Basketball X-MAS Tournament

– By Anna Ratcliff –

Newport High School: the gymnasium is packed with eager spectators riled up with excitement. KUBS FM always prepares to broadcast the upcoming event via 91.5 FM on the radio or Channel 9 on Concept Cable from atop the mezzanine. The band quickly warms up in the bleachers for an eventful night and the smell of Westside Pizza fills the room as it is delivered to the concessions stand. All of this could mean only one thing for Newport High School: the Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams are preparing for another night of scoring and making the crowd go wild.

Basketball season has started in Newport High School. So far, the Girls Varsity team has a 5-0 lead while the Boys Varsity Team is 4-1 in the season. With the annual Christmas Tournament in Priest River, ID on Saturday, December 17th, the teams need to be on their guard as they face off against teams from around the area. The outcome of each game will determine what time both teams will play the following day.

This year, the Girls Varsity Basketball Team has managed to win the first five games of the season, giving them a 5-0 lead. Key members of the team include Seniors Taylor Lewis (10), Miranda Fredrick (22), Madi Young (24), Alex Newcomb (40), and Junior Courtney Wiese (14). “Every year the Christmas tournament has been really fun so I am really excited to play.” Taylor Lewis said right before the tournament. During the Christmas Tournament, the girls will go head-to-head against the Post Falls Junior Varsity team at Priest River beginning at 2:30 PM. “Well, even though we’re playing Post Falls JV,” Miranda Fredrick commented about their first game in the tournament, “we need to remember that they are a 5A school so their JV team could be decent. They can bring as many varsity people as they want. We need to be prepared for anything.”

For the boy’s Varsity Basketball Team, they are standing at 4-1 in the season, losing only to Deer Park 60-69. Key players for the boys include Seniors Keith Coulson (23), Travis Martin (34), Jake Wiley (40), Spencer Douglas (55) and Sophomore Jeron Konkright (10). “It has always been very beneficial,” mentioned Travis Martin, looking back on the previous games the boys had played. “We’re a family and work great together.” At 4:15 PM, the boys will face off against the Orofino Varsity at Priest River during the Christmas Tournament. “We definitely rely on Jeron Konkright to run our offense and Travis Martin to be a lock-up defender,” Jake Wiley mentioned when asked who to rely on during a game.

As the countdown to the Christmas break quickly rounds down, so does the upcoming of the exciting tournament game. The Basketball teams will leave from Newport on Friday, December 16th to travel to their rival city of Priest River for the competition. One thing that Fredrick, Lewis, Martin, and Wiley had in common when asked about what they were looking forward to was, “The trophy!”

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