WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW: Clark Fork boys basketball undeterred by low numbers

LAST SEASON: 13-8, 1A District 1-2 Champions, with key wins over Coeur du Christ (65-55), Noxon (55-52), Wallace (2) (35-21, 66-37) and North Gem (60-37).

COACHES: Stillman Berkley (head coach, first year), Kyler Rice (assistant coach).

PLAYERS TO WATCH: G — Westin Caven, jr.; Jason Mayorga, fr. F — Evrett Montgomery, sr.; Owen Howard, jr.

Graduating five seniors at a small school is never easy, but under first-year head coach and 2012 Clark Fork High graduate Stillman Berkley, the Wampus Cats aren't shying away from any challenges.

Coach Berkley, who has been the junior varsity head coach and an assistant coach for the last five years, takes over for Heath Beason, who coached Clark Fork for six seasons. Berkley's brought on a new local face to the coaching staff as well, Kyler Rice, a former standout and 2014 graduate of Bonners Ferry High.

"He lives up in Naples and is making the drive down here to help coach; I play basketball with him still till' this day," coach Berkley said. "He's a really good basketball player and he's going to be a really good asset to this program. He's got a lot to add, some fresh and new stuff too that the kids haven't seen before."

Numbers are very slim this season for the Wampus Cats when compared to year's past. The junior varsity season has been cancelled and only seven players are on this year's roster at the moment, some still dealing with nagging injuries from the fall sports season.

"Everybody that is part of the program now is going to have a big role," coach Berkley said. "Some of the younger guys coming up are really going to have to contribute — go straight into the fire."

Freshman Jason Mayorga, the brother of former standout Antonio Mayorga and cousin of the legendary Sanroman family, is a newcomer that Cats will look to for contributions. He consistently posted double-doubles, some games with over 20 rebounds, at the junior high level last season. He's Clark Fork's only freshman this year.

"He's surprising me and I think he'll do really well," coach Berkley said. "So far I'm happy with what I see from him and he'll definitely help us out and be in the rotation."

Sophomore Buddy Adams and Jesse Yanik are also making returns, having seen some varsity minutes last season. Berkley said Yanik and Adams are both fundamentally sound, have great shots and have been working hard in practice. He expects them both to be scoring threats when they're able to get open this season.

Junior Westin Caven, who just finished up another tremendous cross country season, will be running the offense this year for the Cats. At 5 foot 9 inches, and with great ball handling skills and a knack for dishing out assists, he'll be certainly be a player to watch out for.

"Another one of those kids who's always grinding it out, no matter what the score is," coach Berkley said. "He's great on defense too, so I'm really excited to see what he does. He has a habit of looking for the assists, but I think he can be more of a scorer for us. It's a great balance and a good mindset for him."

Fellow junior Owen Howard, a 2024 All-North Star League selection, also makes a return. Coming off a shoulder injury, he's eager to get back to pulling down double-doubles and blocking shots. At 6 foot 4 inches, 195 pounds, and to be able to move the way he does, he'll be a threat to opposing team's on both ends of the ball.

"He's going to be a monster down low," coach Berkeley said. "He's long, really athletic and has been working on a lot of post drills. He's also very driven and has been to a lot of open gyms along with Westin and Jesse. We'll see that work pay off."

Senior Evrett Montgomery, who's coming off a spectacular football season, is one the Wampus Cats' most lethal scoring threats, especially from behind the 3-point line. He's dealing with some nagging injuries, but coach Berkley believes he'll still be able to end his career with a bang.

"Hopefully once we get into the season a little bit, he'll be back," coach Berkley said. "He'll be great when he slashes to the basket, and last year, he was really good defensively. If you put him on the other team's best player, he's going to work."

Junior Payton Stevens rounds out the Wampus Cat seven, which will compete in the 2A Scenic Idaho Conference this year with Genesis Prep, Lakeside and Wallace. He's a scrappy player, always willing to work and put 100 percent towards any assignment given to him.

"He'll be in that rotation as well and help glue us all together," coach Berkley said. 

All-in-all, Berkley said that despite the drill and practice challenges a team with small numbers faces, he believes it can also benefit a team in some ways, especially his Wampus Cats.

"There's an opportunity here to have a really cohesive group, we just have figure out how to make it work," coach Berkley said. "My whole goal this year is to coach a team that doesn't have any quit. If we're playing a big school or a team like Lakeside, I want to have that team that battles until the last second — still digging in the fourth quarter. I think this group can do something great."

The Wampus Cats open up the season at home against Coeur du Christ on Dec. 3.

Boys Basketball Schedule

12/3 — vs. Coeur du Christ, 6 p.m. 

12/5 — @ Genesis Prep, 6 p.m. 

12/12 — vs. Noxon, 7 p.m. 

12/17 — @ Mullan, 6 p.m. 

12/19 — vs. Kootenai, 7 p.m. 

1/7 — vs. Wallace, 7 p.m. 

1/9 — @ Priest River, 6 p.m. 

1/14 — vs. Mullan, 6 p.m. 

1/16 — @ Noxon, 7 p.m. 

1/17 — @ Coeur du Christ, 6 p.m. 

1/21 — vs. Genesis Prep, 6 p.m. 

1/23 — vs. Immaculate Conception, 6 p.m. 

1/30 — @ Kootenai 5:30 p.m. 

2/1 — @ Lakeside, 3:30 p.m. 

2/4 — vs. Priest River, 6 p.m. 

2/7 — vs. Lakeside, 6 p.m. 

2/8 — vs. Kootenai, 1 p.m. 

2/14 — @ Wallace, 6 p.m. 

    Clark Fork High senior Evrett Montgomery dribbles past a Bonners Ferry High defender during a jamboree last season held at Sandpoint High.