Rivals face off tonight: Glacier v. Flathead
A good old-fashioned rivalry game could be just what the doctor ordered for the Glacier and Flathead girls basketball teams.
The Bravettes are looking to get their first victory of the season while the Wolfpack is hoping to get back in the win column as both teams collide in a crosstown matchup at 6 p.m. tonight at Glacier.
"Rivalry games bring out the best in athletes," said Glacier coach Doug Hashley, whose team won three of it first four games but dropped seven of its last eight.
Hashley's daughter, Emilee, leads the scoring attack for Glacier, averaging 10.8 points-per-game and eight rebounds-per-game. The 6-foot senior post is coming off a Helena road trip where she scored a combined 33 points in two games. The Wolfpack dropped both games, but Hashley's dad feels confident the team is improving as the season moves along.
"We played two very good games in Helena," coach Hashley said. "We saw the consistency that we need every game. We'll get those breaks eventually.
"We had a good week of practice and we just need to continue that and keep it going and get better," he added.
Flathead got the best of Glacier in last year's inaugural crosstown matchup, winning 67-30 in the first of two meetings. The Bravettes won the second game at home, 64-53.
But after losing nine seniors from last year's 14-10 team, the Bravettes entered the 2008-09 season with the same mindset as the program-building Wolfpack.
"When you lose nine seniors, there's no varsity experience and we moved up a bunch of kids," Flathead coach Kim Elliott said.
The Bravettes have lost three games by three points or fewer and have a proven player in point guard Kelsey Hildal, who is third in AA in scoring with 17.7 ppg.
"The key for us is trying to corral Hildal," Hashley said. "She's probably one of the best point guards I've seen in a long time. So we've got to hold her at bay."
Senior Ariel Johnson is second in scoring for Flathead, averaging 7.2 ppg and 4.5 rpg. Her sophomore sister, Danika, is leading the team in rebounding with 6.3, while scoring 6.8 ppg.
"Danika Johnson is such a great rebounder, she seals well," Hashley said. "Ariel, her sister, is just a solid player …
"We've got to keep those girls in check and make sure we execute."
For Glacier, sophomore Rachel Cutler is second in scoring for her team with 7.3 ppg. Senior Lindsea Vaudt has stepped up as a strong rebounding guard, pulling down nearly five boards-per-game. Guards Ashlee Waggener and Sydney Sharaf have provided stability at the point for the Wolfpack, who finished 1-20 last season.
This season, the Wolfpack have lost close games to Missoula Sentinel (47-41) and Helena High (48-45).
"We started off well, and we're still playing well," Hashley said. "You can't reflect it on the W's and the L's, we are getting better each game and practice."
"There are only 3 and 1/2 weeks left. We play a lot of games and I know the girls will shine on," he added.
Elliott has the same outlook for the Bravettes. He said the team is getting back to the basics, which will pay off in the long run.
"For us, it's not just watching other teams win, but getting out there and doing it ourselves," Elliott said.
Reporter Dillon Tabish can be reached at 758-4463, or by e-mail at dtabish@dailyinterlake.com