Hoops preview: 'Small ball' comes to LHS
Paul Sievers/The Western News Colton Cannon focuses on a shot during a Logger scrimmage.
When the season starts this weekend at the Tip-Off Tournament in Hamilton, Logger fans may notice a new style of play.
Libby High School’s half-court setup approach will take a back seat this season to “small ball.”
“Our style will be different from last year and most of the seasons I’ve had,” 11th-year LHS boys basketball coach Wally Winslow said. “This is by far the smallest group but the most athletic as far as speed and quickness. We’re going to try to play to our strength and spread the court.”
Libby’s evolved offensive philosophy involves a lack of height. Opponents will no longer have to deal with 6-foot-4 forward Jim Mee, who has taken his game to the collegiate level. Mee led the Northwestern A in scoring last season at 21.8 points per game and earned all-state honors. LHS also lost Bryan Cooper to graduation.
“We’re not very big but I think we can get up and down and try to get some things done that way,” Winslow said. “I’m sure we’re going to play all over the court … that’s the kind of style we’re going to put out there.”
The Loggers’ Joel Fuller returns and hopes to improve on last year’s numbers of 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per game. Fuller made all-conference second team last year.
“He can do whatever you want to do,” Winslow said. “He can play inside, outside. He’s strong and jumps well. He likes to play fast, play up and down.”
Fuller, senior guard, represents the lone full-time returning starter for Libby. Conner Benson, another senior guard, was a part-time starter a year ago. Beyond those two players, the Loggers get into a roster that has little varsity experience.
From that group, top prospects include juniors Colton Cannon and T.J. Benson, and sophomore Kelly May. Those three saw time off the bench.
“Those are five kids I know about at the moment,” Winslow said. “The rest is trial by fire. Those players stepped in at the varsity level last year.”
Libby ended up 9-11 overall last season and finished fifth in the conference. The season ended after back-to-back losses at the divisional tournament.
“The best teams will be Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Polson,” Winslow said while sizing up this year’s field. “Ronan could be a sleeper.”
Whitefish returns a solid lineup with three of five starters back. Historically, Columbia Falls dominates with three state titles in the last six years. But the Wildcats haven’t won since 2006.
“I think they have something to prove,” Winslow said. “The conference will be very competitive.”
Libby’s last trip to the state playoffs occurred two seasons ago. The Loggers won the state title in 2004 with a memorable triple-overtime victory over Belgrade.
The Loggers open the season at this weekend’s Southwest-Northwest Tip-Off Tournament. Libby faces Anaconda on Friday (1:30 p.m., Hamilton High School) and Stevensville on Saturday (2:15 p.m., Corvallis High School).
Libby will head to Bigfork to open conference play on Dec. 18 and play at home for the first time on Dec. 20 against Flathead.
Varsity Schedule
Dec. 12 Anaconda# 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 13 Stevensville# 2:15 p.m.
Dec. 18 at Bigfork 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 20 Flathead 4:15 p.m.
Jan. 2 at Eureka 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 3 Whitefish 6 p.m.
Jan. 8 at Columbia Falls 4:15 p.m.
Jan. 10 Ronan 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 15 at Troy 4:15 p.m.
Jan. 17 Polson 4:30 p.m.
Jan. 22 at Glacier 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 Bigfork 6 p.m.
Jan. 30 Eureka 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31 at Whitefish 3 p.m.
Feb. 5 Columbia Falls 4:15 p.m.
Feb. 13 Troy 4:15 p.m.
Feb. 14 at Ronan 4:30 p.m.
Feb. 21 at Polson 6 p.m.
# Southwest-Northwest Tip-Off Tournament at Hamilton and Corvallis.
Note: Divisional Tournament scheduled for Feb. 26-28 at Glacier High School. State Tournament scheduled for March 12-14 at Great Falls.