We move from the frigid temps outside to going into warm gymnasiums in Montana. The Flathead Braves 2018-2019 team are going to be an interesting bunch. There will be new faces and a lot to learn about this team. Gone are the seniors Dawson Smith, Sam Elliott, Tyler Johnson, Eric Seaman, and Clayton Jacques. Stepping in are Anthony Jones, Stephen Bridges, Andrew Siderius, Blake Counts and company.
The Braves were contenders last season. They fell short of the ultimate goal. A new group a new year, the sky is the limit. There are several football players on this team who will look to duplicate the success from the field to the hard wood.
Questions entering the season...
Who will replace the scoring and rebounding of Johnson and Elliott?
How will this team shoot from the 3 point line?
How aggressive will they be to the rim?
We won't know the answers to these questions until conference play but I am sure interested to see how the answers unfold in the non conference.
Things we do know.
Anthony Jones running the point and one of the best defenders in AA. Seth Moon looks to be a lock down defender as well.
Athletes, when I watched practice and the scrimmage this team has speed and can fly on the court. Question can they hit 100mph under control.
Bridges and Thompson are guys I would look for as deep threats. Bridges shot 35% from behind the line. Thompson shoots the ball well in practice curious to see how that translates to the game.
When I spoke to coach Gustafson earlier this week one of the things he told me that he really liked coming into this season is "the chemistry, they are very supportive of each other, they bring a ton of energy to practice and that is really enjoyable". This team has a lot of football players on the roster, they had a state championship game and then the next Monday at tryouts. When I talked to a few players they said they were ready for Basketball and ready to work.
Anthony Jones will be the driver of this team as he will be at the point. Anthony is a three sport athlete football, basketball, baseball. according to Ross it didn't take him long to feel right at home in the gym "He comes in and he is shooting the ball from three knock them down and his form looks beautiful, it took him one day to get back in shape and now he doesn't want to come out anytime we scrimmage". Aj will be fun to watch.
Now down in the post, lots of board to replace since Sam Elliott is now at MSU Billings. Coach talks about the physicality he will have down low "what I really love with Gabe Adams, Counts, and Sider (Siderius), we have some physical guys that are going to go in there and own the paint on both ends". The moto for this team according to Coach Gustafson "play hard, play fast, were going to press teams, trap teams in the halfcourt I think that is the best way to utilize all the athletes we do have".
This team takes on Great Falls Friday night. This will be a tough test. Great Falls reloads they don't rebuild. Blake Thelen and Kyle Torgerson jump of the state sheet for me right away. Lets start with Thelen he averaged 12ppg and played in all 26 games. He shoots 44% from the field and 34% from the 3pt line. Torgerson averaged 8ppg and shoots 37% from behind the 3pt line. Great Falls has 5 players returning that played in 20 plus games last season. Great Falls will be guard oriented and so the defense for the Braves will be tested.
Last season Great Falls won in Kalispell 59-49.
Flathead has not defeated Great Falls since the 2011-2012 season.
You can hear the game around 7:20pm on AM 600 and FM 96.5