AA boys basketball: Flathead, Glacier open season with road games

Flathead and Glacier each reached the semifinals of the Class AA boys basketball state tournament a year ago, but the two Kalispell schools enter this season with differing expectations.

Glacier (17-5 last season) lost 63-58 to Flathead in last year’s semifinal, but returns three all-conference starters and was voted Western AA’s top team in the Billings Gazette’s preseason coaches poll.

Flathead (13-11 last season), which returns two starters, was picked sixth out of seven.

“We lost seven awfully good seniors off last year’s team, so initially we need people to step up,” Flathead coach Fred Febach said.

Among Flathead’s biggest losses are leading scorer George Sherwood (15.2 points per game), the Braves’ only all-state selection a year ago, and point guard Matt McClean (12.7 points per game). Febach said he isn’t sure who will fill the scoring void left by those graduations, but he said his team has several viable options.

“I really couldn’t point to one guy,” he said. “I think we have several guys that are capable of stepping up and leading us in scoring on any given night.”

Febach said 6-foot junior Blaine Newman will get the first crack at replacing McClean at point guard, but 6-1 junior Will Cronk and 5-foot-9 senior Parker Sutton are also in the mix.

Six-foot senior guard Matt Tokarz and 6-4 senior forward Shea Schroeder, Flathead’s only returning starters, are expected to provide leadership to an inexperienced team. Schroeder is the Braves’ leading returning scorer and rebounder after averaging 6.8 points and 5.8 boards a year ago. Tokarz averaged 4.6 points last season.

“They’re two guys that are very strong leaders and awfully good athletes,” Febach said.

“Shea’s added about 10 pounds of muscle weight. He can go hard to the basket, he can post up and he’s an excellent rebounder for us.

“And Tokarz, what an athlete. He’s so athletic and strong that he’s a tough matchup for people, and he’s an excellent defender.”

Six-foot-8 senior Garth West gives the Braves an experienced post presence. He averaged 3.4 points and 2.4 rebounds as a reserve last season.

“I think we’re long and we’re athletic,” Febach said. “I believe we can get up and down the floor.

“It’s just the lack of games. We’re coming into a season wondering who can play where. We’ll play a lot of guys early and figure things out. I think this group will be quick learners and will certainly be very competitive.”

Glacier coach Mark Harkins said it would be unwise to overlook Flathead, especially after the experience the Braves gained from last year’s run to the state title game, which it lost 61-48 to Billings West.

“They made a great run last year all the way to the state championship, so they’ll be able to build on that and focus on what got them there last year,” Harkins said.

Febach said Flathead’s toughest conference opponent should be crosstown-rival Glacier.

“The team across town is absolutely loaded,” he said. “I think they’re the force in Western AA.”

As the preseason favorite to win the conference, Glacier knows it has a target on its back, but Harkins said that’s an exciting challenge for his experienced roster, which includes 10 seniors.

“I think teams are going to show up and play their best games against us,” he said. “Teams are really going to want to give us their best shot.”

Glacier is led by all-state 7-foot center Ryan Edwards, a Gonzaga recruit who led Class AA with 10.8 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game last season. He also averaged 12.8 points.

“He’s such a huge presence,” Harkins said. “Defensively he can play in the middle and we can pressure with our guards because we know we have him back there.”

Harkins said Edwards is also a great offensive weapon, citing his good hands, footwork and a reliable mid-range jump shot.

The Wolfpack also returns a pair of second team all-conference guards in 5-9 senior point guard Evan Epperly and 5-11 senior Kyle Griffith.

Epperly averaged 11.4 points and a team-leading 3.7 assists and 2.3 steals last season. Griffith was Glacier’s leading scorer with 12.8 points per game.

“Evan’s an incredibly smart floor general,” Harkins said. “He knows who needs the ball and when to get them the ball.

“Kyle’s an amazing athlete. He’s incredibly fast, he can leap, he’s got a great motor. He creates all sorts of problems for teams.”

Six-foot-2 senior forward Logan Iverson, who averaged 5.6 points off the bench last season, also brings valuable experience.

“I think one of our strengths is our depth,” Harkins said. “We have 10 seniors, so we should be able to get up and down the floor.”

Harkins said his biggest concern entering the season is what will happen when Edwards goes to the bench for a breather.

“My biggest concern right now is defense and rebounding, especially when Ryan’s not in the game,” he said. “Those two things I think we’ve really got to work on as a basketball team.”

Glacier opens its season today at Great Falls C.M. Russell at 7:30 p.m. Flathead opens Saturday at Great Falls High at 4:30 p.m.