Page 69 - Flathead Beacon // 12.17.14

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SPORTS
DECEMBER 17, 2014 | 69
the helm of the Pirates and hoping to lead the boys back to the state tourna- ment. Kelley only has two starting spots to fill and three talented players to rely on, including sophomore Tanner Olson, a 6-foot-1 guard with a sharp shot.
The girls team brings back a pair of all-conference honorable mention selec- tions, Skyla Krantz and Nichole Lake, and a young team that gained a lot of ex- perience last season and hopes to keep building.
The Northwestern A boys and girls divisional tournaments are in White- fish, Feb. 26-28. The Class A girls state tournament is in Hamilton, March 5-7. The Class A boys state tournament is in Bozeman, March 12-14.
CLASS AA
No doubt, Tres Tinkle and the Hell- gate Knights in Missoula will be a force to reckon with in the Western AA.
Tinkle, the 6-foot-7 Oregon State re- cruit and reigning Gatorade Montana Player of the Year, will lead the loaded Knights after another state champion- ship. Hellgate has played in the chipper the past two years, defeating Helena Capital 58-53 in 2013 and falling to the Bruins a year ago, 51-47.
The Glacier boys graduated a few key players from last year’s state semi- final team, including Evan Epperly, and head coach Mark Harkins will look for new names to emerge and fill in as lead- ers for the Wolfpack, which went 12-12 a year ago and finished fourth in the West. The boys will try to advance to the Class AA state tournament, which is in Butte March 12-14, for the seventh consecu- tive season.
Flathead has a young, inexperi- enced team and will need to learn the ropes fast. Freshman Tyler Johnson has already surfaced as a talented varsity standout, scoring 18 against Columbia Falls last week.
On the girls side, Glacier is loaded
Columbia Falls’ Miranda Livingston threads a pass through the Flathead defense.
with skill and experience as head coach Kris Salonen welcomes back almost her entire starting lineup, including honor- able mention all-conference Katie Wiley and junior Hailee Bennet, an all-state guard who led the team in points (12.2), assists (3.7) and steals (2.1) on average per game. The Pack was named the pre- season favorite in the West by league coaches. Glacier defeated Flathead in a playoff game last year to advance to state for the third year in a row.
The Bravettes hope to keep build- ing under second-year head coach Lisa Hendrickson. The roster is pretty young, with only four seniors and mostly sopho- mores. The girls will try to build on last year’s 5-16 finish.
Flathead head coach Fred Febach talks to his team during a timeout.
Missoula Sentinel, the two-time de- fending state champs, has graduated four starters but the Spartans were still picked to vie for the conference crown, along with Helena Capital.
The Class AA boys and girls state tournaments are in Butte, March 12-14.
CLASS B
The defending state champs in Big- fork are back.
Almost the entire roster returns for the Vikings, although there’s a new head coach at the helm: Sam Tudor. Only two starters are gone, Christian Ev- ans and Cam Nissen, but the rest of the core group is back, meaning the Vikes will no doubt contend for another title. Last season Bigfork went 26-0 en route to the program’s first basketball cham- pionship. This latest squad lacks size but makes up for it in speed and athleti- cism, including multi-sport standouts Josh Sandry, Isaac Martel and Adam Jordt. The boys would like to earn a trip to Great Falls in March to hoist another state trophy.
On the girls side, there’s also a new head coach: Jami Grende, who inherits a team of mostly returning starters who went 19-5 a year ago. The Valkyries will try to defend their District 7B title and advance to the state tournament for the first time since 2012.
The District 7B Tournament is in Columbia Falls, Feb. 21. The Western B
GIRLS BREAKDOWN
CLASS A
COLUMBIA FALLS
Head Coach: Cary Finberg (4th season, 58-12) Last Season: 22-2, won NWA, finished third at state tournament
Returning Standouts: Winter Kemppainen, Sr., F; Cydney Finberg, Soph., G; Ciera Finberg, Sr., G; Ellie Johnson, Jr., G; Kiara Burlage, Soph., F
WHITEFISH
Head Coach: Clint Peters (2nd season, 1-19) Last Season: 1-19
Standouts: Haley Nicholson, Soph., G; Dani Douglas, Fr., G; Allie Schulz, Jr., F
POLSON
Head Coach: Jay Krantz (2nd season, 5-16)
Last Season: 5-16
Returning Standouts: Skyla Krantz, Sr., G; Nichole Lake, Jr., P
LIBBY
Head Coach: Jim May (19th season, 231-168)
Last Season: 8-13, third in NWA
Standouts: Shyla Stevenson, Sr., F; Hailey Craig, Sr., G; Dayln Germany, Sr., F; Shannon Reny, Fr., P
CLASS AA
GLACIER
Head Coach: Kris Salonen (5th season, 63-45) Last Season: 16-8, advanced to state semifinals Returning Standouts: Hailee Bennett, Jr., G; Katie Wiley, Sr., F; Brielle Bumgarner, Sr., P
FLATHEAD
Head Coach: Lisa Hendrickson (2nd season, 5-16) Last Season: 5-16
Returning Standouts: Tiana Johnson, Soph., G; Jessica Simmons, Sr., G; Stephanie Wilson, Jr., G
CLASS B
BIGFORK
Head Coach: Jami Grende (1st season)
Last Season: 19-5, District 7B champs
Returning Standouts: Miranda Campbell, Jr., F; Mattison McAnally, Jr., G; Lana Berg, Jr., G; Riley Coleman, Sr., G
Divisional Tournament• High School, Feb. 25-27.
is at Flathead