Vikings basketball off to a fast start

The Charlo High School boys basketball team has begun its season with a 3-1 record under the newly appointed head coach Reese Cox.

The Vikings started their season with victories over Valley Christian, St. Regis and Victor. The only loss Charlo had was its second game in the Frenchtown Invitational where they lost to Drummond 49-33.

Charlo defeated Valley Christian 63-23 to open theirr season at the Frenchtown Tournament.

The Vikings were led by their sharp-shooting guard Tyson Petticrew, who scored 32 points and connected on a total of seven three-pointers that helped propel Charlo to their first victory of the season.

“(Petticrew’s performance) helped lead us towards victory,” Cox said. “What led us to victory was our tremendous shooting for the opening game. I don’t know what percentage he shot (on the night) but it was a very high shooting percentage. It was a great opener for our boys and it helped for them to witness my coaching style and get used to it. Valley had tremendous ball-handlers that were able to slash at the point, get into the key and create some good shots for themselves but that 1-3-1 defense is not meant to be penetrated.”

The Vikings weren’t able to sustain their momentum headed into the next game with a 49-33 loss to Drummond in the second game of the season.

Despite the loss, Charlo was able to hold one of their top offensive producers to a paltry seven points.

“We held him to seven points and I thought it was a really good stance for him,” Cox said. “Keeping him under double digits was quite a feat and hopefully his worst game of the season. I am confident that we will hold him to one of his worst nights this season depending on Twin Bridges.

In two individual games, the Vikings defeated St. Regis and Victor, both conference opponents.

“They are young squad and I think they have two seniors with all of the rest of them freshman,” Cox said. “Their experience is not quite there yet. They will eventually get there. They have an incoming group of 8th graders that are very competitive and very smart ball players, and their future looks pretty bright. This year they might be slightly down. They are going to come right back and they’ll be good in another three or four years. So far, no one has been quite able to figure out my 1-3-1 defense.”

“Petticrew scored another 19 points on the night and three 3-pointers, and found a way to get to the basket,” Cox said. “Landers Smith shot the ball really well but I don’t see too many rebounds for us. I also got good play out of Connor Coenig, who is my sixth man coming off the bench and that is something to start mentioning here because he has great handles and gives our team a new dynamic.”

In the fourth game of the season, the Vikings defeated Victor 58-34 Saturday at Charlo High School.

Brady Fryberger scored a career-high 17 points and Petticrew dropped 16 en route to the victory nearly matching the entire Victor offense by themselves.

“Just talking with the boys, they will find that they are having a great time this year, they have a lot of confidence and the next game doesn’t seem like it effects them that much,” Cox said. “Our team seems pretty upbeat and they are ready to going against Victor. We were able to get Tyson four three-pointers in that game.”

Cox doesn’t think the career night against Victor.

“We really tried to get Brady to beat (outscore) his little sister and I was telling her behind the bench, ‘he is going to get you,’’” Cox said. “I am going to make sure that he beats you tonight. It was pretty fun and the bench was laughing and having a good time. (The game against Victor) was a good night.”