Dogs look ahead after tough week
Caleb Meehan rises for the layup against Ronan. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Sam Menicke puts up a floater against Ronan on Tuesday.
Bulldog Dillon Botner fades away from a Ronan defender last week in the gym at Whitefish High School. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Bulldogs head coach Sean Duff is upset after a foul call during Tuesday’s game against Ronan. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)
Simply put, it was a rough week for the Dogs.
Last Tuesday the Bulldogs hosted Ronan in a tightly contested 56-47 loss.
Whitefish led 24-16 at half and 39-36 going into the fourth quarter, after Mark Anderson knocked down three huge three-pointers in the third.
With five minutes to go, the Whitefish bench was given a technical foul by the refs, and it only got worse from there.
Six straight turnovers by the Bulldogs followed the tech, but Whitefish was still in it in the final minutes.
A Ryan Kemm freethrow had the dogs within three with 1:34 to play, but a quick run by Ronan put Whitefish away for good.
Mark Anderson and Lee Walburn both notched 12 points.
On Thursday Whitefish went to Flathead to battle the Class AA opponent.
The Braves got the best of them, however, handing Whitefish a 78-55 loss.
Walburn led with 14 in that game, and Dillon Botner added 10.
Then on Saturday the Dogs headed down to the Bitterroot to take on Hamilton.
The Broncs exploded for 71 points to Whitefish’s 34 to hand the Dogs the loss.
Botner and Kemm both led the team with eight points.
Head coach Sean Duff said the scores don’t tell the whole story.
“We actually played better both games against Flathead and Hamilton,” Duff said. “I know both scores were lopsided, but we didn’t turn the ball over like we have been. Flathead and Hamilton are both quality teams and shot the ball extremely well.”
This week Whitefish heads over to Columbia Falls and Browning for road conference games.
They’ll take on the Wildcats at 7:30 p.m. in Columbia Falls on Thursday.
Duff said the team is still feeling good despite the losses.
“We really think we are turning the corner on not playing poorly and getting back to playing like how we know we’re capable of playing. We absolutely feel like we are capable of beating anyone we play,” Duff said. “Spirits are high and no one is hanging their head.”
Ronan 11 5 20 20 — 56
Whitefish 11 13 15 8 — 47
RONAN: Zeke Misa 18, Randy Finley 2, Nate Dennis 5, Vinny Bird-Webster 6, Dallas Durheim 13, Jacob Gatch 3, Anthony Camel 9.
WHITEFISH: Caleb Meehan 2, Justin Conklin 3, Brendyn Peacock 2, Mark Anderson 12, Sam Menicke 4, Ryan Kemm 4, Lee Walburn 12, Dillon Botner 8.
Whitefish 9 14 15 17 — 55
Flathead 29 14 25 10 — 78
WHITEFISH: Alex Keuylian 3, Jack Schwaiger 1, Justin Conklin 6, Brendyn Peacock 3, Mark Anderson 9, Sam Menicke 2, Ryan Kemm 7, Lee Walburn 14, Dillon Botner 10.
FLATHEAD: Stephen Bridges 2, Brett Thompson 2, Eric Seaman 11, Tyler Johnson 30, Sam Elliott 21, Andrew Siderius 1, Anthony Jones 5, Dawson Smith 6.
Whitefish 10 4 16 4 — 34
Hamilton 20 17 22 12 — 71
Whitefish: Alex Keuylian 3, Mark Anderson 5, Noah Fauth 4, Ryan Kemm 8, Lee Walburn 6, Dillon Botner 8.
Hamilton: Cam Rothie 5, Carson Rostad 5, Bridger Bauder 8, Ty Chouinard 5, Ty Barnes 4, Hunter Omlid 7, Tanner Goligoski 17, Carter Kearns 20.