Class A race is wide open
Parity abounds in area girls hoops
It's nothing new for coaches to pay lip service to their team's chances for the upcoming season. But this year, those words don't sound like the same hollow platitudes.
Flathead has become a fixture in the Class AA tournament and this year should be no different. With two time all-stater Holli Hashley in the fold, the Bravettes can compete with anything the rest of the state has to offer.
Over in Class B, Eureka certainly has the toughest road to cross in a division that includes Thompson Falls and Loyola Sacred Heart, but with its depth and firepower across the front line it has an excellent chance of reaching its first state tournament since the first George Bush was in the White House.
And Class A is about as wide open as it has ever been, with all six teams having a legitimate shot to make it to Great Falls.
Even if a team struggles over the next three months, come March, as Columbia Falls coach Kris Salonen says, "It's anyone's game."
Bigfork
Coach: Nate Hammond (4th season)
Last year: 10-10, lost in divisionals
Key players lost: Nikki Thompson, Callie Gunderson, Beth Bermel and Hannah Hilley
Key returning players: Seniors Whitney Wilson, Breana Brendsel and Mary Hall; junior Carly Hilley
Key newcomers: Sophomore Alyssa Fierro
Outlook: With a nice blend of youth (five sophomores) and experience (four seniors), Bigfork coach Nate Hammond hopes that formula will translate into the school's first-ever state tournament appearance in Class A.
The Valkyries will have one of the biggest front lines in Northwestern A - with 6-3 sophomore Alyssa Fierro and 5-11 senior Whitney Wilson - which should play right into Hammond's plan for an inside-outside attack on offense. And once the Vals can get going in the paint it should make life much easier for shooters Mary Hall and Carly Hilley, both of whom missed last season with injuries.
If Bigfork can stay healthy and develop the chemistry of a winning ball club, it just might make it to Great Falls in March.
Quoteable: "We have good athletes and good players, all we need is a little health and a little luck." - Bigfork coach Nate Hammond
Columbia Falls
Coach: Kris Salonen (5th season)
Last year: 8-12, lost in divisionals
Key players lost: Becca Stoltz, Lindsay Johnson, Kim Pearce, Jenna Poole and Danielle Herman
Key returning players: Senior Jessica Davis; juniors Callie Spencer and Jessica Boyer
Key newcomers: Juniors Amber Lampman and Beth Karper; sophomore Sam Ladenburg; freshman Alyssa Ladenburg
Outlook: The Wildkats sure saw their share of bad luck last year. After a 6-2 start, the team lost starters Lindsay Johnson and Becca Stoltz to season-ending injuries in a game against Corvallis. Though they won, Columbia Falls won only once more.
But a silver lining in that dark cloud was the experience gained by several players because of those injuries. Now head coach Kris Salonen feels her team has the firepower to make it back to the state tournament for the third time in four seasons.
Though the team in lacking in the height department, the Wildkats plan to use their speed and athleticism to run teams off the floor. Karma should be on their side this season, as the Wildkats hope to make 2004 a distant memory.
Quoteable: "We're going to try and work out the kinks in time for the tournament, and then it's anyone's game." - Columbia Falls coach Kris Salonen
Eureka
Coach: John Hammond (2nd season)
Last year: 15-8, lost in divisionals
Key players lost: Amber Stacy, Tish Hall and Steph Sanders
Key returning players: Seniors Jessica Marek, Erin Adams, Sarah Flanary, Krista Kakuk and Chelsea Workman; junior Amy Roberts
Key newcomers: Junior April Paden; sophomore Melanie Finch
Outlook: Despite losing a trio of seniors, including All-State guard Tish Hall, the Lions appear loaded for another solid season.
This year's team may not be as quick, but they can still play head coach John Hammond's up-tempo style. Combine that with forwards Sarah Flanary, Jessica Marek and Amy Roberts, and Eureka should have no problem putting up points.
The road to state will likely go through Loyola Sacred Heart and Thompson Falls, but the Lions have a fighting shot at making their first state tourney since 1989.
Quoteable: "We're ahead of where we were last year. Now the girls know what I want from them and they do it without being told." - Eureka coach John Hammond
Flathead
Coach: Dennis Latimer (10th season)
Last year: 13-9, lost in state tournament
Key players lost: Lindsay Bennett, Amanda Lindstrom and Alena Ori
Key returning players: Senior Holli Hashley; junior Chaeney Latimer; sophomore Megan O'Connell
Key newcomers: Juniors Lindsay Ingram, Sara Newgard, Leslie Quay, Christina Zorn, Annie Braseth and Chelsea Vaudt
Outlook: The Bravettes may only have one senior on their roster, but who cares when that senior is Holli Hashley. The two time All-Stater led western Montana in scoring as a junior and Flathead to yet another state tourney appearance.
The team may not be as tall or explosive as in past years, but the Bravettes will look to counter that with their experience and depth at every position. Flathead coach Dennis Latimer knows his team will have to control the tempo for his team to succeed, but he has every expectation of making it back to Billings.
Quoteable: "If we can play our type of game and execute on both ends of the floor, I think we'll make it back to state." - Flathead coach Dennis Latimer
Libby
Coach: Jim May (10th season)
Last year: 14-10, lost in state tournament
Key players lost: Nicole Rowan and Sarah Becker
Key returning players: Seniors Teri Rebo and Sam Schultz
Key newcomers: Seniors Kristen Brossman; sophomores Laice Dedrick, Brooke Hageness and Shelby Barton
Outlook: With much of the scoring gone from last year's team, the Loggers have a lot of work to do if they hope to make it back to the state tournament.
The biggest problem Libby faces, according to head coach Jim May, is having its players figure out their roles on the team. Fortunately, there are some familiar faces in seniors Teri Rebo and Sam Schultz, who will look to bring their leadership to the rest of the Loggers.
Like many area teams, Libby lacks height along the front line so boxing out will be at a premium as the Loggers look to reach the Class A tourney for the eighth time in 10 seasons under May.
Quoteable: "The girls are eager to step up and play. They're working hard and hard work always pays off." - Libby coach Jim May
Polson
Coach: Bruce Thomas (15th season)
Last year: 12-11, lost in state tournament
Key players lost: Strohm Fouty and Kari Mowbray
Key returning players: Seniors Kara Hoyser and Jen Orchard
Key newcomers: Juniors Gracie Sartori, Jaelin Vandeberg and Tatianna Kimler; sophomore Marilee Mowbray
Outlook: Potential - that word that every coach loathes, because what it really means is that you haven't proven anything.
Pirates coach Bruce Thomas knows his team has it; the question is, will they be able to back it up on the floor?
With an experienced point guard in senior Jen Orchard and a solid post presence in fellow senior Kara Hoyser, Polson has some talent already in place. If the team's new faces can jell with the senior duo and step up as the season goes along, the Pirates have a good shot at making it back to state.
Quoteable: "We have potential, but it's just a word until you develop it." - Polson coach Bruce Thomas
Whitefish
Coach: Dean McFadden (6th season)
Last year: 12-9, lost in divisionals
Key players lost: Kyla Salisbury, Tessa Kalfell, Katie Cain and Cassady Gray-Contreras
Key returning players: Seniors Tracy Schwada and Erin Greiner; juniors Kirsten Blackburn, Kali Schmidt and Kaitlyn O'Leary; sophomore Ashley Ferda
Key newcomers: Juniors Maude Gwiazdon and Kirsten NallyMadigan; sophomores Chelsea Ray and Desiree Clark
Outlook: First the bad news - for the first time in five years, Whitefish failed to reach the state tournament. Now the good news - four starters are back from last year's team, and they're hungry.
McFadden has decided to make some changes to his game plan in 2005. First, he's switching from a zone defense to a man-to-man set for the first time in his six seasons at WHS. And on offense, his Bulldogs are going to run.
Both changes stem as much from their blazing speed at almost every position as from their glaring lack of height. The team may have come up short in divisionals last year, but Whitefish has its spark plug back in junior guard Kirsten Blackburn, who missed the entire postseason, which, unfortunately, didn't last long for WHS.
That could change this year.
Quoteable: "Last year left a sour note in our belly. Now the girls really have a desire to go back to state." - Whitefish coach Dean McFadden