SANDPOINT — A host of key players are trading football cleats for basketball sneakers, and that right soon, as the Bulldog boys basketball team tips off the season tonight at the Pendleton Tournament. 

A deep playoff run for the football team means a quick turnaround (jumper) into hoops for many of the Bulldogs, including senior 6-3 point guard Davan Norris. Norris showed the ability to score in bunches last season, ringing up 47 points and dropping 15 three pointers in a pair of games against 5A Lake City, and will be called upon to carry much of the scoring load this season.

“Davan is our best scorer, best shooter, best playmaker. He’s our go-to player. When he gets rolling, he can shoot,” described second year Sandpoint head coach Kent Leiss. We’re working at getting a second or third player to be a double digit scorers.”

The two players Leiss is hoping can step up offensively are 6-5 senior post Carlos Collado and 6-3 sophomore wing Robbie Johnson. Leiss is hoping Collado can become a stronger finisher on the blocks, and after raising his game in the district tournament last year, could be primed for a strong year.

Leiss believes Johnson could be ready for a breakout as the season progresses.

“Robbie is so athletic. He’s 6-3, with long arms, and he’s active,” described Leiss. “I think he can be a scorer. We’re looking for big things from him.”

Returning starter Paul Sundquist, like the three aforementioned players, is another of the football players who will forge the identity of the basketball team. He’s got a strong jump hook on the blocks, and loves to bang in the paint.

Leiss calls Sundquist a leader, a hard-nosed player who loves to compete. Sundquist, who said basketball conditioning and football conditioning are two different animals altogether, feels the team has what it takes to make it to the state tournament.

“That’s not out of the question. We’re not the most skilled offensively, but we can make up for that by playing hard,” said Sundquist, citing what he sees as the team’s strength. “Physicality, we’re football players. We’ve got to be tough, get a lot of boards.”

Junior guards Mathew Curtiss and Spencer Thompson, and 6-3 sophomore Jack Reeves will provide a shooting threat from the perimeter, as the Bulldogs will look to employ a swing offense, similar to what Bo Ryan runs at Wisconsin, with lots of screening and cutting, and more structure than last season.

“They’re all young and green,” says Leiss of the trio, all new to varsity. “It may not be pretty for a while, but down the road we’ll be O.K.”

Junior Taran McLaughlin and sophomore T.J. Davis give the Bulldogs a pair of long posts on the blocks, and along with senior Kyle Perry, provide the Bulldogs with a deep rotation that will see plenty of action as Leiss prefers to pressure often and sub in waves.

“Defense was our strong suit last year, we allowed 41 and 38 in the playoffs,” said Leiss. “My trademark is that we always play hard and with intensity, regardless of talent. That should always be a given.”

Leiss expects some growing pains early, with a host of new varsity players and the football players finding their groove, but feels the team will be ready when the all-important district portion of the schedule arrives.

“I’m concerned about the first couple of weeks. Once we get into January and February, I think we’ll be fine,” he said. “We’ll play hard, defend, rebound. That will be a strength, with the young kids improving. We absolutely hope to go to state.”