WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW: Clark Fork boys basketball boasts experienced, veteran roster this season

CLARK FORK — At a jamboree held earlier this year at Sandpoint High, the Wampus Cats really impressed. Clark Fork, who has five seniors, went toe-to-toe with both Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry’s varsity squads, which may be a sign that the team is slated for one of their best year’s yet.

Longtime head coach Heath Beason said he is excited for this year, and for the use of the shot clock, which he believes is going to really play in favor of the Wampus Cat offense, an offense in which all five players are often playing a variation of all five positions. Beason described this year's team as one that’s fast-paced and doesn’t hold back.

“I haven’t been this excited in a long time,” Beason said. “We have some challenges and things we need to work on, but my five seniors are great kids/athletes, we have some juniors, sophomores, and freshmen coming up that are going to make an impact too.”

Leading the offense this year will be three-point threats Chase and Cole Sanroman and forward Ethan Howard, all of whom are seniors.

“We definitely have a lot of threats this year,” Cole Sanroman said. “In my personal opinion, I think we have even more power than last year, especially with Owen (Howard) coming up, Arrow Christofferson improving a lot, and Evrett (Montgomery) coming along. Myself, Chase, Ethan, and Seth (Caven) have been grinding since last year. I think we’re going to do good this year.”

Beason said that defensively, not much will change. He said the team will stick to the fundamentals, and cited that the team’s play off the ball will be a difference-maker this year. Seth Caven, Christofferson, and Ethan Howard will surely be relied on to protect the paint. Caven has the potential to make a huge impact for the Wampus Cats this season.

“I like being physically dominant down low,” Caven said. “That’s a role I filled last year, and one that I will fill again this year… I feel I can set good screens, be there for support, am a good size to help our guards get down into the paint, and can help out Ethan (Howard) with rebounding.”

Caven said he believes everyone has improved a lot when compared to last year, and that he is also excited about this year’s newcomers, one who happens to be his brother, Westin Caven.

“This team has some great chemistry,” he said. “We have some great up-and-comers, Westin (Caven) and Owen (Howard) who both have hopeful futures. Westin is a great defender and ball-handler and Owen is a great defender and finisher who is following in his brother’s footsteps of being an all-around big man.”

If the Wampus can put the pieces together, this year may just be the year. Senior guard Chase Sanroman said he thinks it’s a possibility.

“I think this year we can show that North ball is better than South ball,” he said in reference to the state of Idaho.

Beason said the team is working hard everyday to hopefully prove that.

“With the team that we have this year, again, I’m really excited,” Beason said. “After the first three practices these guys already had the system down and are connecting. It’s been easier to incorporate our daily drills into our offense when they are clearly seeing the options they have.”

Although excited and confident, Beason acknowledged that the team must take the season one game at a time in order to succeed.

“I play one game at a time,” Beason said. “We have to take things one game at a time in order to be successful. I am really dedicated to making sure we are living and playing in the moment, and not thinking about the future.”

Beason said he is looking forward to this year's 3A/4A matchups (Bonners Ferry, Kellogg, Sandpoint JV) because the team takes a lot out of those games.

“When we’re competitive in those games, it reminds us that we can hang with the elite teams in our league,” Beason said. “Last year we played some pretty good teams, our league improved – it’s going to be a challenge, but we’ll be ready for it.” 

Last year, the Wampus Cats finished with a 13-10 record and were able to capture the 1A D2 North Star League title last year over Mullan (70-43), a feat they’ll look to repeat and then some.

CFHS Boys Basketball Schedule

12/5 @ Coeur du Christ Academy 7 p.m.

12/6 @ Wallace 6 p.m.

12/12 vs. Genesis Prep 7 p.m.

12/14 vs. Mullan 7 p.m.

12/18 @ Immaculate Conception Academy 7 p.m.

12/21 vs. Coeur du Christ Academy 7 p.m.

1/9  vs. Noxon 7 p.m.

1/11 @ Lakeside 7 p.m.

1/16 @ Mullan 7 p.m.

1/18 vs. Kootenai 5:30 p.m.

1/19 @ Genesis Prep 7 p.m.

1/25 vs. Wallace 6 p.m.

1/30 @ Noxon 7 p.m. (MST)

2/1 @ Kootenai 5:30 p.m.

2/6 vs. Lakeside 7 p.m.

2/7 vs. Immaculate Conception Academy 7 p.m.

2/13 @ Sandpoint (JV) 7 p.m.

2/19 @ Kellogg 7 p.m.

2/23-2/24 Districts @ NIC

2/29-3/2 States @ Caldwell