Bulldogs get first win over Eureka

The Bulldogs picked up their first win of the season, defeating Eureka 66-46 on Dec. 20.

“We played our best game. We started off a little bit slow, and then we went on a run,” head coach Sean Duff said.

The trio of Derek Kastella, Sawyer Silliker and Lee Walburn combined for 36 points, scoring 12 each, and Alex Keuylian and Ryan Kemm added 8 each as part of the Dogs’ balanced attack. The team passed the ball well too, combining for 14 assists.

While Duff wanted to implement a flex offense early in the season, he said returning to the dribble-drive offense his players are more used to has led to a spread out scoring attack.

“We’ve got some good individual athletes that are good at getting to the basket,” he said. “We’re excited about sharing the ball, which is how everyone gets involved.”

Duff said defense will be a main priority during winter-break practices, but after two losses by three points or less he also needs to start addressing close, late-game situations, like fouling to stop the clock and finding the best shot while the seconds tick away.

“With this break we have a time of 10 days without a game, so it’ll be great to incorporate some of those special situations,” he said.

The Bulldogs (1-4) return to the court Jan. 6 in a rematch of the season-opening loss to Flathead. Whitefish lost by one point in the close game, and Flathead has since gone 4-1. While the first Flathead game was seen as a good chance to gauge his team early on, Duff said the rematch is one he thinks they can win.

“Flathead is a quality club, but I think we’re a quality club also. We hung with them, honestly I think we should have won the game hands down,” he said. “I think we’re going to be hard to guard.”

Whitefish 13 14 20 19 — 66

Eureka 10 11 8 17 — 46

WHITEFISH — Alex Keuylian 8, Brendyn Peacock 1, Derek Kastella 12, Zander Wold 2, Tucker Blake 2, Vegard Ellingsen 5, Noah Fauth 2, Sawyer Silliker 12, Ryan Kemm 8, Lee Walburn 12, Dillon Botner 2.

EUREKA — Jamie Good 7, Brad Stein 14, Matthew Anderson 1, Moe Henderson 3, Riley Durham 13, Colten Cooper 3, Taylor Sherwood 1, Jake Cardinale 4.