SKC teams prepare for basketball season
<p>Eva Green slices through an opposing defense in a contest for the Lady Bison last year.</p>
<p>Dennis Sangrey puts up a shot against a Malmstrom Air Force Base defender last year.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most heralded newcomer for the men's basketball team is local product Zachary Camel, fresh off a spectacular senior year at Arlee. Camel set MHSA season and single-game records for assists. He will play for his dad, Zack, this season at SKC.</p>
PABLO — With longevity in coaching on both sides, the Salish Kootenai College basketball programs are expecting big things this coming season.
SKC’s women’s team is coming off a third-place finish in the American Indian Higher Education Consortium National Championships last season, and look to be led by returning forward Eva Green (Wellpinit, Wash.) and point guard Caitlin Charlebois (Bigfork, Mont.).
Coach Juan Perez, entering his 12th season at the helm of the Lady Bison, is excited about some newfound height in his program. That height will be manifested most noticable in 6-1 forward Shara Frazier (Denver, Colo.) and 5-10 forward Latydia Holiday (Smithlake, N.M.).
“It’s nice to have that kind of height,” Perez said.
He is also excited to have guards Misty Ostlie (Cusick, Wash.) and Chantel Jenkins (Browning, Mont.) back on the roster after both had left the program previously. He expects both of the returners to bolster their outside game.
Perez is excited about the team chemistry he said is evident in their practices thus far.
“I’m enjoying seeing the ladies together,” he said. “They all seem to be getting along well.”
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SKC’s men are led by 15th-year coach Zack Camel, whose key returner will be 6-5 forward D.J. Fish (Browning, Mont.). Fish, the leading scorer from last year’s squad, is dangerous in the post and on the perimeter, according to his coach.
“He’s a real dangerous cover because if you get a guy too big on him he’ll just go around him with the dribble,” said Camel. “If you get a guy too small on him, he’ll just take him in the post.”
Camel is excited about some newcomers as well, most notably his son, Zachary, who graduated from Arlee last year.
“He has point guard skills that are off the charts,” the elder Camel said. “…He’s got all the qualities you want from a point guard. He thinks pass first.”
Other key contributors will be 6-0 guard/forward Gene Heavy Runner and 6-4 forward Zach Mills.
Camel has been impressed with Heavy Runner’s vocal leadership and athletic ability. He expects Mills’ hustle to result in double-digit rebounds per game.
“He’s the first one down the court, trying to catch it and lay it up,” Camel said. “You need those guys.”