Volume XXI, Number 22

Wednesday, January 5, 2006

Sports at a Glance

All stories by Jean Schurman

The ties that bind

Basketball season off and running

December is a fast-paced month when you are just trying to get ready for Christmas and for the holidays. When you factor in the number of basketball games that must be played in order for teams to get their required number of games per season, the last week before Christmas vacations is down-right hectic. This year, this was literally a game every night during that week.

And then there was nothing. The athletes, parents and coaches had a chance to catch their breath, heal up injuries and just rest for a few days before school. But, with the flurry of activity before Christmas and then nothing, what does a die-hard basketball fan do for those few days before Christmas vacation?

Friday night I found out. The University of Montana men's basketball team played the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. I went with my cousin and his wife, who are both from the Hot Springs/Ronan area. Even though we had reserve seating, which was a good thing, we met early to get some visiting done before the game.

Waiting for them in the lobby, I was somewhat surprised at how many people I knew coming through the doors. There were fans from across the Bitterroot coming in to catch some hoops action. Once seated, my cousin also commented on how many people he knew. We saw not only moms and dads but coaches, school teachers, grandparents and entire teams there watching what turned out to be a great game.

Driving home afterwards, I pondered the popularity of basketball here and why so many would drive, in some cases quite a distance, to watch a game when they could stay home and watch one on television. Of course there were the two obvious reasons, love of basketball and strong support for the UM Grizzlies.

But, I think there are other reasons as well that are unique to Montana. Although physically a big state, Montana is really a small town in many ways. This is especially true in high school sports and basketball in particular.

Because of the tournament format for post-season play, teams and fans from different towns have a chance to get to know one another during the three-day tournaments. In many cases, the parents played against one another years ago. And then there is the summer ball that is played across the state. This allows players from Class A to play against C. These factors make basketball and Montana a community.

Another factor is Coach Larry Kristkowiak of the Grizzlies. Kristkowiak played high school ball at Shelby and then in Missoula. He went on to play for the Grizzlies. Afterwards, he was Montana's link to the NBA. And almost every high school player in Western Montana has played in the Flathead Lake Hoop Fest. Krystkowiak was the originator of that event and was host for several years. Other Montanans on the team also add to the appeal of local communities.

In smaller communities and even some of the larger communities in Eastern Montana, the basketball game is much more than just a game. Fans sometimes travel up to 100 miles to watch a game. There are multi-generational crowds and it's not unusual to have an 80-year-old grandma tell a player after a game how he could improve his game. The games become the center of the community in the winter.

So it wasn't really a surprise to see so many people I know watching the game Friday night. Basketball has tied us all together.

With six or seven games under their belts, teams in the valley are beginning to take on distinct personalities. Although nothing will be decided until tournament time, there are a few teams that are showing promise.

The Corvallis Blue Devils boys team is currently in third place in the Southwestern A behind Frenchtown and Anaconda. Corvallis' record is 2-1 in league play and 5-2 overall. With solid players such as Collin Fehr, who averages 20.4 points a game, Trevor Fehr, Cameron Bowles and Justin Tintzman, the team should only improve. Corvallis travels to Dillon on Friday.

The Corvallis girls team is leading the Southwest Conference with a 3-0 record in league play and 3-3 overall. They will play the tough Dillon Beavers on Friday night in Corvallis. Dillon has not played a league game yet but sports a 4-2 overall record. The Blue Devils rely on Jenna Tintzman who is currently second in the scoring leaders in the conference. Others to watch are Carmen Burdette and Tisha Smith.

The Victor teams are situated right in the middle of the newly formed District 13/14C conference. The boys are in fourth place behind Alberton, Charlo and Drummond. The Pirates will host Drummond on Saturday for what should be a great game. Michael Wemple, Eric Paulsen, Chad Jensen and Steve Fryer are an experienced group that is working together well this year.

The Lady Pirates are in fifth place behind Drummond, Charlo, Noxon, and Lincoln. Led by BreeAnna Hochhalter and Katie Jolley, the Lady Pirates pack a one-two punch who can hit inside and outside.

Florence is in a rebuilding year but is gaining confidence with each game. Kris Person is their leading scorer, averaging 18 points a game.

The Lady Falcons are also finding their stride and should come together by the end of the season. Senior Aly Henderson is second in the conference in scoring, averaging 14 points a game.

Stevensville, too, is in a rebuilding year. As with any Keith Chambers coached team, the Yellowjackets should never be overlooked. Tony Anderson and Ryan Mickelson each are averaging 17 points a game and will be a force as the season progresses. Stevensville is host to Dillon on Saturday.

The Lady 'Jackets are struggling but gaining speed with each game. Ami Fey is in the top 10 in the scoring leaders, averaging 7.4 points per game.

The Darby Lady Tigers are a strong group of athletes who, although they have only won one game in conference play, will be a force. Jenna Blue leads District 7B in the scoring average with 15.1 points per game.

The Darby Tigers are also struggling with injuries and eligibility. Travis Schallenberger will be the go-to guy for them.