Stillwater starts basketball season with tourney, new coach
Stillwater Christian School basketball coaches Dana Hashley and Denise Topp will have a better understanding of what's to come after opening the season today and Saturday with the Cougar Classic.
The SCS boys graduated five starters and eight seniors off last year's squad that finished third at state and posted a 22-7 record. The Cougars won MCAA state titles in 2005 and 2006.
The SCS girls return just one starter. The Cougars finished second at state last year.
"This year, we have a lot of young kids," said Hashley, the SCS boys' coach.
"We will have to play real intense and aggressive to win games. We didn't return very many, but we do have a real strong program."
The Cougars will have some size with John Harrell, a 6-foot-6 senior, at the post position. Harrell played JV ball a year ago.
"He sure likes to block shots," Hashley said.
Zach George, a 6-2 senior post, and Logan Ward, 6-2 junior guard, can both score.
"Very fundamentally sound," Hashley said of George.
"He can do it both (shoot inside and outside).
"We're looking for some good 3-point shooting from him (Ward)."
Tim Butterfield, a 6-1 junior post, has had a strong preseason camp.
Three sophomores - Ryan Thompson, 6-1 guard, Jake Meerkatz, 6-1 guard, and Jeremy Curtis, 5-8 guard - and one freshman - Daniel Jentz, 5-4 guard - are on the varsity roster and looking to earn playing time.
Hashley will open the season with eight varsity players.
"We've been stressing defense," Hashley said.
"In our league, defense is (what makes you) very successful. It's all about aggressive play."
Hashley, now in his third year, said the Cougars have been an up-tempo team in the past. This year, that will change.
"We want to get the ball up court quickly, but set up an offense," he said.
"We will be very patient this year to get the ball inside."
Hashley will be assisted this season by Dave Heine, who has been in the program for at least 10 years, and Ryan Speer, who played basketball at SCS seven years ago.
Topp begins her first season as a head coach.
"A lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm," Topp said of what she has seen in practice.
"The kids are getting to know me and what my expectations are."
Topp has coached previously at the junior high school level and was a JV coach in Nebraska.
The Cougars welcome back one starter in Nichole Danz, a 5-7 senior shooting guard.
Abby Smith, 5-8 junior post, and Amanda Nichols, 5-5 senior point guard, both garnered a lot of playing time last season.
"Danz has a great outside touch," Topp said.
"Amanda Nichols has a nice mid-range shot."
Five girls who collected limited playing time a year ago were Sarah Cloyed, 5-5 senior guard; Sarah Meerkatz, 5-6 senior post; Charli Wells, 5-6 shooting guard; Lindsay Vander Ark, 5-9 sophomore post; and Dana Topp, 5-6 sophomore shooting guard.
Coach Topp said Smith and Vander Ark are very strong when it comes to scoring off their rebounds.
"(Defensively), we'll see if we can mix it up and get some turnovers that way," Topp said.
"We will be more deliberate, go with a half-court offense."
Assisting with the coaching will be Sarah O'Rourke.
Stillwater opens the season today with its annual Cougar Classic. The boys and girls will both play once today and Saturday.
Five teams will be competing in the classic, including defending state champions Flathead Valley Home School (girls) and Helena Christian School (boys).
Cougar Classic
Today
Boys
2:30 p.m. - Helena Home School vs. Stillwater Christian School
7:30 p.m. - Helena Christian School vs. Flathead Valley Home School
Girls
1 p.m. - Helena Home School vs. Stillwater Christian School
6 p.m. - Helena Christian School vs. Flathead Valley Home School
Saturday
Noon - Helena Home School vs. Flathead Valley Home School
6 p.m. - Helena Christian School vs. Stillwater Christian School
Girls
10:30 a.m. - Helena Home School vs. Flathead Valley Home School
4:30 p.m. - Helena Christian School vs. Stillwater Christian School