Tough schedule opened with match-up against eventual champion Browning

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

The 2007-08 Whitefish High School boys basketball team wrapped up their season at the state tournament in Billings on Friday. They couldn't stop Laurel in the loser-out game, losing 37-55 to the Eastern A runner-up Locomotives.

The Bulldogs had a 24-22 lead going into halftime but just ran out of steam in the third quarter and were outscored 3-20 in that frame.

It wasn't the way the Bulldogs envisioned their trip to state, but just making the tournament at all was a big accomplishment, considering their slow start to the season and a No. 4 seed at the divisional tournament.

Whitefish opened the tournament on Thursday against Browning, which went on to win the state championship. The Bulldogs fought hard to a 47-62 loss to the Running Indians, who were led by 6-4 senior D.J. Fish.

Although it was a disappointing end, it was a great year for Whitefish basketball. The team went 13-11 overall, including 3-1 at the divisional tournament. The team ranked third or higher in the conference in every major statistic, including first in total points per game.

The Bulldogs will be bringing back a strong senior class next year, after losing only three seniors this year, Jake Smith, Shawn Watterud and Brian Flickinger.

The junior class this year includes Matt Whitehead, Aaron Tkachyk, Josh Backer, Marc Hotzfield, Colt Idol, David FauntLeRoy and Alex Elespuru.

Already, the Whitefish offense is one of the most feared in the conference, with Idol leading all scorers. FauntLeRoy has shown he is capable of shutting down anybody on defense, as he did against top-ranked Polson in the divisional tournament's biggest upset.

Sophomore Connor Silliker, 6-4, also showed flashes of offensive prowess in his few minutes on the court, as did sophomore Willie Roche.

With one more year under his belt in Whitefish, head coach Eric Stang will take over a talented squad next fall in his second year at the helm.

Laurel 12 10 20 13 - 55

Whitefish 17 7 3 10 - 37

WHITEFISH (13-11) — Matt Whitehead 1-4 2-2 4, Shawn Watterud 2-7 2-4 7, Colt Idol 7-15 2-3 17, Jake Smith 0-2 0-0 0, David FauntLeRoy 1-2 0-1 2, Willie Roche 0-2 0-0 0, Josh Backer 2-5 1-4 5, Marc Hotzfield 1-2 0-0 2.

Totals 14-39 7-14 37.

3-point goals — Lau. 2-9 (Mogan 1-1, Kaupish 1-2, Simonich 0-4, Barta 0-1, Swecker 0-1), WF 2-8 (Watterud 1-2, Idol 1-5, Roche 0-1). Rebounds — Lau. 32 (Condon 8, Barta 5, Hergett 5, Mogan 3, Simonich 2, Kaupish, Miller, Scheie, team 6), WF 22 (Idol 5, Smith 4, Whitehead 3, Watterud 3, Backer 2, FauntLeRoy, Hotzfield, team 3). Assists — Lau. 11 (Barta 3, Kaupish 3, Condon 2, Mogan Scheie, Craig Canape), WF 8 (Idol 3, Whitefish 2, Watterud, Smith, Austin Green). Blocks — Lau. 1 (Hergett), WF 2 (Watterud, FauntLeRoy). Steals — Lau. 7 (Kaupish 3, Barta 2, Simonich, Scheie), WF 6 (Whitehead 3, Idol 2, Watterud). Turnovers — Lau. 15, WF 15. Total fouls — Lau. 18, WF 17. Fouled out — Mogan.

Whitefish 12 8 15 12 - 47

Browning 15 19 14 14 - 62

WHITEFISH (13-10) — Matt Whitehead 2-6 0-0 4, Aaron Tkachyk 0-5 2-3 2, Shawn Watterud 5-10 2-4 13, Willie Roche 1-1 0-1 2, Marc Hotzfield 1-1 0-0 2, Colt Idol 4-16 2-2 12, Connor Silliker 0-1 0-2 0, Jake Smith 3-4 1-1 7, David FauntLeRoy 2-8 0-0 4, Josh Backer 0-3 1-2 1. Totals 18-55 8-15 47.

3-point goals — WF 3-11 (Idol 2-5, Watterud 1-4, Tkachyk 0-2), Bro. 2-10 (Long Time Sleeping 1-2, Spotted Wolf 1-4, L. St. Goddard 0-2, Fish 0-1, Kipp 0-1). Rebounds — WF 30 (Idol 7, Watterud 4, Backer 4, Smith 3, Whitehead 2, Tkachyk 2, FauntLeRoy 2, Alex Elespuru, Roche, Hotzfield, Silliker, team 2), Bro. 45 (Fish 11, Fish 8, Dy. Desrosier 6, Weatherwax 4, Kipp 4, Long Time Sleeping 3, Red Crow 2, L. St. Goddard, Running Wolf, De. Desrosier, team 4). Assists — WF 8 (Whitehead 6, Tkachyk, FauntLeRoy), Bro. 13 (Long Time Sleeping 3, Spotted Wolf 3, Fish 3, Kipp 2, L. St. Goddard, Dy. Desrosier), Blocks — WF 1 (FauntLeRoy), Bro. 5 (Fish 2, Weatherwax, Red Crow, AJ St. Goddard). Steals — WF 6 (Idol 2, Whitehead, Watterud, FauntLeRoy, Hotzfield), Bro. 4 (L. St. Goddard, Weatherwax, Long Time Sleeping, Kipp). Turnovers — WF 13, Bro. 15. Total fouls — WF 14, Bro. 18. Fouled out — none.