Last season: 11-12 (5-3 in 6A/5A IEL), 5A District 1-2 Runner-ups

Coaches: William Love (95'), head coach, first year; Chris Taylor, head junior varsity coach and assistant coach; Matt Majors, head JV2 coach and assistant coach; Jacob Schultz, assistant coach; Derrick Hagstrom, assistant coach.

Key returners: Knox Williams, PG, jr.; Logan Iverson, SG/SF, jr.; Brock Yarbrough, SG, jr; Derrick Chamberlain, C, jr.; Logan Roos, SG/F, sr.; Caiden Gion, PF, sr.; Kingston Corbett, C, sr.

Key newcomers: Tyler Weisz, SF, sr.; Dallen Williams, G/F, sr.; Coleman Inge, G/F, sr.

Key losses to graduation: Wil Leisy, SG; Emerik Jones, SG/F; Rece Wolff, C, sr.

Outlook: Will Love has officially taken over as head coach, and he wants to put together the pieces that will build Bulldog hoops into a perennial contender at the state level. The program has seen a rise in success across the last two seasons, but a runner-up finish a year ago after winning the district title during the 2023-2024 campaign has Sandpoint searching for more.

Logan Roos, an all-league selection a season ago standing a 6 feet 6 inches tall, is expected to lead a strong core of seasoned returners. The high-flying senior, Roos, who averaged 9.2 points per game last year, is a threat inside, but also makes opposing team's pay when he's hot from behind the three-point line. Knox Williams, a junior and now three-year varsity player, is primed for a breakthrough year at the point guard position while junior Derrick Chamberlain, also a three-year varsity player and standing at 6 feet 7 inches tall, is looking to shake off an injury that hindered his sophomore campaign. Williams plays a high-IQ brand of basketball and Chamberlain, with his great footwork in and around the rim, is typically a benefactor of that play.

Look out for junior Brock Yarbrough and senior Caiden Gion, coming off spectacular seasons of football and soccer, respectively, to see their roles expanded. The same goes for junior Logan Iverson and senior Kingston Corbett. Senior Tyler Weisz, who saw some time at the varsity level last year, will see an uptick in minutes after bettering his game this summer. Dallen Williams and Coleman Inge, both seniors, are new to the team this season and will really help with depth when it comes to the style of offense and defense the Bulldogs want to play this year.

As for the schedule, the Bulldogs will head to the TitleOne Tip-Off Classic where they'll see teams such as Coeur d’Alene, Shelley, Century, Boise, Star Valley of Wyoming, Vallivue and Hillcrest at the two-day event at the Mountain America Center. Sandpoint will also travel to Eastmont and Wenatchee High for the GESA Winter Shootout, where they'll see some of Washington's best across the three-day tournament. New to the non-league slate is Lewis & Clark of the Greater Spokane League, which finished 5-19 last season but returns nearly their entire starting lineup.

Coach's comments:

"We had a really good summer in regards to introducing the ways in which we go about things. It's one of those things where you have to be meeting regularly for it to really work. I'm really pleased by the effort from all the kids in the program. Excited to see us go through the process throughout the year. " — Coach Will Love on the conceptual nature of his offensive and defensive schemes

"I wanted to carry over the scheduling philosophy of facing some of the better teams in Idaho and get us in a tournament mindset. Getting playing experience in an Arena (TitleOne Tip-Off Classic), which ultimately, if we're going to compete for a state title, you have to win games in an arena. Heading over to Wenatchee (2025-2026 GESA Winter Shootout) and facing some teams we don't know a whole lot about will also provide a great tournament feel." — Coach Will Love on getting ready for postseason tournament play

"We return a lot of experience, and for some of them, that includes playing at state a few years ago. Lots of our kids play other sports and I think that all bodes well in regard to the competitive aspect of playing at the 5A level... and competing against the 6A's. I think with these guys, with what we've done during the summer, including scrimmages and camps, we'll have a group that can get on the floor and compete with the 6A IEL." — Coach Will Love on the competitiveness of his squad

"We really want to focus on building on our legacy and making this a program where people are very involved. The mission is to be the best program on and off the court at the 5A level. It's going to take a lot of work, and we'll need to understand how much the off-the-court stuff plays a role in our success." — Coach Will Love on building year-over-year success within the program

Sandpoint Boys Basketball Schedule

11/29 — vs. Bonners Ferry, 7 p.m.

12/2 — at Lewis & Clark, 7 p.m.

12/4 — vs. St. Maries, 6:30 p.m.

12/11-12/13 — at TitleOne Tip-Off Classic (Idaho Falls)

12/16 — vs. West Valley, 7 p.m.

12/18 — vs. Priest River, 7 p.m.

1/1-1/3 — at 2025-2026 GESA Winter Shootout (Eastmont and Wenatchee)

1/6 — at Priest River, 7 p.m.

1/16 — at Lakeland, 7 p.m.

1/23 — vs. Lewiston, 5:30 p.m.

1/27 — at Post Falls, 7 p.m.

1/29 — vs. Coeur d'Alene, 7 p.m.

1/31 — vs. Moscow, 3 p.m.

2/5 — at Coeur d'Alene, 7 p.m.

2/11 — at Lake City, 7 p.m.

2/13 — vs. Lakeland, 5:30 p.m.

2/14 — at Moscow, 7 p.m.

2/17 — at Lewiston, 5:30 p.m.

2024 RESULTS

11/30 — at Bonners Ferry, L 80-44

12/7 — vs. Kendrick, L 46-39

12/16 — at West Valley, L 49-43

12/18 — vs. Post Falls, L 61-39

12/20 — vs. Priest River, W 80-49

12/27 — at Prosser, L 63-45

12/28 — vs. Rocky River, L 61-58

12/30 — vs. Whitney, L 66-41

1/6 — at Priest River, W 59-46

1/11 — vs. Ridgeline, W 77-65

1/14 — at St. Maries, W 58-38

1/17 — vs. Lakeland, W 51-49

1/24 — at Lewiston, L 72-47

1/28 — vs. Moscow, W 62-42

2/6 — vs. St. Maries, W 63-51

2/8 — at Moscow, W 59-45

2/10 — vs. Coeur d'Alene, L 60-44

2/12 — vs. Lake City, L 60-27

2/14 — at Lakeland, W 50-42

2/18 — vs. Lewiston, W 46-43

2/21 — vs. Lakeland, W 53-51

2/25 — at Lewiston, L 66-45

2/27 — at Lewiston, L 69-55

    Sandpoint High junior guard Knox Williams fights through contact and scores during a regular season home game against St. Maries last season.