The Whitefish Bulldogs look to get their first win of the '04-'05 season after getting blanked in 2004, as they face undefeated Columbia Falls tomorrow night on Logger turf.

A new year of hopes as Bulldogs face Loggers Friday

The Bulldogs concluded last year with a 69-48 defeat to Libby.

Logger guard, Aaron Sutton, scored 20 points while George Mercer chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds. Libby had 10 different scorers and outscoree Whitefish in every quarter and shot 60 percent for the game.

"Things got away from us in the second half with foul trouble and we had a hard time controlling (Aaron) Sutton from free throw line to free throw line," said Bulldog head coach Derek Schulz. The Bulldogs were paced by Cody Idol who scored 14, senior Philip Bertelsen added 10. Undefeated Columbia Falls, 5-0, ended their year with a win over Hamilton, 59-38, and a rout of Class AA Flathead, 54-33, on Dec.17. Wildcat Guy Smith scored 17 points and Anthony Minson added nine points and 10 rebounds as C-Falls downed Hamilton.

Columbia Falls out-rebounded Hamilton 50-25 and held them to 21 points through three quarters of play.

Against Flathead, the Wildcats were just as stingy defensively allowing just 14 points in the first half.

"They take a lot of pressure off their offensive execution because they create so much with their defense," says Schulz.

"Against a team like Columbia Falls we're going to have to play near perfect basketball in terms of taking care of the ball so as to give us a chance to win." As for his crew, Wildcat head coach Cary Finberg knew there was some promise coming into the season.

"Offensively this is probably the best team I've had since I've been here," said Finberg into his ninth season at the helm of C-Falls.

"We've got a lot of guys who can flat-out score… (and) probably eleven kids who could've started for me at one time or another. But if we are going to accomplish anything this year it's got to be done defensively."

The Wildcats won the state championship in 2003 and were third in 2002.

"They (the Wildcats) have great offensive balance," adds Schulz. "Granted, teams are (comprised) of individuals, but Columbia Falls doesn't have a superstar if-you-will… they can beat you in different ways."

On Saturday, Whitefish continues on the road for another Northwest A match-up with the Polson Pirates.

The Pirates last played on Dec. 21, losing to Frenchtown 52-41. The Broncs outscored Polson in the second half, 32-25. Polson only tallied 4 points in the second quarter.

Brandon Couture tallied 27 points to pace Polson. A couple of nights before that Polson was outscored 36-22 in the second half as they fell 63-58 to Stevensville.

The Pirates led at the half 36-27, on the strength of a 22-point second quarter. Colton Woods led the Polson attack with 22 points.

"They (Polson) are in a similiar situation as we are - kids with varsity experience but not a lot of varsity success," said Schulz.

"Polson always play hard and are well coached. They, like us, have the capability to get better and post some wins as the season progresses." Both games vs. Columbia Falls tomorrow night and Polson Saturday can be heard on radio locally at NewsTalk 880 AM KJJR.