Strong Bravettes should get stronger; Flathead boys young, athletic

The Flathead Bravettes followed up their first State AA basketball tournament appearance since 2013 with their first trophy since 2007, and a host of talented players are returning.

With one delayed exception.

Third-year coach Sam Tudor expects Maddy Moy to return to the court at some point after Christmas, but the senior guard has to get cleared after summer ACL surgery first.

Adding her to a returning cast of Kennedy Moore, Avery Chouinard and Akilah Kubi would make a team that went 19-6 last season that much more formidable.

As it is, the Bravettes are pretty well-stocked.

“Kennedy just looks really good,” Tudor said of Moore, who as a sophomore was second in the Western AA in rebounding and then averaged 14 points and 10.1 rebounds in Flathead’s 5-2 postseason run. “We have her listed at 6-foot-2 and she’s doing it all.

“Avery, she looks phenomenal. If we can keep her on the court I think our ball-handling and shooting will be right

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where it needs to be. By the postseason this team could be pretty special.”

Chouinard, a senior, was Flathead’s top outside threat last season and averaged 5.4 points a game — same as Kubi, who also averaged 6.3 rebounds a game as a junior.

Kubi is listed at 5-11; Tali Miller is the fourth senior, and is 5-8.

“Tali didn’t play much for us last year, but she’s a hustler,” Tudor said. “She’s kind of our Dennis Rodman — she rebounds and works hard.”

Junior Celie Vandenbosch is penciled in to start in place of Moy; other juniors that should contribute are guards Harlie Roth, Chloe Converse and Quinlenn Tennison.

Sophomores Mattie Thompson (6-0) and Samantha Dalager (6-1) would land imposing depth.

“We do have some younger kids that are going to provide some depth — and some height,” Tudor said. “I’m excited about that.

“But I’m not going to lie to you, it’s tough without Moy. We’re moving forward mainly because of her attitude. She pushes them as much as I do.”

Helena and Missoula Hellgate — 6-5 Alex Covill returns for the two-time State AA runner-up Knights — are among the favorites in the Western AA. Flathead, third at state in March, should be right there.

“We’re excited to get playing again,” Tudor said. “Once you develop that chemistry and get going, it’s going to be great. The girls are excited and I’m excited about them. We should have a lot of fun this year.”

Flathead boys

There’s length, there’s shooting and there is ball handling on the Braves’ boys basketball team — just not much experience.

Third-year coach Dirk Johnsrud allows that his team might not be highly thought of heading into Friday’s home game against Great Falls CMR: Junior Noah Cummings is the top returning scorer at 4.5 points a game.

But Cummings stands 6-6, junior Gabe Sims is 6-5 and sophomores Slate Burrington and Lyric Ersland are 6-5 and 6-4. And they’re athletic besides.

“We’re going to rely on our athleticism, to create offense with our defense,” said Johnsrud, whose club went 4-16 a season ago. “Noah Cummings put in a ton of time this offseason so I’m anxious to see where he’s at, along with Lyric Ersland.”

Johnsrud rates Cummings and Ersland as the team’s best shooters; he’s also counting on the lone senior, forward Michael Manning as well as point guard Josh Eagleton, a 6-0 junior.

“Josh took over our point guard in the offseason,” Johnsrud said. “He’s done a nice job. I was impressed with his skills Saturday in our Black and Orange scrimmage.”

Guard Stephen Riley could be another key contributor, along with forward Brody Thornsberry. Both are juniors.

“With one senior I’m sure we won’t be picked very high,” Johnsrud said. “But we’re looking with our youth and athleticism to turn some heads, and see what we can do.”