Lake County's high school girls' basketball teams, coaches surveys
Leader Sports
Ronan Maidens
Coaching staff: first year head coach Jami Schall was the freshman coach three years ago.
Returners:
Last year lots of girls were discouraged with season and I’m not sure who will play. We’re hoping to field three teams, a Freshman, JV and Varsity team.
Expectations:
Schall wants to speed things up and see what kind of personnel she has.
Competition:
Big games will be against Whitefish and Polson. They have always been a big rivalry.
Challenges:
To get girls to come out for basketball and make them believe they can go out there and compete with other teams in the conference
Coaches’ comments:
I know the history of Ronan (basketball program) and I’m looking to dig deep within the community and the build the program up.
Two Eagle River
Eagles
Coaching staff: head coach Mark Shackelford, second year with team
Record last year: 5-13
Returners:
Forward/Center Jaylen Carpentier came on strong toward the end of her sophomore year and is looking forward to begin this season from where she left off last season.
Guard Tera Moore will be asked to carry the leadership responsibilities this year as she is the only senior on the team.
Also, junior guard Adele Frost, sophomore forward Matyssa Quequesah, freshman guard Katie Moore and freshman guard Janelle Frost.
Challenges and expectations:
Our biggest challenges this year will be finding someone to lead the team and becoming familiar with each other and how we play basketball. Last year Two Eagle graduated two important seniors who had accounted for almost 40 points a game and senior leadership. This will be a challenge for my lone senior, but I have faith she will come through. Most of the girls on this year’s team have not played ball together so getting all of them on the same page will take patience and time. All of their hard work will pay off in the end.
Competition:
Since Hot Spring lost one starter they will be the team to beat this year. Charlo is tough every year so I expect them to be strong as well. Superior ended the year strong and have many returning starters so they should be tough also. St. Regis and Noxon will also field competitive teams. This conference has many strong teams which will make for an interesting district tournament.
Arlee Scarlets
Coaching staff: First year head coach, Theresa Brown; assistant coach Scott Palmer, several years helping the team
Conference: District 9-C
Record: 2-14
Playoffs: Won two games and took fourth in districts, but did not make playoffs.
Returners:
Possible returners include senior Kelci Apland, junior Chelsea Allaire, and sophomore Melissa Ivanoff, who was the only freshman on varsity last year.
Potential new starters:
Still choosing players for varsity team, may keep all freshmen on freshmen team.
Challenges:
Learning to play together, and learning to play without star player, Jordan Pfau, who transferred mid-school year.
Expectations:
It is just a building year I guess. We’ll start fresh and see where we go from there.
Competition:
Philipsburg is the main competition in the division. Charlo is always tough competition.
Charlo Lady Vikings
Coaching staff: head coach Bret Thompson, 22 years with team; assistant coach Sheryl Kain, 17 years.
Conference: District 14-C
Record last year: 19-4
2008 playoffs: Made it to divisionals
Returners:
Returning starters include: senior Shianne Montgomery, junior Stephanie Murphy (All-state) and junior Stephanie Maughan
(All-conference).
Last year’s letter winners include: junior Jaris Kelley-Nelson, senior Rochelle Toussaint, and junior Courtney Couture.
Challenges:
Good upper class but we will need to find a couple of sophomores or freshmen to strengthen the varsity roster.
Expectations: Improve each game, play our best basketball at the end of the year, stay healthy, and find success in class.