Coeur d'Alene, which finished third in the state in 5A last year, opens its girls basketball season vs. three teams from the 4A Inland Empire League.

Then the schedule gets a lot tougher.

For the third straight year, the Vikings are headed to the Nike Northwest Invitational in Beaverton, Ore., for three games.

Then comes nonleague games vs. Chiawana of Pasco, Wash., Mead and Shadle Park.

The girls' portion of the Coeur d'Alene Inn-vitational at North Idaho College is no longer, so the Vikings lined up Highland of Pocatello, Lake Stevens (Wash.), South Kamloops (British Columbia) and Kentwood (Kent, Wash.) to come in over the Christmas holidays. The Viks also have an early January date with Lewis and Clark of Spokane.

"We've got a pretty tough schedule," Coeur d'Alene coach Dale Poffenroth said.

Lake City heads to the Juanita Challenge in Seattle over the holidays, to face Monroe, Kamiak and Cascade.

Post Falls will also play host to Highland, then play three games at the Archbishop Murphy Christmas Tournament in Everett, Wash.

Coeur d'Alene, Lake City, Post Falls, Lakeside and Timberlake all open their girls basketball seasons tonight.

Coeur d'Alene plays host to Moscow, Lake City travels to Lakeland, Post Falls visits Sandpoint and Lakeside is home vs. Lapwai, all at 7 p.m. Timberlake hosts Wallace at 7:30.

Here are brief looks at the teams opening tonight. All area high school and North Idaho College winter sports teams will be covered in the Press' annual winter sports special section, scheduled for insertion in the Saturday, Nov. 24 paper.

Coeur d'Alene: The Vikings lost two key guards (Erin Legel and Kyeli Parker) off last season's 20-3 squad. But back with experience are senior guard Caelyn Orlandi, junior guards Madison Sumner and Sydni Parker, senior forward Kendalyn Brainard and junior forward Sydney Williams.

Poffenroth also said Brittany Tackett, a junior forward who can play inside and outside, is much improved.

"There's more than one person capable of scoring," Poffenroth said.

Lake City: Junior Hailey Jackson moves to point guard this year for the Timberwolves, who went 10-12 last season. But first-year coach Bryan Kelly said sophomore JaeCie Wilson will get some time at the point as well, to give Jackson a better opportunity to score.

Other varsity returnees include senior forward Amber Hawkes, sophomore guard Natalie Wheelock and senior guard Kassie Torres. Junior post Madi Farrell returns after missing last year's basketball season with a torn ACL suffered the previous summer.

"We have a lot of athletic girls," said Kelly, who took over the week before practice began when Royce Johnston resigned after four seasons. "I think we can pressure some teams and make something happen."

Post Falls: The Trojans, 12-10 last year, already figured to be tough with three returning senior starters in guard Brooke Litalien, forward Dani Failor and point guard Katie King.

But the Trojans also added a first-team all-Greater Spokane League and second-team all-state selection last year in senior Hallie Gennett, a transfer from University High.

"She just gives us another scoring threat," second-year Post Falls coach Marc Allert said. "She's going to spread the floor more for us. She's a tough matchup because she can play inside or outside. For the offense we run, she fits in perfectly."

Timberlake: Kara Wenstrom and Kelly Madsen graduated from last year's 15-11 squad that made a surprising run to the state 3A title game before falling to Marsh Valley.

Back are senior guards Sydnie Malloy and Ashly George, senior post Cheyenne Gibson, senior forward Jenna Hoffman and junior post Jessica Norlander.

"We're going to have to learn how to score - we're not going to be able to pitch shutouts," Timberlake coach Matt Miller said. "We lost a lot of offense just in general, so we need everybody to chip in more."

Lakeside: Stacey Sonder, who formerly coached the Lakeside boys team, takes over as coach of the Lakeside girls. He replaces Ron Miller, who resigned after nearly a quarter-century of coaching girls at Lakeside - and before that, at Plummer High.

"I'm really excited to be back coaching - more excited than the first time," Sonder said.

Lakeside, 9-10 last year, returns quite a bit of experience in junior guards Francine Hendrickx, Kim Duncan-Hall and Avery Brown-Sonder, Stacey's daughter. Sonder said Hendrickx and Brown-Sonder are recovered from torn ACLs suffered during last year's season. Also back are seniors Brianna Louie and Ruth Haynes, and junior Christian Nilson.