Eureka prepared for next challenge
Don't let the record fool you - Eureka is much better than that.
The Lions, winners of the District 8-B regular-season and tournament titles, may be 10-9 overall, but they head to the Western B divisional today in Hamilton on a mini roll.
The Lions posted two victories to capture the District 8-B tournament title in Polson on Feb. 15-16.
Prior to that, Eureka won two of its final regular-season contests.
In 8-B play, the Lions own a 7-1 mark.
"I think it was a little frustrating going into the district tournament," Eureka coach John Hammond said of his team's overall record.
"But I don't think it has hurt us at all. We had seven Class A schools this year. We didn't get any wins (against them), but for the most part, when we played a team the second time around, we improved."
Hammond said going up against Class A foes like Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Libby and Polson only made his team that much stronger.
Eureka opens divisional play against Seeley-Swan (10-12) at 12:30 p.m. on Dale Berry Court. Seeley-Swan, unlike Eureka, has struggled down the stretch, losing five of its last seven games.
Eureka and Seeley-Swan did not meet during the regular season. Hammond said the Lions were able to watch Seeley-Swan play in the St. Ignatius tournament to begin the season and in summer league action. He's also watched plenty of film on the Blackhawks.
"I think if we play well, we will stack up with anybody down there," Hammond said.
"I think our upperclassmen have really stepped up and have taken over a leadership role, keeping the team together. The younger kids have come a long way from where they started the season. They're playing more like juniors and seniors than sophomores."
Hammond will have two sophomores in his starting lineup this weekend - Carly Hammond, 5-foot-7 guard, and Tayler Holder, 5-7 guard/forward. Those two also draw the tough assignments on the defensive side of things.
Melanie Finch, 5-8 senior post, and Mariah Newell, 5-11 junior post, have been productive scorers for the Lions. Newell is averaging just under 15 points per game while Finch is just under 10.
Staring at the other spot will be either Kayci West, 5-5 junior guard, or Rica Fils, 5-4 senior, guard.
One concern Hammond and the other coaches had to deal with was the week break between district tournaments and divisionals.
"We only practiced three days (last week)," coach Hammond said.
"We did put in some things we haven't shown anybody."
Coach Hammond said the practice tempo picked up this week.
"We went hard three days," he said.
"We're tired of banging on each other. We're ready to step on the court with somebody else."
The top two teams advance to the state tournament March 6-8 at the Butte Civic Center.
A victory today would send Eureka into a Friday semifinal matchup at 6:30 p.m. against either St. Ignatius (6-14) or seventh-ranked Loyola (16-4).
If Eureka loses its divisional opener, the Lions would play a loser-out contest on Friday at 12:30 p.m.
The championship game is set for Saturday at 8 p.m.
Florence owns the second best record of divisional teams. The Falcons, ranked No. 10, are 15-5.
Florence knocked off Loyola 35-30 in their district tournament championship game.
Eureka competed in Class A last year, but the Lions did advance to state in Class B play for 2005-06 season. The Lions went 0-2 at state and were divisional runners-up.
Western B
Divisional
Today
At Hamilton
Dale Berry Court
12:30 p.m. - Eureka (10-9) vs. Seeley-Swan (10-12)
2 p.m. - St. Ignatius (4-16) vs. Loyola (16-4)
6:30 p.m. - Florence (15-5) vs. Plains (7-14)
8 p.m. - Deer Lodge (14-8) vs. Thompson Falls (11-9)