Senior
Steven Hodge releases a shot during the home game against Whitefish.
The
Flathead Braves boy's basketball team has no plans to make this a re-building
season. They're already built.
After the team opened the season on Dec. 8 with an 87-58
win over the Great Falls Bison, they proved to any doubters that they
came to play.
"We played really well," said junior post
Jeff Meredith. "We went in and expected to win, but I don't know
if we expected to dominate as much as we did. Our team played well for
it being our first game."
"I thought we performed really well," said
junior shooting guard Troy Wassink. "We performed as a team and pushed
the ball and tempo well."
Following the Braves' defeat of the Bison, they were
scheduled to travel to Great Falls to play the CMR Rustlers, but were
unable to make it to Great Falls due to hazardous road conditions. The
Braves will head to Great Falls today to make up the game.
The Braves' next contest was Thursday Dec. 14 at home
against the Whitefish Bulldogs.
After a close back and forth game, Flathead squeaked
by the Bulldogs 66-63.
"We played really hard, " said senior post
Steve Symington. "It's just kind of a fresh awakening to the whole
community. I think we will go on to win a lot more this season because
we're a good team with great depth at all positions."
The following night Flathead traveled to Columbia Falls
to take on the Wildcats. After trailing 23-27 at halftime the Braves scored
62 second-half points capped by a 26-2 run to end the game, and won 85-?.
"We played the way we should've the whole game
in the second-half," said senior point guard Mike Herzog. "It
was kind of frustrating in the first-half because we knew we were better
and we didn't come out the way we should've, and they surprised us a little."
So far the Braves have attributed their 3-0 record mostly
to their conditioning and athletic ability.
"Everyone on our team is athletic, we can run the
floor and press," said Meredith. "I think we all understand
that there is a lot of talented players on our team, so no one feels pressure
that they are the only offensive threat. Everyone is comfortable with
everyone else scoring."
"Our conditioning and running the ball," added
Wassink of the Braves' strong suit. "We are in better shape than
the other teams, so we can get them tired and keep running."
As for the rest of the season the Braves have a clear
of idea of where they want to go.
"(We want to) finish first of second in the Conference
and make it to state, and play Saturday night at the state tournament,"
said Herzog.
"We want to make the state championship, just not
show up there and lose," added Meredith. "We want to win games
and not suck."
