Whitepine League is stocked with an abundance of talent. All five members of the first team All-WPL team return this season, as well as Kamiah senior Emma Krogh, who shared Player of the Year honors with Prairie’s Lexi Schumacher (who has since graduated).
So the league race was already shaping up to be a juicy one, just based on the sheer amount of skilled athletes returning.
The juiciness only increased in June, when Prairie High School made the shocking decision to terminate the contract of longtime coach Lori Mader. In 15 seasons as the Pirates’ head coach, Mader went 304-82, and took the Pirates to state in all 15 seasons. In those 15 trips to state, Prairie twice won the championship, and took second place an additional eight times.
Don’t worry, though. Whitepine fans can still see Mader coaching from the sidelines this season. Prairie’s loss is Lapwai’s gain. That’s right. Lapwai, Prairie’s fiercest rival during Mader’s coaching career, had an opening when Josh Leighton Jr. resigned, and filled it by hiring Mader.
Lapwai and Prairie represented the Whitepine at state a year ago (as they do most years), and both teams are expected to grapple for the league crown once again this year.
Get your popcorn ready.
PRAIRIE
The Pirates finished 22-3 a season ago, falling to Oakley in the 2A state championship game, 62 to 51. Lexi Schumacher, co-Player of the Year, graduated, as did three others (Aubree Rehder, Ellie Nuxoll and Kadence Kalmbach).
But the bones of a very good program are still in place, and now it’s up to first-year head coach Teel Bruner to keep the engine running. The low-post combo of seniors Sage Elven and Kylie Schumacher (both 5-foot-10) will be tough for opponents on a nightly basis. Schumacher, especially, can play both inside and out.
Senior Sydney Shears and junior Erica Schlader are also expected to contribute in the backcourt.
LAPWAI
After 15 seasons of coaching Prairie basketball, Mader is still getting used to her new team at Lapwai.
“This is a new position for me this year, so I’m trying to learn new kids in a new program,” says Mader.
Mader has a trio of returning starters to build around. Senior point guard Madden Bisbee will lead Lapwai’s explosive attack, and senior Skylin Picard joins Bisbee in the backcourt. Junior Lois Oatman also returns to anchor the post, which will be necessary given the height of Prairie and others.
“We are quick, fast and energetic,” says Mader. “But we need to know when to push the ball and when to slow down.”
KAMIAH
The Kubs just missed out on qualifying for the 2A State Tournament a year ago, finishing 19-6 and settling for third place behind Prairie and Lapwai. Make no mistake, though, Kamiah was one of the eight best 2A teams in Idaho last year, but because of district representation, the Kubs were left home.
So head coach Shelby Cloninger knows her team has to find a way to supplant Prairie or Lapwai at the top if they want to advance to state. Fortunately, she has the Whitepine’s best player, senior guard Emma Krogh, to build around. Cloninger is confident that Krogh’s supporting cast will be more balanced this year, also.
“I am very excited to see every player contribute across the board, instead of relying on one or two,” Cloninger says. “Senior captain Emily Puckett has a big increase in role this year. The chemistry is there right now, but we are young.”
Kamiah will be relying on five freshmen to help contribute immediately at the varsity level this year. Guards Rainbow Moses and Tylee Wilkins have the most early potential, and Moses could even play point guard from the jump.
“I think at first it will be a shell-shock to our younger players how much more fast-paced high school ball is compared to middle school,” says Cloninger. “But they are already determined and eager to learn. I think it’s going to be an awesome year for the Kubs.”
In addition to getting younger this year, Cloninger believes Kamiah is more athletic also. “Our ball movement almost felt robotic last year. I had to have a set play every time down the court because we struggled with fast break conversions,” Cloninger says. “I don’t think that’s going to be a problem this year.”
KENDRICK
The Tigers are welcoming in their third head coach in as many seasons, as former assistant Conrad Dudley takes the reins in 2025-26.
Coach Dudley has three senior guards to build around: Hali Anderson (a Lewis-Clark State College commit), Mercedes Heimgartner and Brehlynn Clemenhagen. However, the Tigers’ inside game will have to be re-made on the fly, as starting forwards Hayden Kimberling and Ashna Casto both graduated. “We will miss their size, rebounding, and physicality,” says Dudley.
With so many talented perimeter players in the fold, Dudley predicts Kendrick will find a lot of success on the fast break. “As a team, our offensive strength will come from our ability to play fast and score in transition,” says Dudley. “I hope to see improvement in pace of play and clock management on the offensive end.”
Senior guard Shylei Johnston will spell the other seniors on the perimeter, and sophomore guard Halli Hoffman is the linchpin of the Tigers’ aggressive full-court pressure defense, according to Dudley. Sophomore guard Ivy Cowley and sophomore forward Blake Boyer will also see significant playing time.
“All four of those girls are returning players, but they will be tasked with a larger varsity role this year,” says Dudley. “I am excited to watch this group get more time together and build chemistry.”
CLEARWATER VALLEY
The Rams finished 9-13 a season ago, including a 4-10 mark in Whitepine league play, which was good enough for a fifth place finish. Basically, the Rams lost to the teams ahead of them in the standings, and defeated the teams below them.
Despite the loss of guard Eva Lundgren and forward Taya Pfefferkorn, coach Sky Wilson is excited about Clearwater Valley’s potential this year. “Offensively, we’re stronger than ever at seeing the floor,” says Wilson. “As a whole, the girls have improved immensely and are making smarter choices with passing and shot selection.”
A trio of guards (senior Seasha Reuben, junior Tessa Lundgren, and sophomore Sypress Martinez) will key the Rams’ attack this season. “While we aren’t the biggest or tallest team in the league, we’re passionate and never quit,” says Wilson. “These girls are quick and scrappy while maintaining composure in the tough moments.”
With another season of improvement, and better health luck, Wilson believes the Rams can make the jump into the top half of the league standings. “With so many girls returning, and improving, these girls will just continue to grow in all aspects of the game,” says Wilson. “We’re really looking for a strong finish as long as we can keep everyone healthy. That was our biggest challenge at the end of last season, as we battled illness and injury from multiple starters.”
TROY
5-foot-11 junior center Tessa Stoner, an All-WPL selection a year ago, is Troy’s top returning player. She’ll combine with 5-foot-7 sophomore Jennie Webb to give the Trojans a dynamic one-two punch in the paint.
The Trojans’ guards are young, and include sophomores Briar Wilson and Emma Wilson, and freshman Emma Abbott.
POTLATCH
The Loggers finished 3-18 overall, and 3-11 in the Whitepine League last season. Potlatch then said goodbye to four seniors, including 6-foot center Kathryn Burnette. 5-foot-7 sophomore Elena Vowels will lead a relatively inexperience group in 2025-26.
LOGOS
The Knights finished 5-16 a year ago, but did pick up two Whitepine wins in a 2-12 league campaign.
First year coach Joe Casebolt lists seven freshmen on his varsity roster this year, with Quinn Covington already cracking the starting lineup in her first career varsity game.
The rest of the starting lineup is made up of upperclassmen, including standout junior guard Jemma Driskill. Center Elena Spillman is the lone senior on this year’s team.