Class AA boys preview: Glacier hopes to rise to expectations

With expectations high as ever, the Glacier boys are focused entering this weekend’s Class AA state basketball tournament in Great Falls.

Having left the tournament early after earning a top seed the last two seasons, the Wolfpack has made it a goal to get to the championship game this season.

“We have a lot of guys that were frustrated after the state tournament last year,” Glacier coach Mark Harkins said. “They’ve been focused all year. We set our goals at the beginning of the year. One of those goals is to be playing on Saturday night. They’re all pretty focused, pretty motivated.”

The Wolfpack (17-3) opens the tournament at 10:30 a.m. today against Eastern four-seed Butte (5-16). The Bulldogs earned their trip to the tournament with a 65-57 playoff upset over Bozeman last Wednesday.

“Their record on the season isn’t great, but they beat a very good Bozeman team in the upset,” Harkins said. “We know we’re up for a heck of a challenge in that first round.”

The Bulldogs are led by big man Dallas Cook, the star of the state championship football team, but also a capable scorer on the court. Cook is averaging a team-high 13.8 points per game and 9.4 rebounds while hitting nearly half his shots from the floor. He scored 23 points to lead Butte in the playoff.

Along with Butte, Glacier is on the same side of the bracket as Billings West and Missoula Hellgate, each teams that have been in the top five all season long. The other side features Helena Capital, host team Great Falls High, Billings Skyview and Missoula Big Sky.

“I think it’s anybody’s tournament,” Harkins said. “There’s some teams with some impressive records, but also teams that are geting hot at the right time.”

There were a pair of big upsets in the East, led by Butte’s win, but also Great Falls’ second straight playoff upset over a high seed. The third-seeded Bison can shoot with anybody, and are matched up with Capital in the first round, a team they beat at home earlier in the season.

For Glacier to have a chance, it will have to carry its well-rounded game into the postseason, where teams will look to take away both the transition game and 7-footer Ryan Edwards in the half court.

“That’s been the neat thing about our team this year.” Harkins said. “Ryan’s obviously going to attract a lot of attention. But, we have seven different guys that have scored in double figures this season. We have lots of guys that can score for us and get the job done.”

And despite the stellar seasons by the Wolfpack’s perimeter players, much of the attention will be on Edwards, who demands attention in the post. The big man has improved through the season in adjusting to double- and triple-teams he has seen throughout the year.

“(Ryan’s) always been a good passer, he’s really starting to see where pressure is coming and is finding the open guy,” Harkins said. “On other side, the guys are recognizing when he’s double-teamed and cutting to the basket.”

The Wolfpack will look to improve on its performance from last season, where it won its first game at state but promptly lost the next two, including a heartbreaker to rival Flathead in the semifinals.

“We can’t be tight,” Harkins said. “We’ve got to come out and play our game, execute, handle the ebbs and flows. Hopefully, it will pay off down the stretch.”

State AA Boys

Great Falls Four Seasons Arena

Thursday

9 a.m. Billings West (17-3) vs. Missoula Hellgate (17-4)

10:30 a.m. Kalispell Glacier (17-3) vs. Butte (5-16)

3:30 p.m. Helena Capital (15-6) vs. Great Falls (11-10)

5 p.m. Billings Skyview (17-3) vs. Missoula Big Sky (11-10)