The Warriors are coming off a 24-10 season, a school record for wins, and a 2^nd place finish in the Frontier Conference with an 11-3 record. The Warriors ended up ranked 23^rd in the country losing to Oklahoma Baptist the eventual NAIA National Runner-up in the first-round of the NAIA National Tournament. Head Coach George Pfeifer entering his 13^th season with the Warriors became the schools all-time leader in wins last year surpassing Richard Hannan’s 212 total. This years Lewis-Clark State College team welcomes back seven players from that team. Of that group of returning players four were starters, who combined to average 30.4 minutes a game.

The Warriors lost three players who made significant contributions. Beau Barney (11.9 ppg, ranks 3^rd in school history in 3-point shots made in season with 76), James Idoko (12.0 ppg and 5.4 rpg) and Josh Wilson (6.4 ppg and 58.6% FG) are all gone. All will be missed and their voids will need to be filled.

The Warriors last year were outstanding at the offensive end of the floor. They set a school record for points per game at 88.3 ppg, total points scored in a season 2,914, 3-point field goals made in a season 250 and field goal percentage 52.1%. Their shooting accuracy of 72.3% from the foul line and 39.1% from 3-point range like the other team statistics ranked them in the top ten in the country. Eight times the Warriors managed to break the century mark. On top of that the Warriors managed to record 106 slam dunks during the season. Without question the Warriors brand of fast breaking basketball was crowd pleasing and exciting to watch.

The challenge for this years team is to take the success they experienced last year and build on it this year. Although there are key pieces missing, there are numerous veteran players back and a host of new faces with outstanding accolades and experience to fill the voids. Seniors, Jason Brazier (6’3 #220) and Sta’ fon Lawson (6’4 #230) were both selected Honorable Mention NAIA All-Americans and All Frontier Conference. Brazier averaged 18.6 ppg, shot 61.6% from the field, grabbed 4.9 rpg, connected on 84.4% of his foul shots. Lawson lead the Frontier Conference in rebounding at 8.0 rpg, scored 14.7 ppg, lead the team in steals at 2.1 spg shooting just under 50% from the field. Both of these forwards will be counted on heavily to set the tone for this year’s team.

In the back court the Warriors welcome back two Senior Academic All-Americans, Brian Meneely (6’2 #180) and Chris Allen (6’0 #166). Meneely enters his fourth year with the Warriors coming off last season where he led the team in assists at 3.9 asp, scored 14.4 ppg, shooting a team high 41.6% from 3-point range and 81.4% from the foul line. Allen the prototypical floor general was second in assists at 3.1 asp, averaged 6.4 ppg, while shooting 40.4% from 3-point and 82.9% from the foul line. Between Brazier, Lawson, Meneely and Allen they averaged right at 30.4 minutes per game last year, which speaks volumes towards their on court experience.

Two other returning players saw significant time, Senior Lester Bruno (6’8 #245) and Sophomore Lance Pecht (6’3 #205). Bruno injured his hand prior to Christmas and missed the second half of the year. He played in 13 games averaging 8.5 ppg and 5.1 rpg, shooting 53% from the floor. Just prior to getting hurt he was reaching his stride with a 21 point and 12 rebound game verses Albertson and a 12 point 14 rebound game verses Southern Alberta. Pecht came off the bench as a true Freshman and played some big minutes for the Warriors. When Lawson missed the National Tournament game due to injury, he came off the bench and went 5 for 8 for 10 points against OBU. He went a perfect 7 for 7 verses Montana Tech for 18 points four games into the Frontier Conference season. Rounding out the returning Warriors is shooting guard Chad Young (6’1 #188) a sophomore. He saw limited time last year; however, has come to camp in great physical condition and has a year of experience under his belt.

The Warriors added five new faces, all juniors, and basically filled each position on the court in the process. In the back court the Warriors took one player from the Northwest Community College Athletic Association (NWAACC), point guard Ricky Frazier (5’8 #155). Frazier comes from Shoreline Community College in Seattle, and was voted the Northern Division NWAACC MVP. Frazier finished 2^nd in the league in assists at 6.7 asp while scoring 16.0 ppg leading his team to the Northern Division title. Frazier was highly sought after and will be expected to make an immediate impact with this year’s team. On the front line the Warriors added three more transfers. Adam Trombley (6’9 #230), Jason Hansen (6’7 #190) and Dustin Endsley (6’4 #195). Trombley comes to the Warriors having redshirted at Top 10 NCAA Gonzaga University having played two years at Virginia Military Institute (VMI). Hansen sat out last year and prior to that played two years at North Idaho College. Endsley started out at Montana State – Havre, redshirted at Montana State Billings and played last year and San Diego Junior College. Trombley is a highly skilled forward center. While at VMI he played in 44 games averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.1 rpg over his two years. His best game was a double-double verses the University of South Carolina where he scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Hansen ended up playing the post position at NIC, probably not his natural position. His sophomore year he averaged 10.1 ppg and 4.2 rpg. Endsley was touted as one the best freshman in the FC before his two transfers and is now starting to find the form he displayed two years ago.

Coach George Pfeifer had this to say about this year’s team, "We certainly have depth at every position. We are a senior and junior dominated squad. The benefit to our depth should come in practice, which should greatly assist us in getting better on an on going basis. The other aspect about the individual talent we have is each player has their own unique strength. When we substitute someone in the game their general traits will have some similarities; however, each player has a strength that will make them a bit different to match up to. It might be shooting, ball handling, defense, size or how they post up, but it will create a slightly different mode for the opponent to go about guarding that person. It will be critical that everyone quickly accepts their roll and while playing that defined roll learns their teammates rolls to maximize our strength. ‘Success’ is a disease that allows you to live in the past. We have to figure out right away what accomplishments last years team obtained means little to what we are trying to accomplish this year!"

The Warriors find themselves with the largest number of home games in recent memory. In the non-conference the Warriors will dawn the home uniforms 11 times, giving them 18 home games. This could be a plus, with a team that won 13 out of 14 home games last year. The schedule will start off with some difficult early season challenges. Three games in three days in the Westminster Tournament, followed by a game against Pac-10 Washington State University and then probable Top 5 NAIA Azusa Pacific University all games away from home. The Frontier Conference will again be a huge challenge. Carroll College although they lost several key performers, got three key players all from different teams inside the FC to transfer to Helena. Rocky Mountain College who finished the season in a flurry lost only two key performers and gets their injured 6’9 red shirt back and ready. Westminster returns most of their front line with several players coming back from LDS missions.

Coach Pfeifer had this to say about the schedule and the conference race, "Our schedule will really allow us to explore our team strengths and weaknesses early on. We believe playing good people makes you better. I really like having the opportunity to play at home more than on the road. I cannot remember having this many home games since I have been coaching here. The Frontier Conference the past two years has not given teams much room for error if they hope to win the league title. Winning at home and splitting on the road will get you 2^nd or 3^rd place if the last two years are the bench mark. The margin for error is not very big. If you want to vie for the FC title you really have to focus hard on each possession inside each game. Hopefully with the experience we have coming back communicating that concept will not fall on deaf ears."

If the Warriors stay healthy and can learn to play collectively, there is no reason this cannot be a special year. Like in the Frontier Conference the past couple years the margin for error is small and every game and possession inside that game will be important.