Bulldog boys go to work

Get ready for some blue-collar basketball.

With just two returning varsity players from last season and no obvious go-to scorer, the Bulldogs boys squad plans to play a grind-it-out style of team ball that focuses on hustle and strength.

"The effort has to come from everybody," Bulldog coach Mark Casazza said. "We're going to have to bust our butts on defense and outwork the other team."

This is Casazza's first year as head coach of the varsity team. He replaces Eric Stang, who is now a coaching assistant at Providence College in Rhode Island.

Returning from last season's varsity squad are seniors Willie Roche, 6 feet 1 inches, 150 pounds, and Conner Silliker, 6 feet 6 inches, 200 pounds. Both played for the varsity football team this year.

"We're young this year, so a lot of success will come from developing the younger kids," Casazza said. "Those younger kids are going to look to (Roche and Silliker) for leadership."

Whitefish graduated the league's leading scorer, Colt Idol, last year — leaving a gapping hole on the stat sheet. Casazza says it's too early to tell if anyone on the roster will step into that role as the go-to scorer.

"That's going to play its way out," he said. "Until then, I want a total team effort. For us to be successful, we have to be a more well-rounded team. We're going to be a lot more focused on defense. The goal will be to keep the score low."

Casazza told the team they have to do three things well to win in the league.

"I told them that we have to take care of the ball, we have to win the rebound war and we have to focus on getting high-percentage shots," he said.

The Bulldogs are poised to make noise in a conference that appears to be jumbled at the top.

"Columbia Falls is really tough this year," Casazza said. "The other four teams are clumped together and anything can happen."

Whitefish opens the season at Class AA Glacier on Tuesday.

"It's going to be a fun test," Casazza said. "They've done a great job of getting a solid program going. We've been waiting a long time for this season to start, so we'll be ready."

The game is slated for 8 p.m.

Austin Green 12 5'7" G

Cole Havens' 12 5'8" G

Zach Maassen 12 6'2" F

Willie Roche 12 6'0" F

Connor Silliker 12 6'5" P

Kyler Blades' 11 5'8" G

Alex Duroche 11 6'8" P

Drew Galbraith 11 6'4" P

Mac Roche 11 6'0" F

Conner Watterud 11 6'1" F

Chris Forrest 10 5'10" G

Gage Vasquez 10 6'4" F