Looking ahead to the 2018-19 LRS winter sports season

The first day of practice for winter sports teams was held on Nov. 13, as boy’s and girl’s basketball along with the wrestling team begin preparation for a long winter sports season.

A more in-depth preview on each of LRS’ winter sports teams will be published in an upcoming issue of The Journal. The preview will include each of the team’s schedules and a definitive look at the varsity rosters.

Boy’s Basketball

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos basketball team will return the majority of its roster that made a deep run in the Northeast 2B District Tournament last season, as they try and take the next step to advance to the 2B State Tournament.

The Broncos lost three players from last year’s team due to graduation, but they are expected to return at least five players from that varsity team, as well as head coach Dustan Arlt. Bryce Kelly and Shontz Yaeger return to the team as seniors, while Spencer Gering and Austin Thompson return as juniors. Kelly was a second-team all-league selection last season.

Last year’s team finished with an overall record of 13-11 and a league record of 8-8, finishing third in the Northeast 2B South Division standings. The team won its first two games against Wilbur-Creston and Northwest Christian in the district tournament before falling to Liberty and Davenport to end its season.

The season’s first game will tip-off at 7 p.m. at home on Nov. 30 against Columbia-Burbank in a non-league tilt.

Girl’s Basketball

Like the boy’s squad, this season’s Lady Broncos basketball team is hoping to build off of a 2017-18 season where they advanced to the district playoffs.

Four players graduated from last year’s team, with this year’s team expected to consist of at least two seniors: Brooke Koch and Lacey Miller. Other upperclassmen on this season’s team is expected to include juniors Eliza Galbreath, Rachel Nygren and Brinley Moore.

Last season’s team finished with an overall record of 13-12 and a league record of 8-8. They won three of their five games in the district tournament, falling to Liberty deep in the playoffs to end their season.

Led again by head coach Steve Wellsandt, the first game of the season is scheduled for Nov. 30 at home against Columbia-Burbank at 6 p.m. in a non-league matchup.