Last season: 14-12 (6-3 in 6A/5A IEL), 5A District 1-2 Champions; 0-2 at 5A State Championship

Coaches: Madi Schoening ('16), head coach, first year; Joe Fata, varsity assistant coach; Carly DeNeui, junior varsity head coach; Bobby Griffin, JV2 head coach.

Key returners: Jordyn Tomco, SF, jr.; Brecken Mire, PG/SG, jr.; Livia Driggs, PG/SG, jr.; Mia Driggs, PF, sr.; Jetta Thaete, PF/C, sr.; Carly Laybourne, PG/SG, jr.

Key newcomers: Willow Betz, SF/PF, so.; Jaylah Butler, SG, jr.; Jasmin Laing, G, sr.

Key losses to graduation: Demi Driggs, SG/SF; Aubrey Knowles, PG; Chloe Laybourne, SF.

Outlook: Being able to recapture the 5A District 1-2 title last season, even when short-handed at times, was the highlight of and up-and-down 2024-2025 campaign for the Lady Bulldogs, which are seeking their first state playoff win since claiming the first state title in school history in 2023.

Leading the charge will be a trio of juniors and now three-year varsity players Jordyn Tomco, Brecken Mire, and Livia Driggs. Tomco, an All-Inland Empire League selection who had a 19-point performance in the team's early-season win over Bonners Ferry, isn't afraid to take it to the dish — and her 5-foot-10-inch stature gives her a nice edge on the glass. A season ago, she averaged 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and nailed a team-high 41 triples. Mire, an All-State and All-Inland Empire League selection a year ago who scored 15 points in the team's season-opening win over Post Falls, is about as nifty as they come in terms of ball control and court awareness. Receiving heavy collegiate interest, she tallied 15 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocks during the 2024-2025 campaign and was gritty when things got tough. Driggs, who put up a 13-point, 8-rebound performance in the victory over Bonners Ferry, has come a long way since seeing some varsity time as a freshman. A year ago, she tallied 7.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.0 steals and hit 37 three-pointers — a number set to rise as she's already hit four shots from beyond the arc in the early going.

Watch out for Mia Driggs, Jetta Thaete, and Willow Betz to play increased minutes and expanded roles this season. The three provide some much-needed size underneath the hoop and have some shifty footwork. Betz, just a sophomore, missed her freshman year with a shoulder injury, but is back to full form. She's a player that former head coach Will Love said had the potential be the league's Newcomer of the Year last season, an honor she would still be eligible for with a breakthrough year. Juniors Carly Laybourne, Jaylah Butler, and senior Jasmin Laing, who is new to the team from Colorado, have also seen the court across the first two games of the season — as have juniors Sienna Todd-Murray and Summer Loutzenhiser.

As for the regular season schedule, the Lady Bulldogs will head to the TitleOne Tip-Off Classic in mid-December where they'll see teams such as Hillcrest, Kimberly, Twin Falls, Borah, Mountain Home, Burley and Bishop Kelly in a two-day event at the Mountain America Center. Sandpoint will also take on three new Greater Spokane League teams this season, in addition to their regularly scheduled matchup with University. Lewis & Clark and Central Valley are on the docket as part of the West Valley Holiday Tournament and Mount Spokane is scheduled for the following week.

Coach's comments:

"On the defensive side we'll be more up-tempo and high-pressure. I feel like we've made up a lot of ground on things to start the season, especially after watching our first two games on film. It's really starting to click for them." — Coach Madi Schoening on implementing and building a "team-minded" and effective defense

"One thing I have noticed is how much they have grown, and how much stronger they've gotten this offseason. We have a really experienced program in general, but those three bringing back what they've learned over the past couple of years and building on that is really nice. They have a lot of confidence in themselves and each other. They're really the heartbeat of the team in terms of bringing up the energy and making sure we're focused on and off the court. I've been impressed with how they came into the season ready to go." — Coach Madi Schoening on standout juniors Brecken Mire, Jordyn Tomco and Livia Driggs

"She played all summer with us and really started coming out of her shell. It's going to take some time to figure where she fits on the floor with those three juniors — both playing with them and knowing when to get her own too. She's a threat both inside and out." — Coach Madi Schoening on Willow Betz

"When you look at her career, from freshman year to now, she's stuck through some really challenging years. She's a workhorse and really wants to do best by the team, and she's takes a lot of pride in that. We have been leaning in to her a lot this year and it's been really fun. In both games so far this season, we took her out for a short break, and she immediately came back in and made a massively positive play. She brings a lot of spark to the team." — Coach Madi Schoening on Jetta Thaete

"This group will be a forced to be reckoned with because they're tight-knit. They're really good friends; they hang out all of the time. They're pretty competitive, and bring it to practice, but they can walk up the floor and be friends. It's been a neat dynamic seeing how hard they'll play for and with each other. They hold each other accountable and love each other through it. I think we'll be a hard team to beat if we hold true to all of that." — Coach Madi Schoening on the team atmosphere

Sandpoint Girls Basketball Schedule

11/18 — vs. Post Falls, 7 p.m.

11/21 — at Bonners Ferry, 7 p.m.

12/2 — vs. Moscow, 7 p.m.

12/5 — at University, 7 p.m.

12/9 — vs. Timberlake, 7 p.m.

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

12/16 — vs. West Valley, 5:30 p.m.

12/18 — at Timberlake, 7 p.m.

12/20 — at Lake City, 7 p.m.

12/27 — at Lewis & Clark, 6:30 p.m. (West Valley)

12/29 — at Central Valley, 6:30 p.m. (West Valley)

1/3 — at Mount Spokane, TBA

1/6 — vs. Lakeland, 7 p.m.

1/8 — at Moscow, 7 p.m.

1/13 — vs. Coeur d'Alene, 7 p.m.

1/16 — at Lakeland, 5:30 p.m.

1/23 — vs. Lewiston, 7 p.m.

1/27 — vs. Lake City, 7 p.m.

2/3 — at Lewiston, 7 p.m.

2024 RESULTS

11/16 — vs. Bonners Ferry, W 68-34

11/19 — at Post Falls, W 62-48

12/3 — at Moscow, W 40-32

12/5 — at Timberlake, L 55-35

12/10 — at Coeur d'Alene, L 76-55

12/16 — at West Valley, W 54-31

12/21 — vs. University, W 64-54

12/27 — at Kennewick, L 63-53

12/28 — at Royal, W 45-29

1/2 — at Shelley, L 55-35

1/3 — at Hillcrest, L 44-39

1/4 — at Skyline, L 60-47

1/7 — at Lakeland, L 60-50

1/9 — vs. Moscow, W 55-37

1/11 — vs. Ridgeline, L 45-44

1/14 — vs. Coeur d'Alene, L 62-40

1/17 — vs. Lakeland, L 49-41

1/21 — vs. Timberlake, W 36-31

1/24 — at Lewiston, W 57-35

1/28 — at Lake City, W 54-37

2/4 — vs. Lewiston, W 56-43

2/7 — vs. Lewiston, W 65-63

2/11 — vs. Lakeland, W 44-42

2/13 — vs. Lakeland, W 59-50

2/20 — vs. Middleton, L 75-35

2/21 — vs. Jerome, L 50-35

    Sandpoint High junior guard Carly Laybourne attempts a finger roll layup during a 5A District 1-2 game against Lewiston last season.