One week into the Priest River Lamanna boys basketball team's 2025-2026 season, head coach Brian Hall didn't know the names of his players. 

Hall was an emergency hire and took over the program at the beginning of the season, leaving him with little time to install his system. A year later, the Spartans' head coach not only knows the names of his stars but feels they are ready to take the next step. 

"We've got a lot of high expectations for the program this year," Hall said. "Like I said, it's up for grabs if the kids want it, work hard, and get that trophy and bring it home." 

The Spartans will look to lean on a high-scoring offense, which Hall expects to score 60-70 points per game. Though Priest River lost their leading scorer, Ian Lamanna, to graduation, the Spartans should be getting a boost from some notable returners. 

Their two seniors, forward Borden Collins and forward Ayson Simcox, should bring back a punch to the Spartans' offense. Collins brings a presence inside, while Simcox will likely be the team's top 3-point threat. 

"It's just a matter of getting everybody on board and running and believing in it," Hall said of his offensive system. "Once you have that belief in the system and everybody's rolling and you're going 100, everybody will buy in and you'll win ball games. 

Stars on the gridiron, Jacob Best and Madden Redinger, are also set to return to the team. Redinger, who led Priest River in 3-point percentage at 24% last season, will primarily serve as an outside shooter alongside Simcox.  

Despite his size at 6-foot-1, Best was a rebounding demon last year, averaging 5.2 per game, the second-most on the team. That's a role that Hall believes he'll continue to fill this season. 

"We've got a great junior class of athletes in the school that have a lot of leadership qualities," Hall said. "With [Best and Redinger], we are going to rely on them a lot for their leadership roles." 

With the offensive focus, Hall said he'll be looking for his team to get to the free throw line far more often this season. As a team, the Spartans shot 339 free throws last year, but 102 of those came from Lamanna, who also led the Central Idaho League in free throw percentage. 

"That's a big loss for us," Hall said of Lamanna. "Free throws can win or lose games as well. So, we want to get to the free throw line 20 to 30 times a game instead of just four or five." 

The Spartans' roster isn't quite finalized as of publication, but those four and the potential newcomers have Hall optimistic heading into this season. Hall added that he believes the CIL will be far more open after Orofino and defending state champion St. Maries graduated several star seniors. 

Priest River, Kellogg and Grangeville, the other members of the CIL, have much younger rosters and high ceilings.

"Kellogg and us play the last week of the season," Hall said. "It could come down to that last week of February to see who number one is in the CIL." 

The Spartans will open their season on Dec. 3 by hosting Timberlake High at 7 p.m. in the Priest River Lamanna High Gym. 

Players to watch: Madden Redinger, jr., G; Ayson Simcox, sr., G; Broden Collins, sr., F. 

Schedule: 

- Dec. 3 vs. Timberlake – 7 p.m. 

- Dec. 4 @ Newport – 7:30 p.m. 

- Dec. 7 @ Sandpoint – 7 p.m. 

- Dec. 8 vs. Wallace – 7 p.m. 

- Dec. 12 vs. Riverside – 12:30 p.m. 

- Dec. 18 @ Lakeland – 7 p.m. 

- Jan. 9 @ St. Maries – 3:30 p.m. 

- Jan. 12 @ Timberlake – 7 p.m. 

- Jan. 14 vs. Bonners Ferry – 7 p.m. 

- Jan. 16 vs. Orofino – 4:30 p.m. 

- Jan. 26 @ Wallace – 7 p.m. 

- Feb. 3 vs. St. Maries – 7 p.m. 

- Feb. 9 vs. Kellogg – 6 p.m. 

- Feb. 11 @ Kellogg – 7 p.m. 

- Feb. 16 @ District Tournament 

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