An early 'tournament of champs'

It's called the Inland Cellular Shootout, but the four-team girls' basketball gathering that will be staged tonight and Saturday at Booth Hall could be thought of as a tournament of champions.

Lewiston, Grangeville and Lapwai all claimed state titles in their respective classifications in February, and they'll get their 2011-12 seasons under way this evening at the Bengals' gym.

That trio will be joined by Moscow, which claimed the consolation crown in the 4A tournament.

"I'm thrilled with it, especially early in the year," Lewiston coach Pat Teichmer said of the tournament. "When you look on paper with what happened last year, this is a pretty amazing tournament, obviously."

Lapwai and Grangeville will play in the opener at 5 p.m. today, followed by Lewiston against Moscow at approximately 7. The matchups on Saturday will be the Wildcats meeting the Bears and the Bulldogs facing the Bengals.

Of course, these aren't the exact same clubs that had so much success at State last year. As Teichmer put it, "all of us are a little bit on the rebuilding side."

Grangeville, the 2A champ, gets noticeably young after its three seniors and could be challenged in the Central Idaho League for the first time in a decade by a strong Kamiah club. Lapwai, the 1A Division I winner, lost versatile senior Katherine Samuels but does have back two-time Player of the Year Natahnee Spencer.

As for the Bengals - who won their first championship since 1976 - they're moving on without last year's top two scorers, Tanis Fuller and Savannah Blinn. They do have back starters Chelsea Waters, Tisha Phillips and Karlee Wilson, and Teichmer likes the stratification of the roster - there are four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and two freshmen.

"We're going to definitely miss Tanis Fuller and Savannah Blinn - two amazing kids - but we're going to put other kids on the floor that have really good skills and could turn out to be amazing kids also," the eighth-year coach said. "We're not disappointed with our team this year, and, as we look down the road, I think we should be competitive for a few more years."

Lewiston will likely get its greatest challenge from Coeur d'Alene, the rival the Bengals have faced in each of the last two state title games. The Vikings are ranked No. 1 in the 5A state media poll while the Bengals are No. 2 - despite Lewiston's 3-0 record against Coeur d'Alene last year.

"Our kids are aware of (the poll)," Teichmer said. "How many times in a row do we have to beat them until we get respect, is kind of our thought. But we're fine with that - it really matters at the end of the year."

The Bengals and Vikings will play for the first time on Nov. 29 at Lewiston.

Besides Lewiston, Grangeville and Lapwai, the only other defending girls' basketball champion in the Tribune's circulation area is Colton, which will be gunning for its fourth consecutive Washington Class 1B title. The Wildcats open their season Dec. 3 at home against Grangeville.

- Matt Baney