Watkins, Braves tame Bulldogs

WHITEFISH - Beau knows the long ball.

Watkins, a senior for the Flathead Braves, drained six three-point shots Thursday night to lead his team to a 67-45 win over the Whitefish Bulldogs in non-conference play.

"I struggled in our first game, but I kept shooting and working at practice," Watkins said. "I had a breakthrough in my confidence."

Watkins also defended well, adding four steals to his scorching 23-point performance.

"Beau did a great job for us tonight," Flathead coach Fred Febach said.

The game certainly felt closer than the score. At halftime, the teams were just three points apart, but the Braves' offense kicked into high gear for the second half, and the Bulldogs couldn't adjust.

Whitefish looked primed for an upset at the start of the game and ran out to a 6-1 lead. Flathead couldn't find a shot anywhere on the floor. After freshman Brock Osweiler blew a pass and picked up a cheap foul, Febach had seen enough. He called a timeout, and his team responded well to the correction.

The Braves forced a turnover, and then Jeremy DeHerrera got to the line after Whitefish's Sam Penzi fouled him.

Osweiler finally scored Flathead's first field goal four minutes into the first period. Although he was in foul trouble most of the game, he still finished with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Both teams came out showing 2-3 zones with Flathead pushing a full-court press on occasion, which harried the Bulldogs' offensive set-up.

In spite of the Braves' substantial height advantage - Flathead's starting lineup stands 26 inches taller than Whitefish's - the Bulldogs were able to drive the line effectively. Unfortunately for the Dogs, the shots stopped falling, and the Braves finished the first quarter with an 11-8 lead.

Whitefish started the second quarter strong. Freshman Colt Idol hit Mike McCracken with a bounce pass in the paint for the swift bucket.

But Watkins answered with a three, and his scoring tear began in earnest. He hit four of his six treys in the second quarter, including back-to-back shots. Luckily for Whitefish, Geoff Hogan was the only other Brave to score, and the Bulldogs were able to head into halftime down 25-22.

"This is a brand new team that's finding itself right now," Whitefish coach Derek Schulz said. "We have quickness, and we executed well in the first half. We just didn't get the looks we wanted."

The first half was plagued with sloppy passing on both ends of the floor, a problem Flathead carried into the third that ruined numerous chances on offense.

Whitefish's staunch defense deserves most of the credit for grinding the Braves' offense to a standstill at times.

"We needed to move better offensively," Febach said. "But then they weren't going to let us, either. They're a well-coached team."

Flathead simply could not keep the Bulldogs out of the paint due to the team's quick perimeter passing and well-timed tosses into the middle. Whitefish's offense wasn't doing much, but the Braves got into foul trouble early in the third, and the green-and-gold kept the game close by working the charity stripe.

The game got out of hand late in the third as Flathead built an 11-point lead.

Osweiler got into a groove in the fourth, scoring on strong moves in the post and offensive rebounds. The Braves were able to run away with the game after that.

"We battled," Schulz said. "Our kids' effort was outstanding. We didn't hit some shots we've been hitting, and it killed us."

Flathead is now 2-0, and Whitefish is 1-2 on the season.

Braves 67, Bulldogs 45

Flathead 11 14 18 23

Whitefish 8 14 10 13

Flathead - Ryan Gregg 0 2-2 2, Beau Watkins 7 3-6 23; Mack Andrews 0 1-2 1; Jeremy DeHerrera 2 2-2 7; Burk Schaible 2 0-0 6; Jason Russell 1 1-2 3; Brock Osweiler 5 2-4 12; Geoff Hogan 6 1-5 13.

Whitefish - Jake Cummings 2 0-2 5; Luke Fennelly 1 01 2; Cody Idol 1 3-4 5; Colt Idol 3 2-2 7; Jamie Clogg 1 0-0 2; Mike McCracken 5 6-7 16; Nate Breese 1 0-0 2; Dane Sjoden 2 0-0 4.

3-point totals: Flathead 8 (Watkins 6, DeHerrera 1, Schaible 1), Whitefish 2 (Cummings 1, Colt Idol 1). Total fouls: Flathead 17, Whitefish 22. Fouled out - McCracken.