Wampus Cats hoping to shoot way to state
<p>The Clark Fork Wampus Cats girls basketball team has its eye on state. Pictured in the front row, from left, are Leslie Kiebert, Hope Kinney, Allison Warner and Kelsie DeCleve. In the back row, from left, are Lyndsie Kiebert, Annie Wurm, Callie Potter, Rebecca Dohmen, Alicia Heigis and Summer Gonoshorowski. (Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)</p>
CLARK FORK — For an inside-out game to work well, it takes good perimeter shooters and a solid low post game to make defenses have to stop both.
That should bode well for the Clark Fork girls basketball team this season, as senior Annie Wurm is poised to do some damage on the blocks while senior Lyndsie Kiebert will be dialing it up from long distance. The two will also provide leadership along with the scoring, as Kiebert is more vocal while Wurm sets a quiet example.
The two will anchor a strong starting five for head coach Mark Stevens, who returns to steward the Wampus Cats for his third stint, having been head coach for 11 seasons in the past. Stevens replaces Dexter Vogel, who stepped down after last season.
Stevens’ team will hang its hat on solid fundamentals, and look to improve as the season progresses.
“For my teams, it’s always tough defense,” says Stevens, who plans to run a lot of high/low, inside out sets on offense. “If they shoot the ball like they have been in practice, it will be a good year.”
Wurm has improved her offensive repertoire on the blocks, and returns with starting experience from a team that went 8-13 last season and missed out on state. Stevens calls Wurm skilled in the fundamentals.
“Annie is very strong in the post,” describes Stevens. “She’s a smart player, and does everything right. Just super strong underneath.”
When defenses collapse, Wurm will kick it out to a host of solid shooters with range, led by Lyndsie Kiebert, who has looked strong in practice.
“She’s been hitting the three and she’s starting to take it to the basket,” says Stevens. “She’s a good ball handler and a good scorer.”
Also providing a shooting threat is sophomore Leslie Kiebert, who has some range and showed the ability to score in bunches last season, and senior point guard Callie Potter, a league newcomer who played in Florida last year and could provide a spark.
“Callie will surprise a lot of people in league,” believes Stevens, noting Potter is also a dangerous spot up shooter from beyond the arc. “Other teams will be surprised when they see her play.”
Juniors Alicia Heigis and Rebecca Dohmen are both 5-foot-9, and will provide a presence under the basket, while senior Summer Gonoshorowski and freshmen Nona Young and Hope Kinney will provide minutes on a thin bench. Stevens said staying healthy will be key with a lot of varsity newcomers set to see minutes.
“We’re not deep,” admits Stevens. “The first year players have to develop into quality players. We’ll get better as the year goes on, just like the volleyball team did with Cindy (Derr) this year.”
The Cats ended last season with a disappointing loss to Kootenai and missed out on state. Wurm is hoping her senior season has a happier ending, and the key will be gelling as a team.
“For all of us to work together, step up as a team and have a lot of fun this year,” says Wurm. “We’re great at playing as a team, and we’re going to be shooting a lot more this year.”
Clark Fork opens the season tonight at the North Star League tournament in Wallace.