Lady Dogs wrap up regular season, look to make a splash at divisionals

By WHITNEY ENGLAND

Whitefish Pilot

Number two seed, 11-4 overall record — the Whitefish girls basketball team just screams success this year.

And they’re not done yet.

The Lady Bulldogs, led by standout senior Gracie Smyley who averages over 10 points a game, wrapped up their regular season last week and now set their focus on the Western A Divisional Tournament beginning Thursday.

Whitefish will have the number two seed from the Northwest A conference behind the undefeated Columbia Falls Wildkats.

“Being the higher seed you’re supposed to get a lower seeded opponent, but I think just the way the season has gone for both the northwest and southwest on any given night if you don’t show up and play you can get beat; and that’s the way this divisional tournament is going to be,” Whitefish head coach Bob Bolam said.

This year has been a standout year for Whitefish girls basketball as the team has achieved its first winning record, unofficially, since 2008. That was also the last year the Lady Bulldogs qualified for the State A girls’ tournament.

So yes, making it to state is definitely in the back of everybody’s mind.

“I think it’s on people’s mind,” Bolam said. “But our focus is playing our first game on Thursday, that makes a difference, winning or losing makes a big difference for the next day.”

Prior to the season beginning Bolam said he expected Smyley to become a key, go-to player for Whitefish. She improved her game in many ways, according to the coach, by not only having the sweet stroke from behind the arc, but showing the ability to drive the lane. She also can draw fouls on opponents and is shooting 70-plus percent from the free throw line.

Smyley stepped up and truly became the leader Bolam expected this season, and with the mindset of a winner she’ll be an important asset for the Lady Bulldogs in postseason play as well.

“She wants the ball, she wants to be that person that can lead us in scoring and get things rolling for us,” Bolam said of Smyley. “In almost all the games she’s been that person. She’s not afraid of that position, that’s the mentality you’ve got to have when you’re that leader.”

As Whitefish wrapped up its final games of the regular season last week, Smyley led the team each night scoring in double figures.

Starting in Ronan, Whitefish crushed the Maidens for the second time in two weeks by winning 43-30 on the road Tuesday, Feb. 16.

The Lady Dogs jumped out to a 11-4 first quarter lead which held up for the rest of the game as Whitefish added more and more to the Maidens’ deficit. Smyley scored a game-high 17 points and Ashton Ramsey added nine of her own.

“We went down to Ronan looking to win that game and help secure our spot in second place,” Bolam said. “We came out and controlled the game from the beginning… it was important for us to go down there and win that one.”

Two days later Whitefish traveled to Libby and blew out the Lady Loggers with ease. Smyley’s shot was on from beyond the arc and she racked up 16 points in a huge 68-28 win in Libby.

Ramsey and Brook Smith both had 13 points in the game as well and Jadi Walburn checked in with 11 points.

“We really kind of exploded offensively with a lot of kids scoring,” Bolam said. “We scored 68 for the game which is our season high and the most I’ve seen for us since I’ve been at Whitefish.”

For its final game of the season, Whitefish traveled to Browning and despite a slight first-half lead the Lady Bulldogs lost 39-31. Browning’s Walker Running Crane went off in the fourth quarter and hit all of her baskets from the charity stripe down the stretch to finish with 18 points.

Smyley had a Whitefish team-high of 12 points for the game. Ramsey and Smith each recorded six points.

“We’d won nine out of our 10 games coming into the Browning game which was a great streak for us,” Bolam explained. “To lose that one, it leaves that bad taste in your mouth and you just want to get back at it and prove that you can be the good team that you’ve been all year.”

Now as the girls prepare for divisionals, Bolam is expecting them to play tough defense, limit their turnovers and light up the basket as they’ve done in most games all season long.

Whitefish will face Hamilton from the Southwest A at 4 p.m. on Thursday to kick off the tournament.

Whitefish 11 9 14 9–43

Ronan 4 11 9 6–30

WHITEFISH – Jadi Walburn 6, Erin Wilde 2, Taylor Means 4, Ashton Ramsey 9, Mikenna Ells 2, Gracie Smyley 17, Brook Smith 3

RONAN – Margaret Cardova 2, Lexi Wirz 2, Reina Cordova 2, Leona Ulutoa 1, Jaeleigh Gatch 8, Dani Coffman 3, Ari Burke 4, Madeleine McCrea 2, Jaylea Lunceford 6

Whitefish 15 23 16 14 – 68

Libby 4 6 10 8 – 28

WHITEFISH – Jadi Walburn 11, Erin Wilde 8, Ashton Ramsey 13, Jenny Potter 3, Mikenna Ells 4, Gracie Smyley 16, Brook Smith 13.

LIBBY – Ivy Pierce 4, Gabby Fantozzi 2, Elise Erickson 4, Kinzee Boehmler 5, Rylee Boltz 7, Taylor Munro 6.

Whitefish 9 7 5 10 – 31

Browning 5 6 11 17 – 39

WHITEFISH – Jodi Walburn 5, Gracie Smyley 12, Brook Smith 6, Mikenna Ells 2, Ashton Ramsey 6.

BROWNING – Walker Running Crane 18, Abby Bullcalf 6, Tatum Running Crane 5, Jerel White Grass 2, Mecca Bullchild 4, Arena Matt 3, Chalissa Kipp 1.