Bulldogs grab first league victory

BIGFORK - Should the Bulldogs continue to mount momentum through the heart of their season, they shouldn't have trouble identifying their turning point.

The Whitefish High School boys' basketball team showcased stingy defense and steady offense Friday night in a 56-44 Northwestern A victory over Bigfork.

The Bulldogs (4-5, 1-3) notched their first conference win, while the Vikings (3-6, 0-4) continue to search for a league triumph.

Senior guard Shawn Watterud hit three treys en route to 16 points for Whitefish, which controlled the contest from the middle of the first quarter on. The Bulldogs led by as many as 18 points in the second stanza before cruising into halftime with a 33-19 advantage and continually responding to Bigfork's modest second-half runs.

The Bulldogs went 14-for-16 from the free-throw line, making all nine of their attempts before the final frame.

"Bigfork's not an easy place to play by any means," Whitefish coach Eric Stang said. "Our big thing was coming out and playing consistent for four solid quarters, and I felt we did that for the most part.

"We had some lapses here and there, but we adjusted, and once we got the lead, we kept the distance and held onto it."

Colt Idol's 12 points were well below his conference-high average of 22.6, but his unselfishness and presence as a versatile threat contributed to Whitefish's offensive balance. Aaron Tkachyk scored 13 points before leaving the game with an apparent ankle injury early in the fourth quarter, and 5-foot-9 guard Matt Whitehead sparked the Bulldogs with four first-half rebounds.

Junior forward Brock Boll paced Bigfork with 14 points, followed by Roland Benedict with 11 and Garrett Pewe with nine. Sophomore post Keenan Evans grabbed six boards.

The Vikings outscored the Bulldogs 25-23 in the second half, but failed to convert several opportunities near the basket that could have changed the game's complexion.

"We missed some chippies," Bigfork coach Jim Epperly said. "Some of those chippies go down, and instead of being a 10- or 12-point game, it's four or six, and then the pressure's on (Whitefish) a little bit.

"To beat any team in Class A, you've got to play four quarters, and we didn't do that. We played pretty solid in the second half, and that was about it."

Whitefish's pressure led to 20 Bigfork turnovers, and the Vikings made just six field goals in the opening half.

"I thought the first half we were just a little bit too excited … and we took a lot of silly shots," Epperly said. "I got them calmed down a little bit at the half, and I thought we played solid - much more in control and much more together - in the second half."

Bigfork closed within nine points early in the fourth quarter, mixing man and zone defenses to remain within striking distance despite its offensive struggles. But the Bulldogs' complete effort gave them a potentially pivotal victory.

"We finally pulled it together and played as a team for four quarters, and it all came together for us," Watterud said.

"We've lost most of our conference games by close points, so coming here and getting a big win - our first conference win - really helps."

Stang said whether or not Friday night goes down as a crucial turning point remains to be seen in the weeks ahead - but it was just what the Bulldogs were hoping for.

"Our big thing we talked about was putting the expectations aside and just concentrating on playing four solid quarters," he said, "and where we end up is where we end up."

Whitefish 17 16 9 14 - 56

Bigfork 9 10 10 15 - 44

WHITEFISH (4-5, 1-3) - Matt Whitehead 1 0-1 2, Aaron Tkachyk 6 0-0 13, Shawn Watterud 3 7-8 16, Josh Backer 1 2-2 4, Marc Hotzfield 0 2-2 2, Brian Flickinger 1 1-1 3, Colt Idol 4 2-2 12, David FauntLeRoy 2 0-0 4. Totals 18 14-16 56.

BIGFORK (3-6, 0-4) - Roland Benedict 5 0-2 11, Levi Dockstader 2 0-1 4, Jake Milner 0 3-4 3, Brock Boll 6 0-0 14, Garrett Pewe 3 2-4 9, Keenan Evans 0 1-2 1, Ben Sandry 1 0-0 2. Totals 17 6-13 44.

3-point goals - WF 6 (Watterud 3, Idol 2, Tkachyk), BF 4 (Boll 2, Benedict, Pewe). Team fouls - WF 13, BF 14. Fouled out - Dockstader.