SKC Bison prepare to defend title at national tournament

If you look at the Salish Kootenai College men’s basketball roster online, you won’t find former Polson basketball player Julian Jones on the Bisons’ roster but he is one player that could have an impact as SKC prepares to the travel to the AIHEC National Basketball Championships in Rapid City, S.D. on March 15-16.

Jones, a former Polson Pirate, joined the Bison during the halfway point of the season and says he was treated by his teammates like he was there at the start of the season.

“It means a lot because I only came in at the halfway point of the season and the team just took me in like I’ve been playing with them for years,” Jones said. “Now, to try to help them keep up this legacy and keep building on this legacy feels pretty good.”

Jones and his Bison teammates are looking to make history as the first-ever team to win four consecutive AIHEC National Basketball Tournaments.

“It’s pretty exciting and being a part of this team gets me excited,” Jones said. “I feel like I have an obligation to do anything I can to help the team capture that fourth championship.”

Jones, who took a small sabbatical from organized basketball over the summer, said he always kept himself in shape.

“I consider myself a gym rat, and I am always in the gym playing basketball and doing something,” Jones said. “Every day I was in the gym playing basketball at the recreation center.”

Jones said he feels he and his team are ready for the rigors of AIHEC and he credits his time at Polson to be able to make a successful transition into the collegiate game.

“I learned a lot in that system and I had a great experience in Polson,” Jones said. “Some of my most memorable basketball seasons I had were in Polson. I got to know everyone on the team. I learned how to play more team-oriented basketball when I came to Polson. I also learned how to play in more of a half court offense, be patient, and take good shots.”

Jones said he is ready for his first-ever AIHEC Tournament for the SKC program that has become synonymous with AIHEC excellence.

“I actually am excited about basketball and even if it is high intensity, you really have to adjust accordingly,” Jones said. “In high school, we play multiple games in a weekend. I feel am ready and I am really excited about the trip.”

Jones said he felt he is aware of the intensity of AIHEC.

“I am totally excited because it’s going to be competitive and tiring, especially when you don’t have a full roster,” Jones said. “Everyone is going to be playing a lot of games. You just have to keep your body prepared, stay hydrated and be ready.”

Unlike Jones, Bison guard Bradley Fryberg from Tulalip, Wash., understands the intensity level of AIHEC.

“In my past experiences of winning AIHEC, it is a big relief knowing that all of the work that you put into it, the blood, sweat, and tears with teammates, achieving a goal is a great feeling that you did whatever you could to achieve that goal,” Fryberg said.

Fryberg said he believes wearing the SKC jersey creates a proverbial target on your back from opponents because of the tradition the Bison have.

“Because we are SKC we get a lot of everyone’s best games,” Fryberg explained. “Because of how many times we have won and competed for a title, everyone wants to get better and try to compete with us.”

Fryberg attributes the Bison’s success to the long-standing SKC basketball tradition.

“I am stepping into this role (of taking younger players under my wing) that has been here long before I was playing,” Fryberg said. “All the older players took me under their wing. (They taught me) when you get in the game and mess up, forget about it and move on to the next play. I am trying to be a leader for the tea and help with our team’s success. I can’t build it without them. I help them out the best I can and get them ready before the game to see how big this tournament is.”

Fryberg, who looks to take home his third-consecutive AIHEC title and be a part of what looks to be a historical Bison’s team if they are able to achieve it, has “been there and done that.”

“It is kind of in the back of my mind and I think it is the same stuff, different day because it’s basketball,” Fryberg said. “We just have to compete and play our game. We worked hard to make history and I believe SKC will make history.”

For Bison coach Zach Camel, his team has experienced the three-peat a couple of times.

“We’ve had a three-peat three times and each of those times it has been broken up in the Dakotas,” Camel said. “Hopefully, this time is our time to break that streak.”

This year, the Bison, who have beefed up their schedule to face some well respected programs from the NAIA and NJCAA with a record of 5-11, might be deceiving as they prepare to head into the AIHEC.

“I don’t get too excited about records,” Camel said. “We have a different mindset this season and we know going into these tournaments that records can be deceiving. I don’t get too worried about our record because I know we will be in the tournament.”

Camel schedules his whole season with the idea that his team will peak during AIHEC.

“That is exactly the climb, and we are at the point right now where we start to climb and peak in the championship,” Camel said. “The tournament is going to be physically tough. You can see it when we are playing the other teams. They are getting physically stronger and more physical. That is why you have to keep the blade sharpened in competition because we have already the player caliber of our opponents and we aren’t going to see anything like we’ve already seen at AIHEC.”