Girls basketball team opens season Friday

By ROBERT JAMES

Managing Editor

Bonners Ferry High School girls basketball coach Travis Hinthorn will unveil the 2006-2007 edition of his team Friday against Wallace in the Kellogg tournament.

This year's squad is the fastest, best-rebounding team he's seen since he's been the coach, Hinthorn said.

Featuring 11 varsity players, including three returning starters, the Badgers seek to defend their regular-season Intermountain League championship from a year ago.

Seniors Becky Lowther and Kaitie Poston, along with junior Camille Robertson return from last year's squad to anchor the starting lineup. Joining them are two juniors, Sam Hiatt and Sam Kelly, and two sophomores, Ashley Winkelseth and Caitlin Clausen, who all combine to form the nucleus of a high-powered team.

The Badgers will use their speed to push the ball this year on offense, Hinthorn said. The team will press some on defense to try to create turnovers and get its transition game going.

Fans got a taste of the team's potential during a jamboree scrimmage Nov. 8 against St. Maries and Priest River. Each team played the other for one half of a game.

Bonners Ferry jumped out 18-0 against St. Maries and ended up winning the "game" 32-8. The story was similar against Priest River as Bonners Ferry went out quickly to a 12-0 lead, then coasted to a 27-19 win.

"Our defense played well," Hinthorn said. "We're probably the best rebounding team I've ever had. If we get consistent deep scoring, we'll be in good shape."

The team developed some of that scoring and rebounding skill over the summer, playing in 25 games. The team went 18-7 and played in three tournaments.

"The kids that needed to be there were there," Hinthorn said of his summer program. The younger players really developed, he added.

The Kellogg tournament features Bonners Ferry, Wallace, and IML foes Kellogg and Timberlake. It gives the Badgers a good chance to see what two of its league opponents have this season, Hinthorn said. None of the games count in league standings, however. If the Badgers win on Friday, the team will play the winner of the Kellogg-Timberlake game Saturday. The losers of the first round games also play Saturday.

After the tournament, the Badgers travel to Lakeland Tuesday, then play Sandpoint Nov. 25.

There are 11 varsity girls and 10 junior varsity girls on this year's team. The JV team went 7-1 in the league last season. This year, the team features seven freshmen, a group Hinthorn calls the quickest group the school has ever had.

The sophomores on the JV team have proven they can score, so coupled with the incoming freshmen, the team should be very tough to defend.

IML play begins Dec. 16.'