CATS PICKED TO WIN CONFERENCE!

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By BOB MESEROLL Missoulian sports editor | Posted: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 10:30 pm |

Class A data

Northwestern A

2009-10 forecast

1. Columbia Falls (4) 16

2. (tie)Polson (1) 11

Libby 11

4. Whitefish 8

5. Ronan 4

(First-place votes in parentheses. Points based on a compilation of votes by league coaches.)

2008-09 final standings

League Overall

W L W L

Whitefish 8 2 17 7

Libby 7 3 14 7

Polson 5 5 11 11

C. Falls 5 5 16 8

Ronan 4 6 11 9

Bigfork 1 9 3 17

Southwestern A

2009-10 forecast

1. Dillon (4) 24

2. Corvallis (2) 21

3. Stevensville 17

4. Hamilton 12

5. Frenchtown 11

6. Anaconda 5

(First-place votes in parentheses. Points based on a compilation of votes by league coaches.)

2008-09 final standings

League Overall

W L W L

Dillon 9 1 20 3

Corvallis 8 2 14 8

Stevensville 6 4 15 7

Anaconda 4 6 5 16

Hamilton 2 8 5 15

Dillon downed Columbia Falls for the State A boys' basketball championship last season.

If this year's preseason polls pan out, those teams could be on a collision course again.

Columbia Falls is the overwhelming favorite to win the Northwestern A title under veteran coach Cary Finberg. The rest of the league's coaches gave the Wildcats all of the first-place votes in the preseason balloting.

Defending champion Dillon received four of six first-place votes in the Southwestern A poll, with Corvallis picking up the other two.

Here's a quick look at western Montana's two Class A divisions:

Northwestern A

Columbia Falls, which was impressive in a 72-23 season-opening win over Frenchtown, returns just two starters, but eight letterwinners from last year's team that fell to the Beavers in the title game. Seniors Mitchell Wassam, a 6-foot-2 forward, and Kyle Howell, a 5-11 guard, earned all-conference honors last season. Austin Barth, a 6-5 sophomore who scored 16 points in the title game as a freshman, gives the Wildcats a post presence and 6-4 junior Nick Emerson will be one of the tallest point guards around.

"This is the biggest team I've coached," said Finberg, who is beginning his 14th season as the Wildcats' coach. "We must develop chemistry and depth, but I'm excited about the potential of this group."

Polson, which finished tied for second in the preseason poll with Libby, returns one of the most gifted athletes in western Montana in 6-foot senior Tim Rausch. Rausch averaged 12.0 ppg last season and earned all-conference honors. Junior swing man Kyle Bagnell also earned postseason accolades after averaging 9.0 ppg. First-year head coach Brad Pluff, an assistant at Polson for the past five years, is also expecting contributions from senior post Derrick Rathe, junior wing Louis Mohr, and junior guard Sheldon Fisher. The Pirates will also benefit from the transfer of 6-5 Tyler Krell from Charlo.

Wally Winslow begins his 12th season at the helm of Libby and returns three starters from a team that finished second in league play last season. Senior guard Colton Cannon earned all-conference honors last year. Alex Cislo, a 6-4 junior, averaged 7.1 rebounds as a sophomore and junior Kelly May also started as a soph. The Loggers will also welcome TJ Benson back into the fold after the senior guard was injured early last season. James Hare, a 6-6 junior, could also give the Loggers a boost in the middle.

First-year Whitefish coach Mark Casazza returns just one starter from a team that won the regular-season title and advanced to state, but he's a good one. Senior Connor Silliker, a 6-5 center, will patrol the paint for the Bulldogs.

"We're a very young team and must get better every week," Casazza said. "We only have two returning varsity players."

Ronan lost all five starters from a team that finished 11-9 overall last season. Junior guard Justin Dustybull and junior forward Kevin Wroblewski saw significant time for second-year coach Steve Woll last season.

"Wroblewski can hit the three as well as take it to the basket," Woll said. "We expect (Dustybull) to be the floor leader this year."

Southwestern A

Coach Terry Thomas, who has two state titles in four years at Dillon's helm, welcomes back starters Trevor Rehm, a 6-3 senior, and Toby Shepherd, a 6-0 senior, from last year's title team. Rehm averaged 9.5 points and 5.1 rebounds a game in earning first team all-conference honors.

"Coach Thomas gets his team to play hard," first-year Frenchtown coachKye Nuttall said. "They have to be a favorite no matter how much they lost off last year's team."

Corvallis, though, might have something to say about that. The Blue Devils have a loaded backcourt that features senior Drew Zeiler, junior Rodee Anderson and sophomore Riley Bradshaw, who all earned all-conference accolades. The Devils might be a little undersized as a unit, but that will fit well with veteran coach Dave Bradshaw's up-tempo approach.

"They handle the ball real well and can shoot the 3-point shot," Bradshaw said of his backcourt. "They can get to the rim and they're also good defenders."

Stevensville coach Keith Chambers lost four starters from a team that finished third in the league, but returns some talented athletes in juniors Jalen Pfau and Logan Connors.

"We did get quality minutes out of the young kids last year, but what that translates to remains to be seen," Chambers said.

Starters Tyler Pigman and Beau Maus return for third-year Hamilton coach Toby Stack.

"We have no superstars, but a bunch of quality basketball players and a team atmosphere that will make us competitive," Stack said.

Nuttall is hoping Frenchtown's State A title in football can carry over for some success on the hardwood.

"We will hope to use some of our size and athleticism to our advantage as we implement a new system on offense and defense," Nuttall said.

Seniors Jake Anderson and Richard Weber, and sophomore Austin Blank led the Broncs in their season-opening loss to Columbia Falls.

Anaconda is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Southwestern A last season, but returns just one starter, senior guard Matt King.

Capsules

Northwestern A

Columbia Falls

Coach: Cary Finberg (UM Western '90), 179-116 in 14th year at Columbia Falls and overall.

Last state appearance: 2009, placed second.

Returning starters: 2.

Players to watch: F Mitchell Wassam, 6-2, sr.; G Kyle Howell, 5-11, sr.; F Austin Barth, 6-5, so.; F Kaleb Johnson, 6-3, jr.; G Michael Williams, 6-0, sr.; G Matt Triplett, 5-8, sr.; G Nick Emerson, 6-4, jr.; F Tim Spencer, 6-3, sr.; F Jacob Calderwood, 6-2, jr.

Libby

Coach: Wally Winslow (Montana '90), 132-108 in 12th season at Libby.

Last state appearance: 2007, didn't place.

Returning starters: 3.

Players to watch: G Colton Cannon, 6-0, sr.; C Alex Cislo, 6-4, jr.; G TJ Benson, 5-7, sr.; W Kelly May, 6-0, jr.; C Nate Broden, 6-3, sr.; W Matt Nelson, 6-1, sr.; G Cree Maloney, 6-1, jr.; W Garrett Craig, 5-11, jr.

Polson

Coach: Brad Pluff (UM Western '89), 0-0 in first year at Polson and overall.

Last state appearance: 2006, didn't place.

Returning starters: 2.

Players to watch: F Tim Rausch, 6-0, sr.; C Derrick Rathe, 6-3, sr.; W Kyle Bagnell, 6-3, jr.; W Louis Mohr, 6-3, jr.; G Sheldon Fisher, 5-10, jr.

Ronan

Coach: Steve Woll (Montana '92), 11-9 in second year at Ronan, 186-185 in 18th year oevrall.

Last state appearance: 2008, didn't place.

Returning starters: 0.

Players to watch: G Justin Dustybull, 5-11, jr.; F Kevin Wroblewski, 6-2, jr.; C Gordon Northpiegen III, 6-3, jr.; G Lucas Black, 5-9, jr.; G Jarod Tanner, 5-11, jr.; G Jackson Jore, 5-11, jr.; F RJ Hessellgesser, 6-0, jr.; C Colton Cheff, 6-4, sr.; C John Buckendahl, 6-4, sr.

Whitefish

Coach: Mark Casazza (Montana '95), 0-0 in first year at Whitefish and overall.

Last state appearance: 2009, didn't place.

Returning starters: 1.

Players to watch: G Austin Green, 5-7, sr.; G Cole Havens, 5-8, sr.; F Zach Maassen, 6-2, sr.; F Willie Roche, 6-0, sr.; C Connor Silliker, 6-5, sr.; G Kyler Blades, 5-8, jr.; C Alex Duroche, 6-8, jr.; C Drew Galbraith, 6-4, jr.; F Mac Roche, 6-0, jr.; F Conner Watterud, 6-1, jr.

Southwestern A

Anaconda

Coach: Allen Green (Montana '80), 141-198 in 18th year at Anaconda, 362-254 in 29th year overall.

Last state appearance: 2005, didn't place.

Returning starters: 1.

Players to watch: G Matt King, 5-10, sr.; G Marcus Fisher, 5-9, sr.; F Hans Dierenfeldt, 6-2, sr.; F Bennett Gallinger, 6-1, sr.; G Kyle Moore, 5-11, jr.; F Nate Staedler, 6-3, jr.; F Jayde Thompson, 6-0, jr.

Corvallis

Coach: Dave Bradshaw (Montana '82), 175-203 in 20th year at Corvallis, 397-384 in 27th year overall.

Last state appearance: 2009, didn't place.

Returning starters: 3.

Players to watch: G Riley Bradshaw, 6-2, so.; G Rodee Anderson, 6-1, jr.; G Drew Zeiler, 5-9, sr.; G Tyler Tintzman, 6-0, sr.; F Joel Connolly, 6-0, jr.; F Mahlone Jessop, 6-0, sr.; G Colby Henderson, 5-9, so.

Dillon

Coach: Terry Thomas (Montana '80), 80-12 in fifth year at Dillon and overall.

Last state appearance: 2009, won state title.

Returning starters: 2.

Players to watch: C Trevor Rehm, 6-3, sr.; F Toby Shepherd, 6-0, sr.; F Monte Folsom, 6-3, jr.; G Pete Walde, 5-11, sr.; F Garrett Banning, 6-2, sr.; F Cache King, 6-3, jr.; G MacKenzie McGrath, 5-9, sr.

Frenchtown

Coach: Kye Nuttall (Idaho '00), 0-0 in first year at Frenchtown and overall.

Last state appearance: 2006, placed second.

Returning starters: 1.

Players to watch: W Daniel Aichlmayr, sr.; P Jake Anderson, sr.; P Pat Bagnell, sr.; W Austin Blank, so.; W Nick Caudill, sr.; W Carson Hochhalter, sr.; W Jackson Mahlum, so.; W Chris Merritt, jr.; W Brydon Peacock, so.; W Dustyn Tucker, jr.; W Richard Weber, sr.

Hamilton

Coach: Toby Stack (MSU-Northern '00), 17-25 in third year at Hamilton and overall.

Last state appearance: 1994, didn't place.

Returning starters: 2.

Players to watch: G Zach Stoeger, 5-9, jr.; G Brad Palin, 5-9, so.; G Jeremy Powell, 5-9, jr.; W Kelly Newman, 5-9, jr.; W Beau Maus, 6-0, so.; G Mac Walters, 5-9, sr.; W Graham Silcher, 6-1, jr.; W Tyler Pigman, 6-1, jr.; G Jeff Embree, 5-9, sr.; W Tyrel Exner, 6-0, jr.

Stevensville

Coach: Keith Chambers (Montana Western '89), 220-180 in 19th year at Stevensville, 262-224 in 21st year overall.

Last state appearance: 2008, didn't place.

Returning starters: 1.

Players to watch: Jalen Pfau, jr.; Logan Connors, jr.; Austin Kelling, so.; Caleb Vance, so.; Josh Schultz, so.; Tyler Gavlak, so.; Price Miller, jr.; Brendan Jones, fr.; Josh Lords, so.