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Local and National News - Kootenai County, Idaho
Griffitts named 5A Player of the Year
Baker, Johnson, Clinton also named to all-Idaho first team
BOISE -- For the second straight year, North Idaho has produced the all-Idaho Player of the Year in 5A girls basketball.
Kama Griffitts, a 5-foot-11 junior forward from Coeur d'Alene High, was named Player of the Year by the Idaho Statesman newspaper following a poll of coaches statewide.
Griffitts, a first-team pick last year and a second-team selection as a freshman, averaged 13 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in leading the Vikings to their first state title since 2000.
"She's very unselfish, maybe a little too unselfish, but it makes her a complete player," Coeur d'Alene coach Dale Poffenroth told the Statesman. "Coaches like that, but there are times when I wish she would just shoot."
Griffitts was joined on the 5A girls first team by Lake City junior center Katie Baker, last year's 5A girls Player of the Year, and Coeur d'Alene senior guard Ali Johnson.
Baker averaged 18.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots. Johnson bounced back after missing most of the two previous seasons due to knee surgeries and averaged 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.
Post Falls sophomore wing Katelyn Loper was named to the second team. Loper averaged 15 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 steals for the Trojans, who placed third at state.
Coeur d'Alene senior point guard Nate Clinton was named to the 5A boys first team. Clinton averaged 18 points per game for the Vikings, who placed second at state.
ALL-IDAHO BASKETBALL 2008
BOYS
5A
FIRST TEAM -- Will Bogan, Vallivue, 6-1, sr., PG (Player of the Year); Nate Clinton, Coeur d'Alene, 5-7, sr., G; Rennie Leavitt, Highland, 6-2, sr., G; Mitch Bruneel, Eagle, 6-4, sr., W; B.J. Shearry, Timberline, 6-5, sr., F.
SECOND TEAM -- Taysom Hill, Highland, 6-3, jr., F; Taylor Tingey, Highland, 5-11, sr., G; Ryan Simpson, Vallivue, 6-1, sr., G; Clay Christensen, Vallivue, 6-1, sr., G; Rick Tolman, Mountain View, 6-6, sr., F.
4A
FIRST TEAM -- Colton Moon, Burley, 5-10, sr., G (Player of the Year); Ben Searle, Burley, 6-3, sr., G; Jordan Hosteen, Burley, 6-5, sr., P; Kyle Miller, Century, 6-4, sr., W; Nick Hovda, Emmett, 6-3, sr., G.
SECOND TEAM -- Alex Drecksel, Pocatello, 6-3, jr., P; Jon Wilson, Bonneville, 6-3, sr., F; Jordan Steele, Pocatello, 6-4, sr., G; Kyle Dranginis, Skyview, 6-2, fr., G; Dylan Brown, Middleton, 6-1, sr., G.
3A
FIRST TEAM -- Andrew Dahle, Fruitland, 6-3, sr., F (Player of the Year); Tanner Higham, Shelley, 6-1, jr., G; Brandon Richins, Weiser, 6-0, sr., G; Matt Stanger, Fruitland, 6-2, jr., F; Brad Twiss, Buhl, 5-11, sr., G.
SECOND TEAM -- Evan Jerke, Kimberly, 6-3, sr., F; Kyle Gelles, Snake River, 6-3, sr., F; Marcus Harris, McCall-Donnelly, 6-0, sr., G; Kenny Stuart, Kellogg, 5-11, sr., G; A.J. Bennett, Bonners Ferry, 5-11, sr., G.
2A
FIRST TEAM -- Colter Reeves, Firth, 6-3, jr., P (Player of the Year); Jaimie Brown, New Plymouth, 6-4, sr., G; Taylor Hopkins, Firth, 6-1, sr., G; Jordan McMurray, Soda Springs, 6-3, sr., G; Mitch Beckstead, West Side, 6-2, sr.
SECOND TEAM -- Jordan Bartlett, Firth, 6-1, sr., G; David Bingham, West Side, 6-4, sr., P; Miguel Gonzalez, Aberdeen, 6-4, sr., PG; D.J. Wright, Orofino, 6-4, sr., F; Doug Beus, Melba, 6-7, sr., P.
1A
FIRST TEAM -- Jason Smith, Troy, 6-3, sr., G (Player of the Year); Braiden Buckner, Richfield, 6-2, sr., W; D.J. Simpson, Carey, 6-3, sr., W; Drew Church, Lapwai, 6-4, sr., P; Anthony Beskoon, Cascade, 6-3, sr., P.
SECOND TEAM -- Cole Wagoner, Clark County, 6-5, sr., F/P; Magic Smith, Sho-Ban, 6-0, jr., G/P; Beau Dahmen, Genesee, 6-0, jr., F; Logan Thomas, Rimrock, 6-3, sr., F; Tanner Owen, Hagerman, 6-5, jr., P.
GIRLS
5A
FIRST TEAM -- Kama Griffitts, Coeur d'Alene, 5-11, jr., F, (Player of the Year); Devyn Christensen, Vallivue, 5-7, jr., G; Jade McNorton, Centennial, 6-3, jr., P; Ali Johnson, Coeur d'Alene, 5-5, sr., G; Katie Baker, Lake City, 6-1, jr., C.
SECOND TEAM -- Devan Matkin, Twin Falls, 5-9, jr., G; Katelin Shannon, Vallivue, 5-4, jr., G; Katie Sanders, Centennial, 6-0, sr., P; Halley Kreminski, Eagle, 5-9, sr., G; Katelyn Loper, Post Falls, 5-8, so., W.
4A
FIRST TEAM -- Kalika Tullock, Middleton, 5-9, sr., F (Player of the Year); Meghan Hughes, Bishop Kelly, 5-9, sr., F; Samantha Simmons, Middleton, 5-11, sr., P; Aubree Callen, Jerome, 5-9, so., G; Kim Barnes, Bonneville, 5-4, sr., G.
SECOND TEAM -- Nicole Tolman, Burley, 5-10, sr., P; Jordan Burnham, Jerome, 5-9, sr., F; Jeni Clark, Skyview, 5-9, sr., G; Brenna Brigham, Pocatello, 5-8, jr., F; Nancy Johnson, Hillcrest, 5-9, sr., P.
3A
FIRST TEAM -- Jaclyn Hone, Shelley; 5-11, sr., F (Player of the Year); Nicole Dalling, Sugar-Salem, 5-10, sr., F; Sofia Hepworth, Sugar-Salem, 5-6, so., G; Sheryl Bitter, Shelley, 5-5, so., G; Shantell Humpherys, Bear Lake, 5-11, sr., F.
SECOND TEAM -- Amanda Seeling, Kellogg, 6-2, jr., C; Alex Pfefferle, Kimberly, 5-10, so., W; Kylee Nawahine, Fruitland, 5-11, jr., P; Erika James, Bear Lake, 5-7, sr., G/F; Kayla Hutcheson, Kimberly, 5-11, sr., F.
2A
FIRST TEAM -- Morgan Vander Esch, Grangeville, 5-9, sr., F (Player of the Year); Kristen Garlie, Challis, 5-9, jr., G; Abbie Beutler, West Side, 5-6, sr., G; Ciciley Fox, Challis, 6-0, sr., P; Marianne Schiess, Firth, 5-10, sr., F.
SECOND TEAM -- Shiann Dreadfulwater, Grangeville, 5-7, jr., G; Jaci Landcaster, Wendell, 5-4, jr., G; Taylor Anderson, Soda Springs, 5-11, sr., C; Sienna Edmunson, New Plymouth, 5-8, so., G; Kendra Schwulst, Soda Springs, 5-7, sr., G.
1A
FIRST TEAM -- Nicole Harper, Raft River, 5-8, sr., PG (Player of the Year); Jordan Udy, Genesee, 5-4, sr., G; Sally Hansen, Raft River, 5-8, jr., G; Jesse Dill, Dietrich, 5-11, jr., W; Lacey Jones, Garden Valley, 5-9, jr., G.
SECOND TEAM -- Nellie McGlashen, Cascade, 5-8, sr., G; Lexi Renfro, Garden Valley, 5-4, sr., G; Michelle Kent, Richfield, 5-8, jr., G; Morgan Jo Wolff, Kendrick, 5-7, jr., G; Sarah Smith, Kendrick, 5-9, sr., F.
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CURIOUS wrote on Mar 29, 2008 10:19 AM:
Snake Plisskon wrote on Mar 27, 2008 10:31 PM:
You are WRONG! The Idaho Statesman sends out ballots to coaches in late February and they nominate players to make the team. The vote does take place after the state tournaments and as a result those who make it to state probably do have a better chance to make one of the squads. There is not a lot of politicking going on. The Idaho Statesman adds up the votes and the leading vote getters make one of the two teams. Why is it that when somebody doesn't make an all-state team or an all-conference team it is due to politics??? Why is politics always the reason when some kid gets cut or doesn't play much? Coaches are the ones that monitor work ethic. They are around the kids more than parents and fans. Wouldn't they typically know who should make the team or who should play or who should make the all-state team. I guess it is always because of politics for people who come up short in life. Politics, politics, politics it is always about politics. "
curious wrote on Mar 27, 2008 5:35 PM:
Player of the Year wrote on Mar 27, 2008 2:19 PM:
curious wrote on Mar 27, 2008 10:32 AM:
Snake Plissken wrote on Mar 29, 2008 12:47 PM:
You are implying (twice) that the players with the best stats should win the MVP. In my humble opinion that is ridiculous. The MVP is for the person who is the most VALUABLE. Are you saying that a person who plays on a team with inferior talent who blasts up a lot of shots and scores a lot of points should win the MVP? Sounds like that is what you are saying. The MVP should go to the person who is most VALUABLE to his or her team. They are players who stuff the stat sheets in a variety of areas. They are players who MAKE THEIR TEAMATES better. The players with the best stats don't necessarily do these things. Plus, you haven't taken into account the stat taking process. It wouldn't be too hard for a coach to pad stats or make them up for that matter. With all this being said, it is very hard for coaches statewide to choose an MVP for their respective classes. Northern coaches do not get to see the southern players and vice versa. Basically, the coaches in Idaho select 10 players (5 first teamers and 5 second teamers) and the Idaho Statesmen collects the ballots and adds them up. Not a lot of politicking goes on to my knowledge. I have been coaching in Northern Idaho for over 15 years and this is how it is done. In conclusion, I'd like to reiterate that the players with the best stats don't automatically become MVP's and nor should they. "