Bravettes, Pack girls hope to spring upsets
The Flathead Bravettes and Glacier Wolfpack didn’t figure to be the bottom two seeds going into the Western AA Divisional that starts Thursday in Butte, but that’s how it worked out.
The good news is they’re both capable of the upset, in a league that’s balanced and competitive.
Flathead (5-13) opens the girls’ bracket at Butte’s Civic Center with a game against top-seeded Missoula Big Sky (15-3).
The Bravettes played the Eagles tough in Missoula on Feb. 8 before losing 56-48; their home rematch on Feb. 13 didn’t go as well (a 63-43 loss).
Basically Flathead has had, despite the presence of senior standout Kennedy Moore, difficulties scoring. Often it is a slow third quarter that dooms the Bravettes’ chances.
“There were times this season when we were in close games and had a bad quarter or two and weren’t able to keep those games close,” first-year Flathead coach Kaylee Fox said. “We’ve struggled to score sometimes in that quarter and that’s what we’ve been trying to work on, to put ourselves in our best possible position this weekend.”
Moore is the obvious focal point, averaging 14.7 points and 9.8 rebounds a game. Celie VandenBosch (6.8 ppg) and Harlie Roth (5.3) top the rest of the eight-player rotation; Chloe Converse is second to Moore in 3-pointers made.
Big Sky is led by Kadynce Couture (16.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game) but has seen point guard Avory DeCoite (13.5 ppg) bounce in and out of the lineup with an arm injury. Audrey Hale adds 8.7 ppg for the Eagles, but DeCoite really makes them go.
Fox noted that in the previous matchup in Missoula, her team worked the glass well.
“If we can control our offensive possessions, get good shots and rebound, we can play with anybody,” she added. “We just have to put four good quarters together.”
Glacier, also 5-13, plays the nightcap against No. 2 seed Missoula Hellgate (12-6), and while Wolfpack lost both regular-season meetings it is notable they trailed by just two going into the fourth quarter of the 53-45 home loss on Jan. 25.
The Knights have Elly Reed and Alex Mund, but the biggest problem is Chloe Larsen.
“She’s spectacular,” Glacier coach Amanda Cram said of Larsen, who averages 17.2 points a game. “She creates so many mismatches. But defensively, we just have to be better.
“We need to play great team defense and take care of the basketball.”
Junior Reese Ramey leads Glacier in scoring at 13.2 ppg, and Karley Allen (7.2 ppg has been a force off the bench. Cram is happiest to have a full squad, after losing Noah Fincher for two-plus weeks and Ramey for three games with injuries.
“This is the first time in five weeks I’ve had my entire team where everyone is 100 percent healthy,” Cram said. “Certainly we’re looking to put a full game together. It’s been a great week of practice. The girls seem focused and ready to play their best basketball. I would be lying if I said I didn’t share their excitement.
“It’s a great tournament to be the underdog. We’re going to go get it.”