CDA throttles Wolfpack
Glacier’s Kayla Smart takes a shot while Coeur d’Alene’s Dayna Drager (5), left, Natalie Stewart (2) and Whitney Heleker (30) defend during the Wolfpack’s season-opening game Friday at Glacier High. Coeur d’Alene won 76-27. Karen Nichols/Daily Inter Lake
The first points in Glacier Wolfpack girls' basketball history belong to sophomore guard Brooke Watkins.
It was a nice little layup just over five minutes into Friday's inaugural girls' basketball game at Glacier High School. The first assist went to Emilee Hashley.
But pretty much everything else went to the visiting Coeur d'Alene Vikings as they downed host Glacier (0-1) 76-27.
"We ran into a buzz saw in Coeur d'Alene - and we knew it was coming. They are very talented," said Glacier coach Doug Hashley.
"It's tough to take that, as a coach and as a player. But it's good to play somebody like that because they did expose our weaknesses. I'd rather play this type of team that exposes (weaknesses) … so we can correct them earlier in our season," he said.
The Vikings are 7-0 on the young season - and they've already defeated Idaho 5A state champion Lake City.
"They exposed our weaknesses - and we've got a lot of them," Hashley said.
"We looked good in spurts and we're really happy about that," he said.
"I'm real proud of each and every one of these girls. They started well and they just played hard. They never gave up - and they won't. The girls just got into that buzz saw. It's tough to play when you're overmatched," Hashley said.
"The effort the girls gave was fantastic," he said.
The good news was the Wolfpack rebounded right along with the taller, more experienced Vikings. Coeur d'Alene finished the night with 29 rebounds, while the Wolfpack had 25.
Turnovers were huge for both sides - the Wolfpack committed 27 while the Vikings had just seven.
Hashley led the Wolfpack with six points. Jolee Kampf had five rebounds and five points and Lindsea Vaudt added six points and two steals.
For the Vikings, it was 6-foot-2 freshman Carli Rosenthal with 16 points.
"That big girl inside, she's really good… and for a freshman …" Hashley said.
After Rosenthal, the Vikings showed a balanced offensive attack, with junior guards Kama Griffitts scoring 11 and Whitney Heleker with 10.
The Wolfpack heads to Great Falls today to take on CMR in a game scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Hashley can't wait to get going.
"I'm just pleased as punch. We've got a lot of things to work on. But I'm just dang jacked. I'm so excited to do this. We're starting at the beginning and it's just a great feeling."
Cour d'Alene Vikings 76, Glacier Wolfpack 27
CDA 20 21 17 18 - 76
Glacier 4 12 4 7 - 27
Coeur d'Alene - Natalie Stewart 4 1-2 9, Dayna Drager 1 0-0 3, Kama Griffitts 5 0-0 11, Sadie Simon 4 0-0 9, Ali Johnson 2 2-2 6, Amy Warbrick 2 2-2 6, Carli Rosenthal 6 4-4 16, Whitney Heleker 3 3-5 10, Bybee 3 0-0 6. Totals 30 12-15 76.
Glacier - Kayla Smart 1 0-0 3, Jolee Kampf 2 1-2 5, Kadie Latimer 1 0-0 3, Lindsea Vaudt 1 4-4 6, Emilee Hashley 2 2-3 6, Jenelle Hoover 0 2-2 2. Totals 8 9-11 27.
3-point goals: Coeur d Alene - 4 (Drager, Griffitts, Simon, Heleker), Glacier 2 (Smart, Latimer), Total fouls: Coeur d'Alene 15, Glacier 12. Fouled out: None. Total rebounds: Coeur d'Alene 29, Glacier 25. Turnovers: Coeur d'Alene 7, Glacier 27.