Braves start hoops season with convincing win
After a winless 2023-24 season, the Flathead Braves wasted no time picking up their first win on their season opener, 73-49 over the visiting Great Falls Bison Friday night.
Braves head coach Dan Trageser got his first win as head coach in his second season with the team, a victory that was much needed for a program he is trying to rebuild.
“This is a first win for a lot of our kids, and they earned it,” Trageser said. “We went through a lot of adversity last year and for them to come out and win the home opener I am very proud of them.”
The Braves were led by senior Lyric Ersland, who made four three-pointers and finished with 27 points, just one off his career-high.
Senior Brodee Zahn was another key contributor, scoring 16 points, and senior Korbin Eaton added 13 points off the bench after coming in for Gabe St. Germain who was in early foul trouble.
“Lyric, Korbin and BZ had great games tonight and it’s just the extra work that they put in,” Trageser said. “But for us, it’s never about individual numbers, tonight it was those three, tomorrow it could be another three.
“That’s the beauty of our team; we have a lot of seniors with a lot of experience that play for each other.”
Great Falls took a 4-0 lead in the first quarter before the Braves responded with a three and a layup to take their first lead and never trailed again.
They outscored the Bison 24-11 in the second quarter as their full-court pressure and trapping defense led to easy points.
“We are always going to try to push the tempo and make teams uncomfortable,” Trageser said. “Anytime we can speed a team up, get out and run, that’s when we are at our best and it worked well at that time in the game.”
The Braves put the game away early in the fourth quarter by going on a 7-0 run that saw their lead balloon to 20. Trageser was able to clear his bench and played 13 players.
“We have been preaching since day one to trust the process and they would have this moment,” Trageser said. “They never gave in to what other people were saying about our program and to be able to play 13 kids, just shows the work they put in over the summer and the fall.”
The ability to clear the bench tonight could be a big deal for Flathead as the Braves have a quick turnaround and host Great Falls CMR at 2 p.m. Saturday. Like Friday, that game will be at the Boyle Gym. The Rustlers beat Glacier Friday night 56-40.
“Our kids are going to be excited to go 1-0, but our goal is to win every day,” Trageser said. “Tomorrow is a new day; we are not going to cheat the process, and we are going to try to do things the right way tomorrow against a very good CMR team.”
Great Falls 12 11 16 10 - 49
Flathead 14 24 15 20 - 73
GREAT FALLS — Steele Harris 2 1-1 5, Blake Carver 3 0-0 7, Gavin Bebbington 1 0-0 3, Noah Banderob 3 5-6 12, Keenan Seltzer 0 0-2 0, Matt Kambic 3 1-2 7, Emmitt Richmond 4 5-6 13, Colter DeVoss 0 2-2 2. Totals 16 14-19 49.
FLATHEAD — Dustyn Franchini-White 1 0-0 2, Lyric Ersland 11 1-1 27, Gabe St. Germaine 1 0-0 2, Noah Sonju 3 2-4 8, Brodee Zahn 7 1-2 16, Korbin Eaton 6 1-4 13, Boston Case 1 0-0 3, Ben Reichner 1 0-0 2, Kaleb Sims 0 0-0 0, Cam Wells 0 0-0 0, Eli Coopman, Colin Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals 31 5-11 73.
3-point goals — Great Falls 3 (Carver, Bebbington, Banderob), Flathead 6 (Ersland 4, Case, Zahn). Fouls — Great Falls 12, Flathead 18. Fouled out — none.