Braves down Indians
The word on the basketball floor Thursday night?
For the Flathead Braves, it was control.
It's been well-established through the years the Browning Indians are a running team.
The Braves (4-9, 1-5) like to run, too.
But they worked hard Thursday on maintaining a disciplined effort.
It paid off with a 66-52 nonconference win over the visiting Central A Indians.
"You've got to be careful not to speed up with (Browning)," Flathead coach Fred Febach said.
"I don't think I can say it enough, quickness with control is important for us," he added.
"It allows us to execute our stuff.
"I'm hopeful (after this game). What I saw tonight, we are capable of executing our stuff and we are capable of making teams pay when we do," he said.
"As a team, I thought we jelled tonight," junior forward/guard Beau Watkins said afterward.
"Credit to Browning, they run and gun. But coach mentioned, we run and gun, too - with control. It's all about keeping control," Watkins said. "It's all about discipline. If we're disciplined as a team, we're deadly," he added.
"They tried to get us out of control," Watkins said.
And, he admitted, it worked a couple of times.
"We just kept telling ourselves … 'Stay under control. Don't let them get into your head,'" he added.
The Braves showed discipline early, even after a monstrous dunk by Browning senior Andrew Sellers midway through the first quarter.
"I thought I saw that one on TV the other night," Febach joked.
But the Flathead response was the best part of the game for Febach.
"My kids, they're attitude was … hey, let's go play. Get the ball in, go up the floor," the coach said.
Flathead answered right back with layups by Andrew Cavigli and Greg Radel - and took an 11-8 lead to end the first quarter.
Watkins started the second off with a 3-pointer - he led Flathead with a season-high 18 points - and suddenly it was the Braves who were off and running.
John Farrier also scored 11 of his 17 points in the second quarter to give the Braves a 34-20 halftime advantage.
BRAVES 66, INDIANS 52
Browning 8 12 13 19 - 52
Flathead 11 23 17 15 - 66
Browning - Ryan Augare 2 1-1 5, Scott Raining Bird 1 2-2 5, Jordan Running Wolf 1 0-0 2, Marcus Mad Man 5 0-0 14, Andrew Sellers 4 3-4 11, Byron Butterfly 0 4-6 4, Jared Wolf Trail 2 0-2 5, Jeremy Arnoux 1 0-0 2, Nate Vielle 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 10-15 52.
Flathead - Greg Radel 2 0-0 4, Beau Watkins 6 5-7 18, Jordan Lister 3 4-4 10, Andrew Cavigli 6 0-0 12, John Farrier 7 3-5 17, Geoff Hogan 2 1-4 5. Totals 25 13-20 66.
3-point goals: Flathead 1 (Watkins), Browning 6 (Raining Bird, Mad Man 4, Wolf Trail 1). Total fouls: Flathead 17, Browning 20. Fouled out: Farrier.