Whitefish turns up the heat in two league wins; falls to Cut Bank in 2OT

It was as if the Whitefish boys basketball team flipped a switch last week as they exploded for two Northwest A conference wins while narrowly dropping a road game to Cut Bank in double overtime.

The Bulldogs have had a lackluster start to the season as they were 2-9 overall prior to last week’s games. Last week it was almost a different team on the court.

“Their confidence went up, their trust in one another went up, they were asking a lot of questions… honestly I knew they were always capable of it, but they stepped up,” Whitefish head coach Alex Gonzalez said.

A buzzer-beating win over Northwest A foe Polson on Tuesday, Jan 31 sparked the momentum they carried the rest of the week. Whitefish won 47-45 over the Pirates after junior Carson Krack hit a put-back shot with 5.2 seconds remaining to give his team the win. Krack joined the Bulldogs recently and his tall presence in the paint is helping the Dogs.

Against Polson, the Bulldogs were down by 10 at halftime and Gonzalez said he gave them a speech at halftime saying, “We still have 16 minutes, it’s either now or never.”

Whitefish junior Mason Kelch scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter as the Bulldogs battled back into contention with the Pirates. Mason Genovese helped out with 12 points, all coming on 3-pointers. Defensively they forced 19 turnovers from Polson.

“It was a team effort, hard work,” Gonzalez said. “I told them, we need to get our hands dirty, we need to get the 50-50 balls, to dive on the floor… and they answered. I couldn’t be any more proud, and I think this is them now.”

Just two nights later, Whitefish hosted Ronan for Senior Night and left no doubt that they were the better team that night, winning 55-34. The Bulldogs scored outscored Ronan 36-13 between the second and third quarters to put away the Chiefs.

Kelch led the way with 18 points, hitting a few 3-pointers and Jack Sears put up 15. Josh Downie and Dane Hunt each had six points.

“They came out and they were just relentless, they forced a lot of turnovers… They never lifted that foot off the pedal,” Gonzalez said.

In Cut Bank, it was the end of a long week of games but Whitefish fought until the end. A 23-point fourth quarter for the Dogs pushed the game into first overtime, which continued into a second overtime. In the end, Cut Bank edged the Bulldogs, 73-71.

Kelch scored a game-high 24 points and Sears had a solid 16 while seven players scored in the game.

“Kelch showed so much leadership,” Gonzalez recalled. “For the Cut Bank game, he just put the team on his back and said OK let's go. And that’s what we need.”

The Bulldogs are now 4-10, 3-5 in league play.

From what Gonzalez has seen lately, he believes that this team playing with intensity and the desire to win is going to be the standard for the remainder of the season. They are believing in each other and playing with confidence, and it comes at a good time heading into the final week of the regular season.

“It couldn’t be at a better time that these kids came together, they’re buying in and they’re ready,” Gonzalez said. “I feel like they're on a great path to really shock and surprise a lot of people.”

Whitefish will play in Libby on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and then at Columbia Falls on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Polson 11 13 12 9 - 45

Whitefish 7 7 19 16 - 47

POLSON — Dawson DuMont 11, Jarrett Wilson 10, Trent Wilson 8, Espn Fisher 5, Cymian Kauley 2, Owen McElwee 4, Brock Henriksen 2, Tyler Wenderoth 1, Coler Wilson 2.

WHITEFISH — Mason Genovese 12, CJ Thew 5, Dane Hunt 3, Mason Kelch 16, Jack Sears 7, Carson Krack 4.

Whitefish 13 7 14 23 5 9 - 71

Cut Bank 13 10 24 10 5 11 - 73

WHITEFISH — Mason Genovese 6, CJ Thew 8, Dane Hunt 8, Mason Kelch 24, Jack Sears 16, Carson Krack 6, Josh Downie 3.

CUT BANK — Taqte Monne 4, Damien Burke 15, Dallas Berkram 4, Jaydas Running Wolf 24, Chevy Burdeau 2, Jackson Black 9, Peyton St. Goddard 14, Greg Coy 2.

Ronan 7 4 9 14 - 34

Whitefish 9 18 18 10 - 55

RONAN — Kolby Finley 9, Josiah Misa 4, Ted Coffman III 3, Jordan Gatche 2, Marlo Tonasket 9, Lauran Lozeau 5, Robbie Mc-Crea 2.

WHITEFISH — Mason Kelch 18, Jack Sears 15, Mason Genovese 1, Dane Hunt 6, Carson Krack 2, Josh Downie 6.