Flathead's Febach happy to get going

Basketball season is upon us - and at least one area coach couldn't be happier.

"It was sure fun getting out on the floor with the kids, coaching them up and helping them improve," second year Flathead boys coach Fred Febach said earlier this week.

"I'm looking forward to (the season). I've had a lot of fun working with these kids already," the coach said.

"I'm happy with their effort level."

The Braves have their work cut out for them early, though.

They graduated 40 of the 60 points per game from a team that finished 6-15 overall, 1-12 in league play a year ago.

The good news is Flathead does return nine letter winners from that group. The bad news is of those nine, only three saw significant playing time.

"We lack a lot of playing experience at the varsity level," Febach admitted.

"We have a bunch of young kids that are going to have to jump in the fire early. Now they've got to take it up one more notch.

"But I feel we've got a pretty good mix. We just have to make sure we strive to get better."

The three who did play a lot last year were seniors John Farrier (6-foot-2), Andrew Cavigli (6-4) and Jordan Lister (5-9).

Farrier's 7-8 rebounds per game made him one of the top two.

"He's just one of those kids that just flies," Febach said.

"You are not going to find anybody in any sport that will give you any more effort than that kid. He's a big part of our team this year because of his effort level, intensity and leadership."

Lister will be another athlete the Flathead coaches will look to for leadership.

He can play either guard spot.

"He's got a nice shot. He jumps well and he's just a awfully quick and athletic kid," Febach said.

"Deceptively quick. If you blink, he's by you.

"I look for (Cavigli) to really up his game.

"Certainly, I expect him to pick it up to AA speed - and I think he will.

"He's a tall, slender kid. He's a slasher, who I think offers some matchup problems. I look for him to help us on both ends of the floor," the coach said.

Stefan Malkuch, 5-11, and Greg Ridel, 6-2, round out the Flathead seniors.

Ridel is a bit of a 'feel-good' story for Flathead in the early going.

He didn't make the basketball team a year ago.

"But he worked hard this spring and summer. He made the team this year," Febach said.

"That's to his credit.

"He just did a super job," the coach said. "He made up his mind he was going to come to open gyms and give it another shot. You can't count some kids out," he added.

"And at some point in the season, he's going to contribute in some major way."

All Febach wants right now is some games.

"I need to be able to see these kids play as a group in a game situation," he said.

"We just have a number of question marks. I need to find a group of kids that will step it up and play consistently," he said. "I like my boys. We just got to put some things together as a team."

Febach is assisted this year by Daren Engellant, JV, Mark Harkins, sophomores, Arie Grey, AA freshman, and Mike McLean, A freshman.

The Braves open the season by playing host to Sentinel Dec. 10.

Class A

Bigfork

A veteran team that expects to be right in the thick of the Northwestern A conference.

That's what Bigfork has in its Viking basketball team.

"Libby, Columbia Falls and Ronan all have veteran teams coming back. I imagine us being right in there," Viking coach Jim Epperly said.

"I don't know how many games we'll win," he added. "But we'll be a 'tough out.'

"We've got a pretty solid team with a lot of solid players. They're all capable. Things have been clicking pretty good," he said.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle Bigfork will have to get over is the number of close games the Vikings lost last year - they dropped a fistful of one-point contests.

The good news is they finished on a high note - fourth at divisional and fell by just five points to eventual state champion Libby.

One other difference this year is a six-team divisional with just two teams going to state.

Epperly, with his Class C experience at Noxon, is ready for that one.

"It's going to get a little tighter at the top," Epperly said. "It's key that your team be playing real well at the right time.

"For us to be one of the upper echelon teams, we're going to have to improve our defense and our rebounding.

"I'm not going to be too worried at this point about turnovers. I have pretty experienced guards. Hopefully, if we improve our defense and rebounding, that will keep us in games."

The first problem the Vikings face is that 6-0 senior Mitchell Hill, a two-year starter at point guard, is out until after the Christmas break with a broken foot.

"He's a good athlete for us to be missing, but he's healing up and it's giving other kids an opportunity to step up," Epperly said.

"We played a lot of basketball this summer. I'm pretty confident the kids we put in there will do fine until he gets back."

Another top returner for the Vikings is 6-2 senior Luke Taylor, an all-conference second team pick last year. He averaged 11 points and eight rebounds.

"He is just really an intense player," the coach said. "He gets a lot of his points and rebounds from outworking the other team."

It's to Taylor's benefit that he's left-handed, the coach added.

Other returners are Donny Houtonen, 6-1 senior forward/guard, and Cy Murer, 6-4 senior post, Kellen Wassell, senior point guard, and Laine Averill, 6-2 senior guard/forward.

The Vikings also have several newcomers from the JV team that finished 15-3 a year ago.

Newcomers include Aaron Miles, 6-4 senior post, Austin Paulsen, 5-9 junior guard, and Joey Woldstein, 5-8 junior guard.

"If I need more players there's some kids down there," Epperly said.

Big things are expected of Houtonen and Murer.

"Houtonen has been really tough in practice. He's a scorer," the coach said. "He can really slash."

As for Murer, expect a leaner version this winter.

"He's come into preseason lighter and quicker. It's making him more mobile. He's got more lateral movement. He's looking really good," Epperly said.

Epperly is assisted again by his dad Bill and by second-year freshman coach Matt Porrovechio.

Columbia Falls

All it takes to put a smile on the face of Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg?

Ask him about the Wildcats who will take the basketball court this winter.

That'll do it.

"I think we have some good kids coming back. These kids like to play basketball and they play it all the time," Finberg said.

Depth, quickness, scoring ability both inside and outside, the Wildcats have all those things.

The Wildcats graduated six seniors (28 points and 17 rebounds per game) from the 12-11 squad that finished second at Western A Divisional, but they return nine letter winners (28 points and 13 rebounds).

"Our sophomore class last year, they've taken that extra step and they're ready for the varsity court. Mix that with our juniors from last year … they've got a chance to be pretty good," said Finberg.

Leading scorer, 5-11 guard Drew Perry (13 points per game), is the top returner.

Perry garnered second team all-conference honors a year ago.

"I think he feels ready to take that next step," Finberg said. "And he's going to have a lot more help. Teams aren't going to have to stop just him. That should open things up for him a little bit," the coach said.

Help comes in the form of 6-5 senior post Anthony Minson, 5-8 senior point guard JD Fields, 6-0 senior forward Jace Ladenburg and 5-11 senior guard Justin Heinrichs.

Minson averaged six points and six rebounds last year. "He was very good defensively last year," the coach said. "He needs to be a little more consistent at the offensive end."

Fields was honorable mention all-tournament team pick at the Class A state tourney last year.

"He finished last year on a great note. He's like having another coach on the floor," Finberg said.

"He's a great leader and he's a kid that can flat out shoot it."

Columbia Falls will look to Ladenburg to be its physical presence.

"He brings good size and athleticism to the team," Finberg said.

Heinrichs rounds out the top five.

"He's quick, a good defender, very smart, knows what needs to be done out there," the coach said.

A deep bench is Finberg's favorite asset.

The bench includes 6-1 junior guard/forward Guy Smith, 5-10 junior guard Kevin Boyer, 6-3, 240-pound post Greg Macijunas, 6-5 junior Nick Beckwith, 6-2 junior Steffen Anderson and 5-11 junior Robbie Dakin.

"Any one of these 11 kids would have started for me at one time or another," Finberg said. "If somebody is not getting the job done or gets in foul trouble, we've got other kids to plug in there."

Finberg is assisted this year by Mark Beckwith, Dan Block, Greg Bauska and Chris Finberg.

The Wildcats open the season by playing host at 5 p.m. Saturday to the Cut Bank Wolves.

Libby

Forty-five points and 20 rebounds.

That's what the Libby Loggers graduated from the 2003-2004 Class A state champion boys basketball team.

It seems a bit odd, then, that when each Northwestern A head coach was asked to name his picks for the conference, the Loggers were one of two top choices (the other is Columbia Falls).

"We have a chance to be all right," Libby coach Wally Winslow, now in his seventh year, acknowledges.

That's because the Logger roster is amply stocked with athletes.

"That always makes your job easier," Winslow smiled.

"I think we have good size and good speed," the coach said.

They'll be led this year by the two starters who return from last year - Aaron Sutton, 5-11 senior guard, and Blaine Baker, 6-4 senior post.

Three-year starter Sutton averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds as a junior.

"He's our team leader," Winslow said. "Three-year starter at the point … that's very much a luxury for me. That helps us a ton. He's very fast, very quick and he knows how to run the team."

Baker averaged 7.5 rebounds last year.

But that was a bit misleading, according to his coach.

That's because late in the season, Baker came down with a viral infection in his throat. He missed games and then, when he did come back, was able to play only a couple of minutes.

"The first 17 games, he was a dominate force. He's just a workhorse. He was very consistent for us every game, he played good defense. He's also a guy who can step out on the perimeter.

"We missed him miserably at divisional," said Winslow.

Other letter winners who return are Ken Orr, 5-11 senior guard, George Mercer, 6-3 senior forward, and Whitney Gautreaux, 6-3 senior post.

Newcomers to the lineup are 6-5 sophomore forward Kyle Baker, 5-9 junior guard Kelly Orr and 6-5 junior post David Horelick.

"They have some tradition on their side now. That helps.

"I can't say we're experienced," he added. "I think game experience is one of our weaknesses right now."

They'll get over that in a hurry.

Libby opens the basketball season by playing host Saturday night to District 8-B Eureka.

The only problem Winslow has so far is a shortened preseason.

"The 10 days are flying by," he said. "Fortunately, everybody is in the same situation. I think teams will be a little more basic (in the opening week)."

As for Winslow's conference picks?

"Columbia Falls has the best team chemistry, I think. Bigfork is very, very athletic. They always are. Ronan has some great shooters and Whitefish will be solid."

Assisting Winslow this year are Neil Fuller and Jerry Mee.

Polson

If there is a veteran boys basketball team in the Northwestern A this winter, it is the Polson Pirates.

The good news is the Pirates return a ton of experience - they didn't graduate anybody.

The bad news is Polson finished last in Western A a year ago.

New Polson coach Karl Tait is hoping the experience of so many returners combined with the team work lessons and the success the Pirates enjoyed during their football season will carry over to the hard court.

"I really believe in a lot of teamwork," Tait said. "I'd rather have a lot of guys pitching in doing whatever they have to do. We have a lot of kids who are going to have to step up."

The Pirates return three seniors. They are 6-2 post Brandon Couture, 5-9 shooting guard Joe Locke and 5-10 guard/forward Derek Pluff.

Others returning include Colton Woods, 5-9 junior guard, Bubba Michel, 6-0 junior guard/forward, Andy Nelson, 6-0 junior forward, Chris Ogle, 6-0 sophomore guard/forward, James Langston, 6-4 junior post, Brett Vandeberg, 5-9 junior guard, and P.J. Auld, 5-10 junior guard.

They also benefited by the transfer of 6-1 senior forward George Bostwick from Browning.

"It's good to have them all back," Tait said.

But he doesn't know just yet exactly what types of assets they each bring.

Right now, it appears quickness, team speed and shooting ability will likely be Polson strengths.

"We're pretty small, but we're fairly quick. It looks like we might have some shooters," the coach said.

A weakness is overall lack of size.

"I have to see them in a game," he said. "They do work hard."

Longtime Pirate assistant Steve Nelson returns this year to coach JV. Matt Holmes will coach the freshmen.

Whitefish

"Let's play basketball."

That's the motto this year for the Whitefish Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs are ready to have some fun, according to second year head coach Derek Schulz.

And to do that, they've changed a few things up.

"Our style might alter a bit this year," the coach said. "This year's personnel is overall quicker and we are deeper. We'll play a lot more kids. It's going to allow us to open it up a little bit.

"We're going to try to play a very exciting brand of basketball," he added. "We're going to have to spread the wealth and play some defense and run the floor."

Whitefish graduated six members of the 2003 team that finished 6-15, but it returns four athletes who had significant playing time.

"We've got some kids that have worked real hard on their game," he said.

They are Philip Bertelsen, 6-1 senior guard, Bryan Wram, 6-1 senior forward, Kevin Scott, 6-3 senior forward, and Casey Speer, 6-0 senior forward.

Mike McCracken, junior forward, also returns. McCracken enjoyed a good divisional tournament last year. He's 6-0, "but plays bigger," Schulz said.

Newcomers to the varsity are 6-2 junior forward Sam Penzi, 5-10 junior guard Jake Cummings, and 6-1 junior forward Nate Breese. Two 5-6 sophomore guards have also been elevated to the varsity. They are Luke Fennelly and Kenny Overcast.

The Bulldogs also picked up 5-10 junior guard Cody Idol. Idol transferred from Bigfork.

One test for the Bulldogs will come early.

Whitefish is without Scott until after the start of the new year.

A broken foot suffered while playing basketball months ago has the senior sidelined.

"But the kids that are playing now … I don't have any doubt in my mind they're going to accept this challenge," said Schulz.

And the positive is that a lot of kids will get minutes because of it.

"What I feel good about is the kids' effort with practice," Schulz said. "It's been a really fun group to coach.

"We have more overall team speed and I think we're more physical inside.

"McCracken and Speer are quite physical. They are strong kids, good athletes."

Schulz agrees with the other Northwestern A coaches - Columbia Falls and Libby are the teams to beat in the conference.

"Those are the two favorites. They've got the returners coming back, those are the last two state championship teams.

"But the other four teams are not too bad, either," he hastened to add.

Assisting Schulz this year are Tim Olson, Garth Boksich and Mark Casazza.

Class B

Eureka

Fans of the Eureka Lions are in for a few changes this basketball season.

For starters, the Lions, regular season and tournament champions of District 6-B a year ago, are now part of District 8-B.

Most of their former District 6-B opponents have joined them in 8B, though.

The Lions graduated 30 points and 20 rebounds in the persons of two-time all-state center Chance Cole and Chris Smith - and they've become an up-tempo squad as well.

For the first time in a long time, Eureka fans can expect to see their Lions getting out and running the floor.

"I've got about nine guards on varsity this year," sixth-year head coach Brent Holder joked.

"We are real quick. We will be more of a pressing, up-tempo team.

"That might be one of our weaknesses at first," he cautioned.

"We've always had a big center and this is our first year in a new system. But they're learning it pretty well," he added.

"They are all naturally this type of player."

Top returners include 6-3 senior guard Matt Peltier, 5-10 point guard Zach Nieuwsma and 6-0 forward Thane Adams.

Peltier was an all-conference selection a year ago.

Others who will see plenty of playing time are: sophomores Isiah Linnell, 6-4 forward, and Zach Richter, 5-10 guard, and juniors Nick Zarnowski, 6-0 guard, Jordan Lundberg, 6-0 forward, and Jay Roberts, 6-4 forward.

The Lions are having a bit of a youth movement, although Linnell played varsity all year as a freshman and Holder describes Richter as "a very, very talented sophomore."

That's the only weakness the coach could name.

Holder is assisted this year by Seth Braach and Dave Loy.