There's a question every team must answer heading into a season: What's our identity? 

That answer is key for sports teams as they battle through a season, but it's one that can be difficult to find, especially in cases like Clark Fork's girls basketball. The Lady Wampus Cats have no seniors, only two juniors, two sophomores and six freshmen who are set to make an impact. 

However, Clark Fork head coach Chris Cavanaugh quickly had an answer to the identity question. 

"We're just going to be relentless defensively. It's just going to be nonstop pressure on the ball, jumping passes," Cavanaugh said. "When people think of Clark Fork basketball, it's tough. They don't give up, even when things don't go well... we never quit. They are just going to be relentless." 

The two Wampus Cats leading that unending charge will be juniors Gracie Stevens and Eylssa Raynor, both returners from last season. Cavanaugh said Stevens provides a steady scoring hand and positional flexibility in addition to the toughness needed to play at the varsity level. 

Raynor, who Cavanaugh described as an energizer bunny, will set the tone for the Wampus Cats defensively with her high-energy on-ball defense. 

"Somebody scores on her like two or three times in a row, she doesn't care. It's on to the next play," Cavanaugh said of Raynor. "She just really sets the tone on the ball defensively. So, we're super excited for her to take the next step there." 

Clark Fork's lone returning all-league honoree from last season, sophomore Vanessa Rogier, will return to the lineup to provide an offensive punch to the lineup. She'll be joined by fellow volleyball star Kiylah Anderson, who will serve as one of Clark Fork's top post presences in 2026. 

Anderson will look to fill the role left by senior center Priscilla Mayorga on offense and will look to partner with Rogier on the half of the floor. Rogier projects as the team's best player on both sides of the court with an ability to score and grab rebounds. 

"She's really going to have to step up," Cavanaugh said. "It's probably going to be a lot of her doing the heavy lifting, especially early in the season, as the freshmen start to figure some things out." 

Cavanaugh said the six incoming freshmen all come equipped with the necessary athleticism to play at the varsity level but may need time to develop their physicality and in-game skills. Expect to see a lot of freshman Gemma Wood, another volleyball player, who Cavanaugh said was a natural basketball player. 

"She's the one that dove into the stands at state, that was so cool," Cavanaugh said. "Very athletic, a very naturally talented basketball player. Just trying to clean up some fundamentals type of things that all freshmen have. But we're really looking forward to seeing her." 

Emberly Kugle is another freshman that Cavanaugh expects to see early playing time. He said that Kugle will be one of their tallest players and should provide some help in the rebounding department as the team overall lacks size. 

Rounding out the roster will be freshmen Kourtney Rogier, Molly Adams, Hannah Raynor and Avery Aumick.  

"I'm really excited. I think we're gonna really challenge people with our athleticism," Cavanaugh said. "That's the goal. Put pressure on the ball defensively, and then really just try to use our athleticism to our advantage." 

While the Lady Wampus Cats are coming off a 4-10 season, Cavanaugh said the expectation for the team is to make a trip to state. The confidence comes in large part from the school dropping from 2A to the 1A classification, pitting them against Mullan and Kootenai in 2026. 

Last year, Clark Fork swept their two games against Mullan and split two close battles with Kootenai.  

"We have played Kootenai really, really tough the last two years," Cavanaugh said. "They're a bunch of juniors this year, juniors and sophomores, and we're a bunch of sophomores and freshmen. So as a team, it's going to be a battle, but we would like to assume that if we win that battle, state is the goal." 

Former Clark Fork basketball star and current volleyball head coach Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey will join Cavanaugh as an assistant coach in 2026. The Wampus Cats' head coach said he's excited to get into the season and generate positive momentum in the girls' basketball program.  

The Lady Wampus Cats are set to open their season on Nov. 18 with a home game against 2A school Lakeside at 7 p.m. at the Clark Fork Jr./Sr. High Gym. 

Players to watch: Vanessa Rogier, G, so.; Kiylah Anderson, PF/C, so.; Gemma Wood, G, fr.; Gracie Stevens, G/F, jr. 

Most anticipated matchup: Kootenai, Dec. 18 and Jan. 21. 

Schedule: 

Nov. 18 vs. Lakeside – 7 p.m. 

Nov. 30 @ Priest River – 6 p.m. 

Dec. 3 vs. Priest River – 6 p.m. 

Dec. 5 vs. Troy (MT) - 2 p.m. 

Dec. 8 vs. Wallace – 6 p.m. 

Dec. 11 vs. Noxon – 7 p.m. 

Dec. 12 vs. Kellogg JV – 12:30 p.m. 

Dec. 17 @ Wallace – 6 p.m. 

Dec. 19 vs. Kootenai – 5:30 p.m. 

Jan. 6 vs. Mullan – 6 p.m. 

Jan. 9 @ Lakeside – 12 p.m. 

Jan. 18 @ Mullan – 6 p.m. 

Jan. 21 @ Kootenai – 7 p.m. 

Jan. 29 @ Noxon – 7 p.m. 

Feb. 1 @ North Star Districts (NIC) 

Feb. 18 – 1A State Tournament (Columbia HS) 

*Schedules as of 11/13, subject to change.