Bulldogs riding nine game winning streak
Willie Roche of Whitefish drives the ball against Libby. David Erickson / Whitefish Pilot
By DAVID ERICKSON
Whitefish Pilot
It’s all about timing.
With the Northwest Class A divisional tournament looming in three weeks, and only three games left to play in the regular season, the Whitefish boys basketball team has picked the right time to gel.
The Bulldogs made quick work of two nonconference opponents last week, dispatching Class B Eureka 58-35 on Thursday and blowing by Frenchtown 66-34 on Saturday night.
Whitefish is riding a nine-game winning streak, putting them at 11-4 overall, 5-2 in the conference.
Against Frenchtown on Saturday night, the ‘Dogs led 28-14 at the half and never let up. Colt Idol led all scorers with 17, while Aaron Tkachyk finished with 14.
Josh Backer had eight points, and Matt Whitehead led with five assists and three steals. Marc Hotzfield grabbed 11 rebounds, and senior Alex Elespuru had seven points off the bench.
It was Elespuru’s third game back from a wrist injury. A total of 10 different Bulldogs got in on the scoring action.
The Broncs managed only six points in the first quarter against a suddenly formidable Whitefish defense. Their best quarter was the third, when Frenchtown managed just 11 points to the Bulldogs’ 26.
Against Eureka on Thursday, the Bulldogs blew open a 39-15 lead going into halftime. Idol played barely more than two quarters but finished with a game-high 25 points. He leads the conference with an average of more than 20 points per game.
Connor Silliker had seven rebounds for Whitefish, while Whitehead had six assists and four steals. Tkachyk had 10 points and six assists. The Bulldogs had only eight turnovers against the Lions.
The boys host Bigfork on Thursday, Feb. 12 (tonight), at home. They will head to Columbia Falls on Friday night for a re-match with their cross-valley rivals. The Wildcats will no doubt be looking to make up for their loss to Whitefish earlier this season.
Whitefish is now ranked No. 5 in the state for Class A by a coaches poll.
Frenchtown 6 8 11 9 - 34
Whitefish 12 16 26 12 - 66
WHITEFISH — Matt Whitehead 4, Aaron Tkachyk 14, Alex Elespuru 7, Josh Backer 8, Marc Hotzfield 9, Connor Silliker 2, Colt Idol 17, Mac Roche 1, Cole Havens 3, David FauntLeRoy 1.
FRENCHTOWN — Cody Kirk 6, Tyler Nornand 4, Carson Hochhalter 1, Jonny Dilwurth 2, Sean Amundson 4, Bryden Peacock 3, Tyler Wilde 4, Richard Weber 2, Jack Willis 4, Jake Anderson 4.
Whitefish 21 18 8 11 - 58
Eureka 11 4 9 11 - 35
WHITEFISH - Matt Whitehead 2, Aaron Tkachyk 10, Willie Roche 2, Josh Backer 4, Marc Hotzfield 6, connor Silliker 4, Colt Idol 25, Mac Roche 1, David FauntLeRoy 4.
EUREKA - Kade Davis 3, Tanner Peterson 2, Ryan Holder, 2, Ben Dechart 13, Marcus Pluid 15.