Schoening leads Bulldogs on All-IEL team
SANDPOINT — Senior Madi Schoening was once again voted Most Valuable Player, leading a host of Bulldogs earning honors on the All- 4A Inland Empire League girls basketball team, as voted on recently by the league’s coaches.
Head coach Duane Ward was voted coach of the year, freshman post Grace Hicks won Newcomer of the Year and senior Riley Couch and sophomore Grace Kirscher also earned spots on the team.
Ward is more than worthy of the honor, guiding a Bulldog team that beat Coeur d’Alene twice and just missed upsetting Lewiston, before romping through league play unscathed.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by the coaches,” said Ward. “I’ve got good players. I give a lot of the credit to coach Love and the players.”
Schoening, who will play next year for the University of Montana, averaged 20 points, six rebounds and four steals this season, and is one of the best finishers in the state in transition.
“She had another great year. The kids respect her hard work and dedication, and she’s a talented player,” described Ward. “The other players learn to play off her. Very deserving, not just for individual stats, but what she did for her team.”
Hicks averaged three points and three rebounds a game, but it was her defense that landed her a spot on the team.
“We needed somebody with good feet in the middle of our defense. She was able to step in as a freshman and start, and play that defense,” praised Ward of his 6-foot 1 freshman. “She also rebounded, and scored enough that other teams had to pay attention to her. She improved as the year went on.”
Kirscher, a long and skilled wing, averaged 12 points, three assists and two steals per game and like Schoening, drew the attention of every defense.
“Grace improved tremendously, and became more consistent with her scoring,” described Ward. “This year they (defenses) had to concentrate on Grace. She’s got a lot of length, and causes problems defensively for other teams.”
Senior Riley Couch sets the tone atop the zone defensively, and emerged as a strong 3-point shooter when teams left her open. The point guard was very deserving of the award, according to Ward.
“Riley’s come a million miles. She developed into a great leader, and spearheads our defense. For her size, she gives other teams fits,” said Ward. “Now they have to worry about three players.
ALL-4A INLAND EMPIRE LEAGUE
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER — Madi Schoening, sr., Sandpoint
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR — Katie Kitchel, so., Moscow; Grace Hicks, fr., Sandpoint.
ALL-LEAGUE — Gracey Meyer, so., Moscow; Grace Kirscher, so., Sandpoint; Tauna Kirk, jr., Lakeland; Riley Couch, sr., Sandpoint; Jada Simpson, sr., Moscow.
COACH OF THE YEAR — Duane Ward, Sandpoint.