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This weekend wraps up the final week of the regular season for winter basketball with the playing of the last vestige of conference matchups. Often the stratification of the conference hierarchy has been determined some time before the final games are played or is dependent upon a team receiving help from other quarters. Not so this season! Friday will feature the finale of finales for all the marbles in the Northwestern A Conference. Destiny literally lies in the hands of either side of these encounters for both ladd and lassie hoopsters. On the girls’ side, the Columbia Falls WildKats hold a slim one game lead over the Lady Pirates, but must tangle with them on the road in Polson’s own back yard. On the boys’ side, both squads have identical records with the Wildcat’s sole loss this season coming at the hands of the Pirates on the road. Now the 5th-ranked Pirates must tangle with the top-ranked Cats on the turf of the latter. Will the swashbucklers from Polson trigger their alternative version of “arrgh”maggedon, bringing to an end life as it has come to be known for the past pair of seasons in the NWA Conference by prying loose from the grasp of the beasts from the North their hold on conference hardware? Or will the outcomes reinforce associations behind the expression “Third Time’s a Charm,” the C/Kats of Columbia Falls incapacitating their challengers with a severe bout of “C/Kat Scratch Fever” should they win another successive regular season NWA Conference crown?
GIRLS at Polson - Lady Pirates vs. Wildcats (Fri. 18 Feb 11 - 7:30 p.m.)
The past pair of encounters between these two teams have been very close affairs. Last year during the divisional championship, Polson had a chance to tie the game and potentially send the championship into overtime during the waning seconds of regulation, but their pair of attempts came up short. This season in Columbia Falls, the outcome of the game once again hung in the balance during the final minute. Polson trailed by just one point 41-40 with 45 seconds remaining, but had difficulty converting at their end and were forced to foul 6-2 senior post Kayla DeWit when she gathered in the rebound of the miscues. Strategic free-throw shooting by DeWit coupled with a rare three-point shot from long range largely accounted for the point spread differential of an otherwise close game.
The ferocious felines from Columbia Falls feature the leading scorer and rebounder in the NWA conference when future collegiate DeWit takes to the floor. She also has the highest conversion rate for draining deuces as well as combined field goal percentage in Northwestern A. DeWit ranks 2nd in the conference for blocking shots as well as converting free-throws at the charity stripe. A less pronounced aspect of her well rounded game is the ability to knock down a trey from long distance, but the bulk of the damage she inflicts upon opponents comes from her trademark turn-around jumper closer to the basket, where she has connected over a hundred times this season.
The double-double trouble that DeWit creates for opponents is supplemented by a pair of fellow seniors in 5-8 forward/point guard Dani Gilley along with 5-9 forward Jonna Werner and sophomore 5-9 post Hope Burlage. All three have demonstrated the ability to score in double figures this season. Werner is the next most widely represented Kat among the top ten, appearing among two-thirds of the stat categories (5th for deuces, 6th for rebounds as well as combined field-toal percentage, 7th total points, 8th for free-throw percentage, 9th for treys). If one were playing a game of cards, Burlage would have drawn a straight hand when it comes to top ten stat category representation (3rd for free-throw percentage, 4th for rebounds, 5th for total points, 6th for deuces, 7th for combined free-throw percentage). Gilley is represented in a trio of top ten stat categories (2nd in assists, 5th for steals, tied 9th for scoring deuces).
A stable of guards that service the ball handling requirements for the Kats include a pair of seniors in 5-6 Allie Lampman and 5-3 Kayla Stratton along with junior 5-6 Cedar Jordt. Both Lampman and Stratton have been a consistent presence among the top ten for dealing out assists. Other reserve players who have contributed to the scoring along with their court time in relief of starting regulars include senior 5-9 post Erin Hill, junior 5-7 post Shaun Rowe, junior 5-7 forward Madi Sandefer, junior 5-7 forward Cortney White and sophomore 5-7 forward Allison Dierenfield. Others have no doubt contributed in other dimensions to the successes experienced by the team this year.
One area of vulnerability identified at the beginning of the season was at the guard position as the WildKats adapted to the graduation of some veteran ball handlers. But as the regular schedule winds down to a close, the seasoning that their guards have acquired has brought them up to par with their predecessors, evident from the regular presence of a pair of them among the top ten conference statistics in the area of assists that indicate the ball is getting up the court and into the hands of those who put points on the board for their team.
Given the distinct height advantage that the presence of DeWit provides for the WildKats, it comes as no surprise that the team leads the conference in two-point shooting, combined field-goal percentage and rebounding. The team free-throw shooting percentage provides them with a slight edge in that category, but not in terms of overall free-throw numbers that have been converted from the charity stripe. That higher number is actually owned by their opponent this week, although in terms of number of games played, they are probably pretty evenly matched in this category since they still have two more games remaining on their schedule to one for their opponent.
On the Polson side of the ledger, the Lady Pirates feature a one-two punch delivered by all-state, all-tournament honorable-mention, twice all-conference 1st-team and two-time PHS Offensive MVP senior 5-9 forward Breanne Kelley and all-conference 2nd-team junior 5-10 forward/post Riley Kenney.
Kelley has had representation in every single category of the top ten conference statistics since early on in the season. As would be deemed fitting for anyone associating themselves with pirates, she is the leading thief of basketballs and the 4th leading scorer in the conference. This is the third season her scoring has breached the 200 point barrier. Kelley has had 11 double-figure outings this season with a career high of 32 points scored against the Ronan Maidens her sophomore year. Twice she has scored over 20 points this season, one of those occasions coming before heading to the locker for the halftime break!
Kenney has been a consistent statistical presence among two-thirds of the top ten categories (as of the end of week 9 - 3rd in scoring deuces, combined field-goal percentage, total points as well as rebounding, 4th in free-throw shooting, 6th in steals). She led the conference from the charity stripe the majority of this season. This is the second year in a row that Kenney has breached the 200 point barrier with a dozen games in which she has scored in double figures. Riley has further riled opponents with a pair of double-doubles to go along with a career high of 30 points scored against AA Kalispell Flathead in which she shot over 50% from the field against equally tall or taller defenders and converted 14-17 of her free throws when they opted to foul her on the way to the basket.
All-conference 2nd-team senior 5-9 post Jonna Grant is another contributor for Polson. Grant is featured among the top ten conference statistics in a trio of categories (8th for combined field-goal percentage, tied 8th for blocks, tied 9th for scoring deuces), but was a statistical presence among several others earlier in the season. Although she has scored in double figures only once so far this year, she has flirted with clearing that bar on several other occasions.
Another force down low for the Lady Pirates is sophomore 5-8 forward/post Heidi “Rumblin” Rausch. She briefly emerged earlier in the season as a top ten statistical presence in the category free-throw shooting and has had a pair of double-digit scoring outings this season. But by far some of her greatest contributions to her team are her staunch defense and rebounding prowess. Rausch isn’t reticent about wading into the thick of things, partially because there isn’t much that can be thrown at her by the girls on the court that she hasn’t already seen dished out in larger doses by her all-conference accolade recipient brothers who cut her little slack while she was growing up. If opponents should end up victimized by an unanticipated maneuver implemented by Rausch, it is because she has been groomed for such occasions by some of the best.
The Lady Pirates have a veritable treasure trove of riches at the guard position. They include all-conference honorable-mention junior 5-6 guard Nina Orozco-Charlo, all-conference honorable-mention junior 5-5 guard Mariah “Brown Suga” Hamel, sophomore 5-5 guard “Bodacious” MacKenzie Banner and sophomore 5-5 reserve guard Anna DiGiallonardo. Orozco-Charlo has worked her way into four categories of the top ten conference statistics entering the final week of the regular season (tied 6th for treys, 7th for assists, tied 8th for blocks and 10th for free-throw shooting percentage). As she has adjusted to a different system of offensive strategy, her offensive productivity has been picking up, most recently reflected by a career high 16 point performance. Fans may find a measure of entertainment from watching Orozco-Charlo drive to the basket if she implements a certain double-pump-clutch shooting maneuver she has been working on when faced with taller defenders such as DeWit trying to deny her access. Hamel missed the early part of the season due to an elbow injury, but has since reprised her place among the top ten in a pair of areas (6th for assists, 8th for steals) and lies just off the grid in a couple of other categories. The Lady Pirates found a silver lining in the cloud of Hamel’s injury when Banner started filling in as guard in Hamel’s stead. Banner likewise is featured in a pair of top ten categories (6th for free-throw percentage, 10th for steals) and was also a presence for shooting treys as well as dishing assists earlier in the season. Although she only scored one basket from the field against AA Kalispell Flathead, Banner sank a stellar 8-8 from the charity stripe to make her opponent pay for fouling her. Reserve guard DiGiallonardo sees limited time on the court in relief, but has been high point scorer in several junior varsity contests, most recently smoking the net for 23 points, several of those coming off steals in which she outraced defenders to the basket for a score.
Polson’s other reserves include junior 5-7 forward Jordan Quinn and freshman 5-8 forward Jessica Bagnell. Quinn has a nice perimeter shot among her arsenal for unwrapping tightly packed defenses and her read of passing lanes helps shackle opposition ball movement. Bagnell is currently ranked 6th for blocked shots despite her limited reserve role in relief of others.
As a team, the Lady Pirates lead the conference in steals by a margin of 3 more per game than the second or third place team, but by half a dozen over the WildKats in terms of per game averages. Polson also holds a slight one point edge in total points per game over Columbia Falls, which doesn’t really amount to that much given the caliber of both teams. The Lady Pirates as a team are also situated second in shooting treys as well as deuces, combined field goal percentage, free-throw shooting percentage and blocking shots. The Polson team ranks third for rebounding and assists. But one must remember that these trends include road games as well as home games. In this encounter, the Lady Pirates will be playing with home court advantage.
In their last encounter the game went down to the wire and hung in the balance until the final minute. One key consideration behind that win was that the Kats were able to hold Lady Pirate Breanne Kelley to her lowest point production of the season in that contest, substantially below her per game average, a performance level which would have exceeded the margin of separation between winner and loser had she come closer to netting her average. Given that this time around the game will be played in Kelley’s own back yard, coupled with the fact that this will be the final home game of her prep career, it is highly unlikely that the Kats will be able to suppress her offensive capabilities to such an extent a second time. Another player who was unusually quiet in that game was sophomore guard Banner, whose per game averages also would almost make up the differential in the point spread between winner and loser. Assuming that playing on one’s home court is liable to translate into better offensive performance by these two alone is a trend that does not bode well for the visiting WildKats. It is anticipated that they had better bring their “A” game when they come for their visit if they want to improve their chances of taking this game on the road.
The Columbia Falls WildKat gals have lost only two conference games over the past three seasons. Both of them have been on the road. Last year they succumbed to Jackie Mee and the Libby Lady Loggers by a score of 51-44 in Libby. The year before that they fell 37-33 to Polson at Linderman Gym at a time when they had both of the twin tower DeWit sisters working the paint, a loss to a large extent attributed to a superb defensive stance put forth by Lady Pirate post player Sarah Newton (08/09 PHS Defensive MVP) and company. The Kats will be entering that same arena with one less six-foot-plus post player at their disposal this time. If the understanding of this writer of how conference winners are determined from tied records, the Kats could actually lose this game and still slink away with their third NWA conference regular season crown and the number one seeding going into divisional play with its coveted first-round bye. If calculations at this end are correct, the Lady Pirates must beat the Columbia Falls WildKats by 6 points or better to usurp the NWA conference regular season crown, or at the very least if that is not the case, capture the number one seeding going into divisional and securing that first-round bye. Given that the stakes are so high and the prize so highly coveted, this contest promises to be a scrappy affair in which every basket will be contested and no quarter is given. Whether the Lady Pirates can hold such ferocious felines at bay with the point of their sword or whether the WildKats will succeed in clawing their opponent into submission remains to be seen. In either case, it is almost certain that players at both ends of this skirmish will likely bear some marks from this encounter when it is all said and done.
coaches and recruiters for collegiate women’s basketball players - see note at bottom of article
BOYS at Columbia Falls - WildCats vs. Pirates (Fri. 18 Feb 11 - 7:30 p.m.)
The 59-52 shortfall that the Columbia Falls WildCats recently experienced on the road at the hands of the Polson Pirates was the first loss they had sustained to a conference opponent in two seasons. Last year their closest conference encounter was also against the Polson Pirates, only in that instance they were able to prevail ever so slightly 50-48 on their home court. If either of these games can be used as a barometer of the game to come, the conference finale for both these teams against one another promises to be a battle in which the score could be quite close throughout the game. What is likely to tilt the balance in favor of one team over the other will likely be how well the game is executed by the personell on either side at strategic junctures of the contest. For the WildCats, much of that responsibility will fall upon the shoulders of several of their key players.
Senior 6-5 guard Nick Emerson is the most widely represented WildCat among the statistical categories of the top ten in the NWA Conference. He is the leading player in the conference when it comes to converting conventional field goals from the floor inside the arc. Emerson is also the conference leader in assists per game, although a player he will face this Friday actually leads in total number of assists by half a dozen. Emerson is also represented in six other categories (2nd for combined field goal percentage as well as total points, 4th for rebounding, 5th for blocking shots, tied 6th for free-throw shooting percentage, 7th for steals) and currently averages in the neighborhood of 18 points per game entering the final week of the regular season.
Clogging the middle of the paint is junior 6-6 forward/post Austin Barth, who is ranked numero uno for blocking shots in the NWA conference. Barth is also well represented among the top ten in several other categories (5th for 2-point field-goal shooting as well as total points, 6th for combined field-goal percentage, 7th for assists, 8th for rebounding).
The WildCats feature their own version of a Johnson and Johnson tandem that can sow further confusion between company names and their associated products when senior 6-3 forward Kaleb Johnson and junior 5-11 guard Parker Johnson take to the court. The top ten stat category representation of Kaleb tends to read more like a kind-of house care product line: cleaning the glass without a window aerosol (2nd in rebounding), refleshing the air without a sanitizing mist (3rd for blocking shots), mopping up the floor without a cleanser (10th for steals) when he is not repelling opponents off their game with his offensive productivity (tied 7th for 2-point field-goal shooting, 8th for assists, 9th for combined field-goal percentage as well as total points). The top ten representation of Parker seems oriented more toward a kind-of health care line of products when he helps lubricate the WildCat offensive machinery with a timely dish to a teammate (3rd for assists), cuts into opposition ball advancement in a way that no adhesive bandage can’t patch (8th for steals) when he is not causing headaches for other teams that no aspirin-like regimen can alleviate by sinking putts from beyond the arc (8th for 3-point field-goal shooting).
The remaining seniors on the WildCat roster who see significant playing time if not assume starting assignments include 5-8 guard Devyn Rocker, 6-0 guard Chris King, 6-2 forward Jacob Calderwood and 6-4 forward Cale Vukonich. The WildCats also have one of the more diverse benches in the state with plenty of depth to draw upon when needed. That fact was illustrated to no greater degree than when they still managed to narrowly triumph over Libby 33-31 despite the absence of several starters and key reserves for that game. Among other upperclassmen who have logged significant playing time are junior 6-2 forward Anthony Correa, junior 6-3 forward Brian Marcille and junior 5-8 guard Ronny Gallegos. Other players who have logged varsity court time and contributed to the team scoring efforts include sophomore 5-10 guard Luke Kazlauskas, sophomore 5-9 forward Austin Martin, freshman 6-2 forward Jared Trinastich and freshman 5-6 guard Alex Presnell. Rocker and Correa also happen to be additional deep scoring threats from beyond the arc.
As a team, the Columbia Falls WildCats lead the NWA Conference in four categories: 2-point field goal shooting, rebounding, shot blocking and assists. The Cats place 2nd for combined field goal percentage, total points scored as a team and steals. They stratify in the 4th position for free-throw shooting percentage and drawing charges. The Cats could end the season at the bottom of the conference for 3-point shooting in comparison to the rest of the teams if per game trends hold up for the remainder of the schedule.
In their last encounter when the WildCats tangled with the Pirates, a couple of trends emerged that placed them at a disadvantage. One of those was uncharacteristic single digit point productivity during the middle quarters when their opponent was racking up double digits. Another was foul trouble that hamstrung the team’s capability of maximizing its defensive efforts. Repetition of either of these scenarios will likely hamper their ability to successfully defend their home court, an advantage that hasn‘t been shown to be all that significant if scores from games played in Columbia Falls over the past several seasons are any indicator. The team will likely have to put forth their best effort in order to hold at bay these marauding Pirates to keep them from taking home any booty.
On the Polson side of the ledger, the Pirates will be sailing into the turbulent waters of Columbia Falls in search of big game, shouldering weapons loaded to take down a most formidable quarry, the state-ranked WildCat.
Among the Pirate arsenal is state tournament MVP senior 6-3 guard/forward Louis Mohr, who is represented among every statistical category of the top ten of the NWA Conference with the exception of drawing offensive charges. In two-thirds of those categories he is either ranked first or rated second. The only exceptions to uppermost eschalon performance are in converting free-throws at the charity stripe, where he is ranked 4th, and for blocking shots, where he is tied for 8th. Mohr has scored in double figures in every single game he has played this season and has turned in half a dozen double-double performances. Mohr will finish the season as the leading scorer in the NWA Conference irrespective of what he might net during the skirmish with the WildCats.
As if the performance of Mohr was not intimidating enough to contemplate, the Pirates also bring with them the leading scorer in the conference from last season in all-state, all-tournament honorable-mention, two-time all-conference (1st-team 09/10, 2nd-team 08/09) senior 6-3 guard/forward Kyle Bagnell. Bagnell is represented among 8 of the 10 statistical designatons of the top ten in the NWA Conference. The only place he is absent is for drawing offensive charges and for assists, lying just off the grid for the latter. The season totals for Bagnell have thus far place him tied 2nd in shooting treys from behind the arc, 3rd for free-throw shooting percentage as well as rebounding, 4th in combined field-goal shooting percentage, total points as well as steals, tied 7th with Kaleb Johnson for converting deuces and 7th for blocking shots. Bagnell has scored double-digits against his opponents in every contest except for the first game this season during the Tip-Off Tournament and has turned in a pair of double-double performances.
All-conference 1st-team junior 6-6 post Tyler Krell currently leads the conference in drawing offensive charges because he doesn’t flinch when other players try to run through him in an effort to back him off from guarding the paint. Krell also is ranked 2nd in the conference for blocking shots and slides in at 10th for 2-point field goal conversion. He has been ranked among the top ten for rebounding much of the season and currently lurks just off the grid in this category and quite possibly others. Krell has turned in five double-digit scoring performances and has posted one double-double performance, flirting with coming close on other occasions
Senior 5-8 guard Sheldon Fisher is a scrappy defender and savvy ball handler who is tied 5th among the top ten for 3-point field goal shooting. Fisher has turned in five double figure scoring outings and has crested the century mark for total points scored this season. The WildCats will remember him well for the four treys he dialed long distance during their sole loss of the season.
All-conference 2nd-team junior 6-0 guard Vince DiGiallonardo is represented among a pair of the top ten statistical categories (6th for steals, tied 9th for free-throw shooting percentage) and lies just off the grid for assists. DiGiallonardo has turned in a single double-digit scoring outing, although he has flirted with cresting that plateau on eight other occasions. The availability of DiGiallonardo for the Columbia Falls conference finale is doubtful due to a severe sprain he sustained during their last encounter when he landed awkwardly on someones foot and twisted an ankle.
Junior 6-4 forward/post Cody Fischer has been a statistical presence among the top ten for blocking shots all season long and has turned in a pair of double figure scoring performances this season. A proficient golfer during the Fall, Fischer has refined fine-motor skills and a soft stroke that mark him as a scoring threat both inside and beyond the arc.
Sophomore 5-11 guard Zach Camel has improved the elevation he attains for his jumpers that has translated into better looks at the basket when he takes his shots. Camel was an early season statistical presence for shooting treys and is one of the weapons the Pirates employ when they dial the operator long distance from behind the arc.
Junior 6-2 forward Ian Laimbeer, sophomore 5-10 guard Will Davey and sophomore 6-1 post Riley Sampson play more subsidiary rolls for the Pirate roster, but all three are capable of filling in at a moments notice. Laimbeer and Davey have both scored in double figures this season. Sampson and Laimbeer have posted double-doubles in competitive junior varsity contests and on some occasions have flirted with a triple-double.
As a team, the Polson Pirates lead the NWA Conference in 4 of the 10 statistical categories entering the final week of the regular season.. A trio of them pertain to combined field-goal percentage, free-throw shooting percentage and total points generated per game. If the WildCats are considered masters at converting deuces inside the arc closer to the basket, the Pirates rule the seas that extend beyond the arc, successfully dialing the operator long distance to connect for a trey more than twice as many times as Columbia Falls has been successful this season. Those trends were born out in their last encounter, where the WildCats scored almost twice as many deuces as their hosts, but the Pirates drained almost triple the amount of treys than their visitor. The Pirates place 2nd among the conference hierarchy for rebounding, blocking shots and steals. They stratify in the middle of the conference at 3rd place for converting deuces, dishing assists and drawing charges.
The skirmish on the court at Columbia Falls promises to be a battle. If not on a magnitude to warrant serious comparison with the mother of all battles like Armageddon, it could come close enough in terms of basketball encounters that take place on the hardcourts of northwestern Montana. The WildCats will be looking for payback and revenge. The Pirates will be looking to further legitimate their previous win by doing it again in the backyard of their opponent. Both have been fine tuning their game in anticipation of the upcoming postseason. The booty is none other than the NWA Conference regular season crown going to the winner and a first round bye at Divisionals the following week. Second place is nothing to be ashamed about, but it never quite carries the same lustre as a first place prize, no matter how well one might polish it for sheen.
Since this round of their skirmish will take place on the road under the roof of hostile territory, the Pirates will need to steel themselves for the encounter with an added dose of mental preparation. It might prove beneficial the night before the showdown for the Pirates to eat their meat and vegetables: carrots so that their eyes are as sharp as an eagle, a sizeable portion of BEEF (balance, eye, elbow, follow-through) to fuel their shooting diet so that their fundamentals are solid. Instead of counting sheep jumping over a fence as tends to be stereotypically portrayed when people doze off to sleep, it might be adviseable to try visualizing the swishing of basketballs splitting the net multiple times over to put one’s subconscious in the right frame of mind before such a big game. Given the strength of the WildCats with the added bonus of home court advantage, the Pirates will want to bring the rain if they want to end the reign of recent conference domination by their opponent. At the end of the evening, either the Pirates will have unleashed “Arrgh”mageddon on their hosts or the WildCats will have subdued their visiting opponent with a figurative bout of Cat Scratch Fever.
week 9 NWA Conference statistics courtesy of Terry Werner
Leader sportswriter Brandon Hansen is acknowledged for contributing an underlying seed idea that was phonetically adapted for inclusion as part of the title
NOTE TO COACHES OR RECRUITERS FOR COLLEGIATE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:
An author never knows who exactly reads their material, but just on the off chance that someone is in the market for a well-rounded athlete who would make an ideal utility guard for almost any basketball program, might I suggest one person for your consideration by the name of Breanne Kelley. Kelley could go any one of three directions at the collegiate level in terms of sports: volleyball, basketball or track. As she is yet undecided, loves the game of basketball and still in the market as to which direction she might fling her hat, so to speak, I mention her to heighten awareness as to her existence. Kelley has scored over 200 points for the past three seasons, which is indicative of her capability at the offensive end. She has led the conference in number of steals for the past two seasons, which is indicative of her overall speed and quickness. She has been well represented in every single statistical category of the top ten in the NWA Conference this season, which denotes the breadth of her overall skill levels in each of these areas. She is easy going and gets along well with others. Her academics are top rate, which means she is able to balance the demands of the classroom with those of her athletic responsibilities. Her basketball accolades are cited in the above article and they are likely to be repeated again when this season is over.
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