Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Sports at a Glance

All stories by Jean Schurman

Sports Talk - The most wonderful time of the year Wrestling season begins Hamilton and Corvallis host Tip Off Tournament

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‘It’s the most wonderful time of the Year’ has been echoing through the hallways of my mind for the last few days. There aren’t any jingle bells in my version nor marshmallows roasting. But I am of good cheer, for basketball season begins this week.

A few weeks ago I was in need of a basketball fix and took in the AAU tournament in Stevensville. That helped. But after all it is December and if I listen carefully, I can hear the steady thump, thump, thump of someone dribbling and the squeak of new tennis shoes on the floor. I am ready for some basketball.

I don’t think I’m the only one that is experiencing these feelings, either. On Sunday a friend and I went to the Lady Griz game at the University of Montana. As we made our way to our seats, I ran into several friends, neighbors, and basketball coaches who were also there to watch the game. I think they needed a fix, too.

This was a special game. Coach Robin Selvig was honored for his 700th career win which occurred on Nov. 26 with an overtime win over Illinois. With the win, Selvig joined an elite group of nine coaches and, since he was a student athlete at the University of Montana, he becomes the only coach to play and coach for one school and win that many games.

Many of the Lady Griz players have graced the courts around here and so it was fun to see how they have progressed. And boy, have they. They put a thumpin’ on former rival Boise State and had everyone one cheering. It was a ‘wonderful time.’

Like those youngsters anticipating the arrival of the jolly old elf from the North Pole, I am just as excited to see the teams from the valley take to the court. It’s not only to see who will win it all but also to see what player makes the most improvement and what team pulls together and makes a success of its season.

I watched the documentary “Class C” the other night. For those who haven’t seen this great film, I highly recommend it even if basketball isn’t your favorite sport or even if you are not a sports fan at all. This film shows what it’s like to grow up and live in small town Montana. It touches not only on basketball, but also the economic conditions and social conditions that we here in the Bitterroot have not been exposed to but that is very typical of Montana east of the Divide.

Throughout the film, Los Angeles Laker coach Phil Jackson, who grew up in Montana, offers his view of small town basketball and basketball in general. He says at one point that a person can tell a lot about someone just by how they play the game. I don’t profess to know everything about basketball but I can see some of what he says is true. There are players who will be ‘all show and no go’ who will do well for a time but then falter when the going gets tough. And then there are the steady players who don’t get much glory but are there in the tight spots, doing something for the team.

It is this combination of anticipation and excitement that has me humming. I am wondering if the team of superstars will be able to pull together or will an unknown step in and surprise everyone. The first games are this week. I can almost hear the crowd cheering. It is ‘the most wonderful time of the year.’

Wrestling season began this weekend with Hamilton and Corvallis traveling to Polson for a 13-team invitational. The teams ranged from AA Kalispell and Glacier to Mission/Charlo. Flathead won the event with 234.5 points. Corvallis finished in third place behind Sentinel.

Team scores: Flathead 234.5, Sentinel 232, Corvallis 133.5, Polson 126; Frenchtown 86.5, Glacier 78.5, Whitefish 75, Mission/Charlo 72, Columbia Falls 67.5, Hamilton 64, Eureka 51.5, Thompson Falls 48, Superior 21.5.

Individual placings

98 – 1. Brandon Edwards, Sent, p. Marcus Malone, Corv, 2.50: 3. Derrick Sinsneros, Ham, def. Jake Kinkel, F, 6-0.

105 – 1. Zach Westre, Frt. JV, def. Clay Armstrong, Frt., 13-4; 3. 3. Caleb Pasecki, F, def. Levi Gingerich, Cor, 80.5;

112 - 1. Tyler Stedman, Frt, def. Travis Davis, Cor, 9-6; 3. Cliff Evans, Sent, p. Cody Ishler Frt JV, 3.50

119- Alejandro Calderon, F, p, Ryan Sweiland, F JV, :42; 3. Dan Miame, Sent, p. Erick Roe, Eur. 1:10.

125 – 1. Joaquin Calderon, F, def Steven Jessop, Cor, 162; 3. Jacob Young, Pol, p. Randy Kirkendahl, Eur, 1:40.

130 – 1. Jake Love, Sent, def Shawn Lau, F, 604; 3. Kelio Salmonson, Pol, def, Garrett Stephens, Sup, 3-1.

135 – 1. Tanner Bearman, F, def. Austin Edwards, Sent, 6-4; 3. Michael Beebe, M/C def. Travis Pete, CF, 4-3.

140 – 1. Justin Mikkola, Sent, def. Ty Fouty, Pol., 904; 3. Brad Nordahl, Frt, def. James Peterson, CF, 7-5.

145 – 1. Trae Fouty, Pol, p. Richard Lyons, TF, 1:15; 3. Taylor Vaughn, Eur, def, Dan Jenkins, F, 4-1.

152 – 1. Caleb Allen-Schmid, F, p. Brett Goodsell, Cor, 4:23; 3. Larry Francis, Gla, def. Taylor Brown, Eur, 15-2.

160 – Bryce Stacy, f, p. Justin Evans, M/C; 1:37; 3. Josh Hamilton, Sent, def Michael Grover, TF, 7-4.

171 – 1. Brock Picard, Pol, def. Tanner Doty, Sent, 15-3. 3. Ian Danton, F, def. Ethan Schwehr, Corv. 10-0.

189 – 1. Kelly Houle, CF, p. Brennon Fisher, Frt. 3. Jace Prideaux, Sent, def. Matt Faroni, M/C, 1-0.

215 – 1. Bantley Alsup, Sent, p. John Frandsen, Gla, :49; 3. Brady Anderson, Ham, def. Kodie kanfield, CF, 11-2.

HWT – 1. Tyler Thomas, F and Connor Thomas, FJV, co-champions. 3. Wes Sherman, Ham, p. Jeff Markette, cor 3:33.

The basketball season gets a jump-start this weekend with Class A teams from throughout the western part of the state competing in Hamilton and Corvallis. The two-day tournament offers a glimpse of what the Southwest A and Northwest A conferences will have to compete against in the regular season. Both the boys and the girls will compete with each team playing two games against an opponent from the opposite conference.

The girl’s games will begin in Corvallis at 10 am on Friday while the boy’s games will be at Hamilton. On Saturday, the girl’s games will be held at the Hamilton Middle School and will begin at 9 a.m. The boy’s games will also begin at 9 at Hamilton High School. An all-day pass is $6 for adults and $5 for students and it is good for both schools.