Young Wampus Cats eager to make mark

CLARK FORK — After running short on healthy players and having to cancel the end of last season, Clark Fork head coach Mark Stevens was pleased to see 16 players out this season, including a strong freshman class eager to make some noise.

Senior wing Leslie Kiebert returns to lead the way with four years of starting varsity experience, scoring in double figures in a handful of games last year. She’ll be counted on to do it again this season, with the help of junior post Lia Crumpton, one of the Wampus Cats best rebounders.

Rounding out the starting five will be an influx of new talent in sophomore Zoe Speelmon, freshman point guard Brooke Stevens and freshman power forward Tessa Sutton. The pair of freshmen shone in the Cats’ opener, with Sutton posting a double-double with 15 points and 10 boards right out of the chutes.

“There’s a ton of talent in that freshman class,” said head coach Mark Stevens, who is busy teaching the game to a lot of underclassmen. “We’re so young, and there’s a lot of good seniors in the league. By districts, hopefully we’ll be bumping somebody out of there.”

Stevens feels the 5-foot-9 Sutton and the cat-quick Stevens will have no problem adjusting to the high school level, and he’ll count on both to produce at both ends of the floor.

“Brooke’s a good ball handler, and smart on the court, she knows the game. She can run the floor, and make sure we get set up,” lauded Stevens, also praising the scoring potential of Sutton. “She can pop threes all night long in practice. She just needs the experience of playing.”

Providing bench minutes will be juniors Nona Young and Emily Garman, and freshman Ellie Lambert. Stevens called Young versatile, and believes Garman will be a force up top in a 1-3-1 trap.

“She’s a very good defender, very quick, she does a good job pressing the ball,” praised Stevens, noting Crumpton will have to play big on the blocks. “She’s strong inside and that’s what we need, getting those rebounds and playing that tough defense.”