Loggers close hoops season

The Libby Loggers closed their season on the hardwood Sunday when they lost to Frenchtown, 73-40. All-State guard Jared Winslow characteristically led all scorers in his final game, dropping 20 points, including a trio of three-pointers.

The loss bounced the Loggers (1-19) from the double-elimination Northwestern A divisional tournament after a 55-38 loss Thursday to Polson. The tournament was delayed one day when teams from Frenchtown were unable to make the trip north to Kalispell through a raging blizzard.

The game got out of hand early. Frenchtown led 13-4 after the first quarter and 32-6 at halftime. Libby traded baskets with the Broncs bench in the second half.

“Frenchtown rotated players throughout the game,” Libby Coach Wally Winslow said. “We got the deficit down to eight, but could not get anything after that.”

Logger opponents game planned against a one-man band this season, often throwing what Coach Winslow calls “junk defenses” at his squad. Defensive strategies like the diamond-and-one or box-and-one made it the first, second and third priority to harass Jared Winslow, whose exceptional shooting range allowed him to still find scoring chances.

The team’s only other senior, Quinn Sullivan, reveled in the team’s dirty work, often defending opponents’ best post scorer. Sullivan scored six points against Frenchtown.

“Wins and losses, this year was far from what we hoped it to be,” Coach Winslow said. “But the kids improved dramatically. We played our best at the end of year, with the exception of a few quarters at the divisional tournament.”

The graduation of Jared Winslow will leave a colossal gap to fill for Libby. Replacing one of the best guards in the state will have to be a team effort; sophomore guard Jonny Cielak and freshman post Erik Lauer will likely realize significant increases in playing time next year, and their growth will begin to fill Winslow’s shoes.

“It’s hard to talk about Jared, what he does on the court speaks for itself,” Coach Winslow said of his son. “No doubt about it, he’s one of the best I’ve ever coached. He developed into a top-tier player through a lot of hard work and quality time in the gym.”

Returning starters Michael Curtiss, a 6-foot-3 post, and guards Isaak Jones and Collin Johnson will lead a class of five rising seniors, along with guards Dylon Lane and Luke Adamson.

“We need a team of kids that can score the basketball,” Coach Winslow said. “It will be a challenge for the kids to make themselves better individual players during the offseason. We lost a lot of wars, but won a lot of battles. The kids never complained about each other or bickered, ever. I am so proud of that.”

Libby: 4 2 17 17—40

Frenchtown: 13 19 21 20—73

Polson 55, Libby 38:

At Kalispell, the Loggers prepared all week for the Pirates’ Andrew Weltz, but the Polson big man dominated anyway, leading all scorers with 21 points Thursday.

A 12-2 first-quarter deficit set the Loggers behind early. Winslow made four three-pointers on his way to a team-high 17 points.

Libby: 2 11 17 8—38

Polson: 12 18 16 9—55