Muted celebration for FHS
Bravettes focus on Sentinel, Big Sky after beating Butte
Short celebration, then on to the next order of business.
That was the Flathead Bravettes' postgame attitude Saturday after downing the visiting Butte Bulldogs 54-31.
The Bravettes accepted a few congratulations, but it didn't take long for Flathead's focus to shift to next week.
The win gave the Bravettes (7-3, 11-5) a leg up on Helena Capital in the Western AA standings, but Flathead's final two regular season games will be big. The Bravettes play host Thursday to league-leading Sentinel, then finish the regular season Saturday at Missoula Big Sky.
"We've got to get one of (the two games)," Flathead head coach Dennis Latimer said of the week ahead.
As for the Butte contest, it was in doubt only momentarily.
Flathead took a 3-2 lead less than a minute into the game on post Holli Hashley's old-fashioned three-point play - and never gave it up.
Save for a few moments midway through that opening quarter, the Bulldogs were never a threat.
Flathead led 24-13 at half and 40-18 after three quarters.
"Everyone contributed. That's how we got this done," senior forward Amanda Lidstrom said afterward.
Flathead beat the Bulldogs 47-43 Feb. 5 in Butte, but the story was definitely different this time around.
"I think everyone that got in there put some points on the board. That's what is going to win games," Lidstrom added.
It wasn't quite everyone, actually, but nine Bravettes scored.
For Lidstrom, a lot of the satisfaction Saturday came from that long list of scorers.
"When every girl contributes, that's even more of a great feeling," she said. "That will benefit us down the road."
Hashley was Flathead's leading scorer with 12, followed by Lidstrom with nine and Kristina Ylinen and Chaeney Latimer with eight each. Hashley also had eight rebounds and Ylinen six. Lindsay Bennett added two blocked shots.
"I was really tickled for everybody," coach Latimer said afterward.
"We did pretty well.
"I was proud of the girls the way they all contributed," he added. 'Multiple contributions from everybody."
As for the week ahead, both Lidstrom and coach Latimer expect it to be difficult.
"Practice is going to be tough all week," Lidstrom smiled.
Sentinel will be a tough task. Flathead fell 64-34 to the Spartans in the first game of the year for the Bravettes.
"It was awful," the coach said.
"We just really want to take a good stab at it this time," he said. "I think (the score) can be different. We're optimistic we can challenge these guys."
But the coach also admits the Spartans have weapons to spare.
"They're quick and they've really got a good inside/outside game," he said.
The posts - all about 5-11 - are Nicole Martin, Grace Harris and Ali Mittlestadt.
"They're all good," coach Latimer said.
Guards are Alisa Christopherson (also about 5-11) and Jen Foley.
Foley netted 22 points the last time she faced Flathead.
"One of the best shooters in the league," coach Latimer said of Foley.
BRAVETTES 54, BULLDOGS 31
Butte 8 5 5 13 - 31
Flathead 12 12 16 14 - 54
Butte - Krista Clark 2 0-0 4, Meaghan Randall 0 2-2 2, Ali Stosich 1 0-2 3, Savanna Maldonado 0 1-6 1, Nacyshla Mehring 1 0-0 2, Katie Daly 5 0-2 10, Jennifer Hawkey 1 1-2 4, Joey O'Neill 0 4-6 4. Totals 10 9-24 31.
Flathead - Christina Zorn 2 0-0 4, Chaeney Latimer 2 2-4 8, Amanda Lidstrom 3 2-2 9, Holli Hashley 4 4-5 12, Sara Newgard 0 1-2 1, Lindsay Bennett 2 0-1 4, Alena Ori 1 0-0 2, Kristina Ylinen 2 4-5 8. Totals 18 13-19 54.
3-point goals: Butte 2 (Stosich, Hawkey), Flathead 5 (Latimer 2, Lidstrom 1, O'Connell 2). Total fouls: Butte 15, Flathead 18. Fouled out: Daly, Newgard.