Last season: 12-9 

Players: Alexys Mierke, sr.; Hallie Thomson, sr.; Taren Bateman, jr.; Frankie Johnson, jr.; Nolie Hiatt, jr.; Eva Willis, jr.; Brooklyn Hubbard, so.; Kayli Petersen, so.; Jaycee Bateman, fr.; Bristol Hill, fr.; Emmy Winkelseth, fr.; Clementine Warden, fr. 

Coaches: Tomi Bateman, head coach, first year; Sarah Petersen, assistant coach to varsity and junior varsity teams; Jed Bateman, assistant coach to varsity and junior varsity teams.  

Departures to graduation: Brooke Petesch, Sydney Hinthorn 

Outlook: Head Coach Tomi Bateman will aim to put Bonners Ferry into the state playoffs at the end of the season. The team has lost two players from last year but has the talent to improve on last year’s 12-9 record. 

So far, the team is 1-2, with two hard-fought losses at home to start the season before a 69-46 win over East Valley in Spokane gave the Badgers their first victory of the season. 

One player to watch is junior Taren Bateman, who averaged 17.9 points last season on 48% shooting, averaging over one point a shot. She also had 5.2 steals, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game as a sophomore. This season, Bateman is averaging 19 ppg on 45% shooting, with 5.7 steals and 3.7 blocks per game.  

Nolie Hiatt, a junior, has shown significant improvement this season to emerge as one of the best players for the Badgers. Last season, Hiatt averaged 6.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. In two games this season, she has 9.7 ppg and nine rebounds per game, the highest so far for Bonners Ferry. She also has 2.7 steals per game to go with only 1.7 turnovers.    

Senior Alexys Mierke, Inter Mountain League MVP this season in soccer, will be an important piece for the Badgers as a guard with stamina and defensive prowess. Last season, Mierke averaged 3.4 steals per game and has the highest three-point percentage at this point. She is one of two seniors this season for the Badgers. 

Senior Hallie Thomson has been efficient and effective in the season’s first three games. She has averaged 3.3 ppg in 7.7 minutes per game at 45% shooting, the second best on the team. The team’s tallest player, Thomson has recorded 2.3 rebounds per game.    

Junior Eva Willis continues to be a force, especially on the glass. She has five rebounds per game, with almost half of them being offensive boards. Last season, she led the team with 5.9 rebounds per game, 2.9 of them offensive. 

Freshman Bristol Hill burst onto the scene in Bonners Ferry’s first two games, averaging 7.5 points with three three-pointers, most on the team at that point. She also has two rebounds, two assists and two steals per game.  

Freshman Jaycee Bateman has been a workhorse to start the season, leading the team in minutes played with 29.3 per game. She is third on the team, averaging 6.3 points per game and has been able to limit turnovers despite having control of the ball often. 

For the upcoming season, league matches against Timberlake will be crucial. Last season, the Tigers were ranked 11 in Idaho, with a 21-4 record. The Badgers play Timberlake at home on Jan. 17 and on the road on Feb. 3, in games that will determine if Bonners Ferry plays in state. 

Coach’s comments: 

“I’m just most excited for all the growth that is going to happen this season,” Head Coach Tomi Bateman said. “The girls are excited and working hard and I’m excited to see where we’re at, at the end of the season when it matters.” 

Bateman said the team can improve on defense and staying composed under pressure, but she believes they have the ability to do so. 

“I think the girls have the desire and the fire that they need,” Bateman said. “We’ve just got to work on positioning and where we need to be at the right time. 

Bateman emphasized that the team’s focus this season is on having a positive environment that will allow the team to succeed. 

“I just want the girls to be happy and excited to be in the gym,” Bateman said. “That is most likely going to be achieved when the girls are being good to each other.” 

“This year, we’re trying to have the focus be that kindness is strength. We’re trying to really help the girls to realize that how we treat each other, that’s the most important thing because that’s something that we can control.” 

Bonners Ferry Girls Basketball Schedule   

11/20 — vs. Lakeside, L 50-41  
11/21 — vs. Sandpoint, L 54-41
12/2— at East Valley, 7 p.m.
12/5 — at Moscow, 6:30 p.m.
12/6 — vs. Stillwater Christian, 2:30 p.m.
12/11 — vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m.
12/15 — vs. Moscow, 6:30 p.m.
12/16 — at Colville, 7:15 p.m.
12/18 — vs. Deer Park, 6:30 p.m.
12/29 — vs. Reardan, TBA
12/30 — vs. Reardan, TBA
1/7 — at Lakeside, 7 p.m.
1/10 — at Stillwater Christian, TBA
1/12 — vs. Kellogg, 7 p.m.
1/17 — vs. Timberlake, 2 p.m.
1/23 — vs. Colville, 7:15 p.m.
1/24 — vs. Flathead Valley, 4:30 p.m.
2/3 — at Timberlake, 7 p.m.
2/5 — at Kellogg, 7 p.m.
2/7 — at Flathead Valley, 7 p.m. 

2024-25 RESULTS 

11/16 — at Sandpoint, L 68-34
11/18 — at Moscow, L 67-46
11/22 — vs. Genesis Prep Academy, W 60-33
11/23 — vs. Kellogg, W 49-21
12/5 — vs. East Valley, W 53-30
12/6 — vs. Moscow, L 55-38
12/7 — vs. Stillwater Christian, W 64-33
12/12 — at Lakeland, L 58-42
12/17 — at St. Maries, W 61-24
12/20 — vs. Flathead Valley, W 59-50
12/27 — vs. Lakeside, W 57-51
12/28 — at Reardan, L 59-53
1/4 — vs. Thompson Falls, L 61-57
1/7 — vs. Libby, W 48-31
1/10 — at Stillwater Christian, W 64-47
1/18 — at Timberlake, L 63-24
1/22 — vs. St. Maries, W 80-47
1/30 — vs. Lakeside, W 78-75
1/31 — at Genesis Prep Academy, W 58-23
2/4 — vs. Timberlake, L 62-24
2/10 — at Timberlake, L 57-16 

    Junior Eva Willis looks to pass the ball against Lakeside.
  

    Junior Nolie Hiatt shoots a three-pointer against Sandpoint.