Osweiler, Braves answer the call
Freshman nets 22 points, 13 boards in 53-46 win over Butte
Teams usually want to avoid at all costs giving the opposition any bulletin board material. Butte must have missed the memo.
Flathead was already angry after suffering a 52-37 defeat at Helena Capital on Friday, and Butte's 6-foot-10 junior Jeff Edwards worsened the situation by calling out Braves freshman Brock Osweiler earlier in the week.
Well, Osweiler answered the call to the tune of 22 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and two steals in Flathead's 53-46 win over the Bulldogs on Saturday. He also helped hold Edwards to only six points and three boards.
"He (Edwards) was talking in the Missoulian, and it was in the back of my mind," Osweiler said. "So I wanted to take it right at him."
Osweiler got his chance on the first play of the game, and took it inside for the easy bucket. He scored seven points in the first quarter and 16 in the first half as Flathead went up 46-34 after 16 minutes.
"Man, Brock went after Edwards like a champ," senior Jason Russell said. "You couldn't tell he was a freshman tonight."
But Osweiler wasn't alone in storming out of the gate. Russell, who was inserted into the starting lineup because of his height and toughness inside, nailed a 3-pointer and scored nine in the opening quarter. He also hit a crucial free throw in the final minute, and finished with 10 points and five rebounds.
"He really gave us a boost early," Flathead coach Fred Febach said of Russell. "I was real proud of his effort tonight."
"I just wanted to come in and help the team," Russell said. "I didn't want to go out there and look like I shouldn't start."
After failing to have a single player in double figures on Friday, Flathead had three against Butte, including senior Jeremy DeHerrera, who had 16 points and three steals.
"It was a great bounce back after last night," Febach said. "The kids responded well and stepped up to the challenge."
The win helped the Braves improve to 10-3 overall and 5-2 in Western AA play. They also ran their home mark to a perfect 8-0.
"We came out with a chip on our shoulder tonight after what happened last night," Russell said. "And they (Butte) were picked No. 1 in (Western AA) preseason.
"Who doesn't want to knock off No. 1?"
Matt Hawbaker led the Bulldogs with 13 points, while Kyle Burgman added 10.
It's a busy week ahead for Flathead. The Braves host Libby on Tuesday and Missoula Hellgate on Thursday, and travel to Great Falls next Saturday.
BRAVES 53, BULLDOGS 46
Butte 14 13 7 12 - 46
Flathead 20 16 10 7 - 53
Butte - Mike Hawbaker 4-10 2-2 13, Brett Bond 1-9 0-0 3, Casey Dennehy 0-1 1-2 1, Kyle Burgman 5-16 0-0 10, Cole Conway 0-3 0-1 0, Jeff Edwards 3-8 0-0 6, Tyler Gilder 3-4 0-0 6, Brandon Boltz 3-5 1-3 7. Totals: 19-56 4-7 46.
Flathead - Ryan Gregg 0-1 0-0 0, Beau Watkins 0-3 0-0 0, Mack Andrews 0-2 1-2 1, Jeremy DeHerrera 7-13 1-1 16, Jason Russell 3-6 3-10 10, Brock Osweiler 7-12 8-10 22, Geoff Hogan 2-7 0-1 4. Totals: 19-44 13-24 53.
3-point goals: Butte 4 (Hawbaker 3, Bond), Flathead 2 (DeHerrera, Russell). Total fouls: Butte 20, Flathead 11. Fouled out: Burgman.