Girls basketball features young talent

Expect an uptempo pace and plenty of scoring from a youthful Lady Bulldog basketball team this season.

The varsity team fielded just one senior in Simone Craft and one junior in Myndi Holbrook. About 20 girls total came out for the team. Ten will play on the froshmore squad. There will be no JV team this season.

“We had a smaller turnout than we would have liked,” first-year head coach Clint Peters said.

Whitefish’s strength will be its speed and ability to change tempo on defense.

“We have a lot of good, young talent,” Peters said. “We’ll be athletic and fast.”

Craft comes into the season as a four-year starter on varsity. She will likely play shooting guard this season.

“We’re hoping to free her up so she doesn’t handle the ball so much and get her into scoring position,” Peters said. “We have a few girls who can come in at point guard.”

Sophomores Makena Benbrook, Katie Fyall and Anna Peterson appear to be scoring threats on the outside, while Mariah Drown will dominate in the post.

“Mariah is getting strong,” Peters said. “She’s going to be the center of the offense.”

Peters brings in assistant varsity coach Jessica Mintz, and freshman coach Kayla Ryan. Mintz is a former assistant under Dean McFadden. Ryan is also the freshman volleyball coach and played basketball at MSU Billings.

Columbia Falls appears to be the favorite in the Northwest A conference with four returning starters. Beyond that, Peters says the league is wide open.

“We have an opportunity to be in the hunt for state,” Peters said.

Whitefish opens the season Dec. 10 at Flathead, then plays in the Northwest / Southwest Tip Off Tournament against Hamilton and Corvallis.