YOUNG VETERANS

The Plains Trotters look young if you take a look at their roster, but a lot of these Trotters already have some basketball chops, and have been around the game awhile now.

“On paper we look pretty young but most of these girls played a lot last year,” coach Eddie Fultz said. “We are actually fairly experienced, and I think you will see that pay off for us a little this season.”

Sophomore Kimmy Curry, who was somehow left off the District 14C all-conference team last winter after an impressive freshman season, is the Trotters’ floor leader and a proven offensive threat.

“Kimmy knows how to get to the rim,” Fultz said. “She led the team in minutes played last year and has definitely improved over the off season. Fortunately some of the other girls have also improved and that should take some pressure off her to make something happen all the time.”

The Trotters do have some rather large shoes to fill as post player Kylee Altmiller, Plains’ only 14C all-conference pick (she was also named to the All-State C team) graduated off of last year’s squad.

Kaylee Cole is the only senior returnee for the veteran Trotters this season, Kaylah Standeford, Lexa Craft, Grace Horton, Genna Deschamps, Celsey VonHeeder, Tianna McGonagle and Krystena Boes are the juniors, and Curry and Carlie Wagoner the sophomores. Junior Madison Elliott and senior Chloe French round out the current varsity roster.

Fultz says he can build two different five-player rotations with the depth Plains enjoys this season, and plans on some platoon-like substitutions to test that theory.

Fultz is hoping that COVID-19 does not affect the season more than it already has.

“We have already had three girls test positive earlier and we have had several miss practices either because of that or quarantine rules,” he said. “It seems like new challenges keep popping up as we go, kind of like it went during football season.”

Also the football coach at Plains, Fultz just completed navigating a high school sports team through a pandemic on another field of play. He thinks the Trotters have been as vigilant as possible in their dealings with COVID.

“Our team has been super-good about following the rules and trying to avoid problems,” he said. “I don’t know if we will be able to go the entire season without something happening, but I guess we will see about that.”

Jaron Laws returns to assist Fultz with the varsity and to coach the Trotter JV. Laws, a Thompson Falls grad, is the son of Thompson Falls Lady Hawk coach Chadd Laws.

As for the upcoming District 14C conference race, Fultz sees Charlo being the favorite with a bunch of talented teams – including his Trotters – nipping at the Lady Vikings’ heels.

“Charlo is loaded again but everyone else looks to have improved,” he said. “It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.”