Coaches pick Lady Tigers near bottom of pack

As the 2003-2004 girls basketball season heats up, the questions are flying as to who will win the SIC 4A basketball title this year.

The six coaches have voted, and those votes have been tabulated, with a first place vote earning six points, second place, five points, and so on, down to one point for a sixth-place vote. The results are as follows, with first place votes in parentheses:

1. Vallivue (3) 33

2. Bishop Kelly(3) 32

3. Emmett 21

4. Kuna 17

5. Mountain Home 12

6. Caldwell 11

MOUNTAIN HOME LADY TIGERS

Karen Kohring returns for her second season as head coach of the Lady Tigers, and has six girls returning from a squad that went 1-21 overall last year.

Four of the six are seniors, including 5' 10" center Shelby Wickmark, 5' 7" forward Des Walden, 5' 8" forward Mallory Rhead, and 5' 6" forward Christa Stanton. Also moved up to the team during last season were Michelle Reynolds, a 5' 5" junior guard this year, and 5' 6" sophomore Kim Neely, who saw time on the varsity as a freshman at the end of the season.

"I want to get up and down the floor with a good fast break transition game," Kohring said, "and I think we have the speed and talent to do that. We need to prove to ourselves that we can win, and if we do, hopefully the league will understand that we are here, as there's nowhere to go but up."

VALLIVUE LADY FALCONS

Steve Clausen has six returning lettermen back from last year's squad that finished 8-2 in league play, good for second place, and also qualified for state with a second-place effort at district.

Those six are led by 6' 1" senior Jenny Gross and 5' 8" senior Jessica Grant, juniors Jessica Housley (5' 10"), Hilary Christensen (5' 9") Brittany Anderson (5' 5"), and 6' 7" junior guard Kylee Benke, who is currently out with an ACL injury.

Clausen also looks for big contributions from 5' 8" sophomore Whitney Owen, daughter of ACI men's basketball coach Mark Owen.

Clausen indicated his girls have some unfinished business to take care of, with the goal to ultimately get back to state and give a better showing of themselves there.

BISHOP KELLY LADY KNIGHTS

Kortnie Mills takes over the Lady Knights varsity girls program for Kelly Lewis-Jay, who took an assistant coaching job at the University of Washington.

Mills has five girls back from last year's Bishop Kelly team that won the conference and district titles, and finished fifth at state.

Those five include three seniors, led by 5' 9" senior Daunielle Williams, 5' 5" guard Amelia Johnson and 5' 7" Brittany Hawkins, daughter of BSU football coach Dan Hawkins. Also returning are Elyse Whiteside, a 6' 0" junior post, and 5' 9" junior guard Anna Shoemacher.

Mills sees the Lady Knights' transition game and defense to be strong points on this year's squad, and sees size as a concern.

EMMETT LADY HUSKIES

Cheryl Hutchinson takes over the Emmett varsity program this year, moving up from the JV after Bob Hyde moved over to take the boys' position. Prior to her two years and JV coach at Emmett, Hutchinson coached at Garden Valley for three years.

Hutchinson indicated the turnout was low this year at Emmett, and she has just two girls back from last year's squad, and only one senior.

"They're a very athletic bunch of kids," said Hutchinson of her Lady Huskies, "but overall, very young and inexperienced."

The lone senior back from last year is 5' 7" guard Katie Brown. The other returner is sophomore point guard Jackie Hovda, who is capable of hitting the three, as well as leading the team.

"At times we may be inconsistent," said Hutchinson of her Lady Huskies, "but we'll always be working hard, making it difficult to beat us."

KUNA LADY KAVEMEN

Kelly Emry is back for his second year as head coach of the Lady Kavemen, after coaching the boys team years earlier. Last year's Kuna team finished 12-13 overall, and third at the district tourney, losing a play-in game to Sandpoint for a state tourney berth.

Emry is excited about this year's squad that has three starters and four others that saw plenty of playing time last year.

Those three starters back are 5' 10" senior Amanda Boschma, 5' 11" senior Jamie Peoples, and junior point guard Whitney Withrow.

"We're a little deeper than last season," said Emry, "with overall team speed and quickness and hard-working attitudes a big plus, but outside shooting is a concern, and lack of size. Still, we are excited about this season, with the three starters and four other returners back, we only missed making state by eight points last year, so we're excited."

CALDWELL LADY COUGARS

Missy Wheeler begins her second season as head coach of the Lady Cougars, hoping to turnaround a 2-20 record from a year ago.

Wheeler has five returners back from last year, including three seniors, Shawnie Dakan, Amber Jackson and Laurie Hamanishi. Junior guard Amanda McEldowney returns, as does sophomore Anneka Ruzicka.

Like Mountain Home, Caldwell played some of their best ball of the season at district, and Wheeler hopes to build on that for this season.

"We hope to finish in the middle of the pack,"said Wheeler, "and surprise some teams toward the end of the season."