Charlo girls have returning talent; boys look to rebuild

CHARLO- Charlo girls head coach Bret Thompson lost three seniors to graduation in June but has five letter winners coming back. Last year the Vikings went 17-1 in conference play and finished fourth in the state.

Jessica Bucholz and Ma'rya Hungerford will be the team's returning starters.

With the loss of 6-foot-2-inch all-conference center Jasmine Ray, Bucholz will be the tallest player at 5-foot-9-inches. The Vikings will have to adjust to their new strength - quickness.

"We have been known as a man-on-man defense, but this year we may try a little bit of everything depending on match ups," Thompson said.

The Vikings will be playing with no senior leadership. Coach Thompson said leadership is definitely a question.

"Right now we need a couple girls to step up," he said.

Charlo will open the season at the Hot Springs tournament, which starts Dec. 10.

"We have a good talented group. We just have to get things together and stay healthy," said Thompson.

The Charlo boys have to deal with the loss of three all-conference players.

"We have some big shoes to fill," said head coach Tyson Cottet.

Luke Bauer, a 6-foot-2-inch post player, will be a second-year starter and has to be the Vikings leader, Cottet said.

Cottet is excited to have junior Joey Ray, a 6-foot-6-inch post player, back on the team.

"He has grown since last year," Cottet said. "It has been a couple of years since we had a big player."

The Vikings in the past have wanted to slow the pace of the game down on the court to control the scoring, but this year they look open things up and create some turnovers, Cottet said.

Bo Herak got some playing time last year as a sophomore and made an impact in a few games, while many of the players spent the summer playing in the Mission Valley summer league.

"(Good) basketball does not just happen - the skills need to be built on as much as possible'" said Cottet.