Warriors go to 'school' over winter break

Arlee High School boy’s basketball coach Zanen Pitts challenged his team to improve its weaknesses during the winter break.

In the first half of the season, the Warriors lost only one game to Plains 71-67 on Dec. 20. Pitts said the loss forced them to focus on what he said he perceived as one of the team’s weaknesses: rebounding.

“It was good having a loss headed into break and we are going to fix those areas that are weak,” Pitts said. “I am challenging players to improve on what is the weakest part of the game. If a player who usually averages one rebound a game can get five rebounds in a game, or a player that averages one assist in a game can increase his number of assists, that can be the big difference in a game decided by 10 points.”

The Warrior’s roster, a team that has only two seniors, will go to “basketball school,” according to Pitts.

“We are going back to the drawing board,” Pitts said. “We are fixing the basics and we are working on game scenarios, defensive rotation, and position. Now, we are going to a very basic part of the change in the team.”

Pitts credited his personnel with taking the constructive criticism.

“Anytime you get kids that really love the game like Will (Mesteth), Greg (Whitesell), Tyler (Tanner), Phil (Malatare), and Alex (Moran), you can tell they are just going to get better every week, every practice and possession. In practice, they are critiquing each other and slowly fixing their rotation.”

As the Warriors prepare to enter the second half of the season, it will get a lot tougher as teams make adjustments, Pitts said.

“Oh yeah, it gets a lot tougher the second time around because teams do things and make adjustments,” Pitts said. “You want to be playing your best basketball by the end of the year. Hopefully, we will have a counter no matter what adjustments other teams make.”

Pitts said he felt his team will make the necessary adjustments for a rematch with Plains on Jan. 27.

“You can take the loss any way you want to take it and find a positive out of a negative in life,” Pitts said. “Had we not gotten beat, we would have been the No. 1 ranked team in the state. Since we got beat, we now have to make this a better situation. We can roll over and say ‘the season stinks,’ or we can come back with a vengeance.”

Pitts said he is “happy” with his team’s progress headed into the second half of the season.

“I think they are on point and right where they need to be,” Pitts said. “There is room for improvement to play at a higher and crisper level. When our team plays another month, what we will be able to do on the court will be pretty scary. This team will be pretty fun to watch.I like how much love and support they give each other. There is a lot of family showing in their personality and towards each other, and that makes it fun.”

Boys Basketball Box Scores

Mission Valley area teams

end-of-year clearance

WESTERN DISTRICT 6B

Ronan 54, Eureka 36

At Ronan

Eureka 13 4 6 13 – 36

Ronan 14 17 14 9 – 54

EUREKA – Brad Stein 8, Riley Durham 6, Jake Cardinale 6, Jamie Good 4, Matthew Anderson 4, Moe Henderson 3, Colton Cooper 3, Owen Davis 2.

RONAN – Anthony Camel 17, Zeke Misa 10, Kobe Morigeau 9, Nate Dennis 3, Perry Panzetanga 3, Josh Stewart 3, Kasey Mock 2, Bailey Moss 2, Jordan Skelton 2, Dallas Durheim 2, Anthony Valasco 1. (Sa17Dec16)

Florence 68, Mission 34

Mission (0-3, 0-5)

Florence 20 14 22 17 – 68

Mission 10 11 4 9 – 34

FLORENCE – Cody Liles 18, Marcus Zeiler 15, Brent Stroppel 9, Carson Katen 8, Ethan Stensrud 5, Dillon Christopherson 5, Brenden Bailey 3, Parker Holsinpillar 2.

MISSION – Jacob Hugs 8, Wacey McClure 6, Isaac Alexander 6, Elijah Cahoon 3, Colin Linsbigler 3, DeAndre Bolen 2, Levi Alexander 2, Beedo Matt 2, Korbyn Pierre 2. (Th22Dec16)

Deer Lodge 71, Mission 56

Mission 6 15 17 18 – 56

Deer Lodge 13 17 27 14 – 71

MISSION – Leondre Bolen 3, Colin Linsbigler 5, Flint 4, Elijah Cahoon 6, Wacey McClure 15, Jacob Hugs 11, Isaac Alexander 8.

DEER LODGE – Cade Benjanin 19, Greydon Nicholson 3, Tristan Smith 1, Koby Owens 2, Brandon Porter 36, Karson Wheat 2, Dalton Pauley 1. (Th15Dec16)

DISTRICT 14C

Arlee 81, St. Regis 49

At Arlee

Arlee 20 18 21 22 – 81

St. Regis 6 12 17 14 – 49

ST. REGIS – Brock Cantrell-Field 15, Eric Eslick 14, Brandon Managan 9, Trevor Lowry 8, Ian Ferris 3.

ARLEE – Will Mesteth 19, Tyler Tanner 19, Alex Moran 16, Phillip Malatare 14, Colt Brazill 4, Greg Whitesell 4, Lane Johnson 3, Isaac Fisher 2.

3FG – St.R2 (Managhan, Ferris)

(Th22Dec16)

Charlo 49, Darby 44

Western C Tip-Off at Salish Kootenai College

Darby 8 11 6 17 – 44

Charlo 14 7 15 12 – 49

DARBY – Zach McCrossin 23, Zack Kline 10, Dylan Parks 7, John Beckers 2, Aaron Hansen 2.

CHARLO – Tyson Petticrew 23, Landers Smith 8, Zane Haflinger 7, Garett Vaughan 5, Nate Delaney 3, Brady Fryberger 2, Toby Odom 1. (Sa10Dec16)

Valley Christian 48, Charlo 44

Western C Tip-Off at Ronan Event Center

VC 10 11 14 13 – 48

Charlo 19 0 8 17 – 44

VC – Zach Baugher 31, Brad Klein 8, Jordan Kelly 3, Mason Woods 3, Caleb Wolwell 2.

CHARLO – Tyson Petticrew 27, Landers Smith 8, Brady Fryberger 3, Garett Vaughan 2, Kane Shenyer 2, Toby Odom 2.

(Fr09Dec16)

Two Eagle 68, Victor 62

At Pablo,

Victor 14 10 12 26 – 62

Two Eagle 23 11 13 21 – 68

VICTOR – Logan McKinley 14, Mason Agee 11, Jerod Halley 10, JD Kay 10, Waylon Barta 10, Jayce Allred 7.

TWO EAGLE – Brendan McDonald 14, Chasen Curley 13, Bronco Bransen 13, Austin Gardipee 11, Coree Cadieux 4, Drey Tenas 4. (Tu20Dec16)

Hot Springs 67, Two Eagle 43

At Pablo,

Hot Springs 13 18 16 20 – 67

Two Eagle 8 11 6 18 – 43

HOT SPRINGS – Trevor Paro 32, Blaine Carr 7, Pedro Gardemann 6, Justin Salmi 4, Tyler Knudsen 4, Addison Mueller 4, Brandon Knudsen 3, Marco Degel 2, Sean Shea 2, Sean Fisher 2, Tyler Carr 1.

TWO EAGLE – Austin Gardipee 16, Drey Tenas 11, Bronco Bransen 7, Brendan McDonald 5, Stanley Alexander 2, Cordal Schaak 1, Nate Roberts 1. (Sa17Dec16)

Two Eagle at Noxon (Fr16Dec16) rescheduled for Tu10Jan2017

Lincoln 83, Two Eagle River 66

Western C Tip-Off at Salish Kootenai College

Two Eagle 16 17 15 18 – 66

Lincoln 20 22 22 19 – 83

TWO EAGLE – Austin Gardipee 21, Chasen Curley 15, Josiah Nichols 13, Bronco Branson 12, Brenden McDonald 3, Brandon Larios 2.

LINCOLN – Nathan Brown 25, Payton Petersen 11, Gage Fitzgerald 15, Bridger Kamps 3, Coletin Trump 6, Logan Fuit 25

(Sa10Dec16)