Boy's hoops put this season to rest

It's the second season. Everybody's 0-0. Anything can happen.

All three are applicable at this week's double-elimination Northwestern 'A' Divisional Tournament that got underway yesterday in Ronan.

The Whitefish Bulldogs were to play Polson last night (results were not available at deadline) in the six-team tournament that wraps-up Saturday night with two teams punching their ticket to state next month in Butte.

The Bulldogs came into divisionals winless on the year. Last Friday night, their final shot at a regular season victory, Bigfork's Laine Averill sank two free throws under 75 seconds left to give the Vikings a six-point lead 42-36.

Bigfork added another hoop following a Bulldog turnover to make it an insurmountable 44-36 lead with just 52 seconds left. Final score: Bigfork 48 Whitefish 44.

The Vikings converted 10-of -15 free throws in the fourth quarter as they tallied 12 points total in the final frame. The Vikes were 18-of-24 for the game from the charity stripe.

Much like in the first meeting between the two teams, the disparity in points scored by each in the second quarter Friday night at W-H-S was noticeable.

"The halftime score was 25-17, which is not a huge deficit to overcome but with the game we play we need to be within four or six points, come out and play close after halftime," said Bulldog head coach Derek Schulz.

Whitefish was outscored 15-6 in the second stanza which was about the same differential when Bigfork defeated the Bulldogs last month in Bigfork.

"We have struggled making key shots at key times as well as a defensive lapse or two, but with three minutes left in the game we still have a chance. The battle was in us despite not being able to get it done," Schulz added.

Bulldog Mike McCracken was valiant in his efforts throughout the night as he went double-double in points and rebounds (11 and 10).

Whitefish did battle to have a shot late in the game.

Down by 12 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs reeled Bigfork closer over the last eight minutes outscoring them 19-12. Whitefish closed the gap to within four three times in the final 2:30 of play.

Luke Taylor led Bigfork scoring 12 points while hauling down seven rebounds. Cy Murer added 11 and eight boards for the Vikes as they snapped a five-game losing streak.

Bulldog Cody Idol, who's two free throws under two minutes left in the contest got Whitefish to within four, 40-36, scored 8 points on the night.

The winner of last night's Polson/Whitefish game will play tonight 8 against Libby, the number two seed in the tournament. If the Bulldogs were not successful they next would play tomorrow night against the loser of Columbia Falls/Winner of Ronan vs. Bigfork (check tournament bracket). Both Northwestern 'A' Boys & Girls Divisional Tournaments are taking place at the same time in Ronan at the same venue which has changed some things.

Last night Whitefish faced Polson's formidable senior tandem, Brandon Couture and Bubba Michel. The two have come up big in games throughout the season.

In a win over league champ Columbia Falls, 55-48 Feb. 12 in Polson, the two combined to score 37 points and haul down 20 rebounds.

"Couture is a fairly difficult match-up for us. He's not big (6'1" to 6'2" in height), but he's quick and jumps well," said Schulz.

"Michel had a great night shooting against us twice and Colton Woods (on the perimeter) is a consistent player who handles the ball well. They are not deep and we hope to test some of their depth by getting them in foul trouble by utilizing our height inside."

Polson did win both games this year against the 'Dogs by double-digit margins. When the two met most recently at W-H-S, a 53-40 Polson win, the Pirates missed just two shots in the second half.

"We had to change our defense to man-to-man because Polson practically couldn't miss which caused some difficulty because they are so patient on offense."

If the Bulldogs were successful against the Pirates they'd be matching up tonight against a formidable opponent in defending state 'A' champion Libby.

The Loggers eeked out a 49-46 win at the buzzer in Whitefish Jan. 29. Libby guard Aaron Sutton nailed the 20-footer to quell the Bulldogs best chance, at the time, of snaring their first win of the season.

You can hear the next Bulldog game locally, tonight or tomorrow night approx. 8 p.m., on 'The Voice of the Bulldogs,' NewsTalk 880 AM KJJR.