Eighth grade basketball champions

Libby’s eighth-grade basketball team finished their season as the undisputed champions of the world. Maybe not the world, but after going 9-0 during the season, they hosted and won a middle school tournament at the high school by going 3-0 against schools from around the area.

Their season culminated with a win over Plains in the championship game last weekend, 40-22.

Plains jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the game with coach Neil Fuller saying his team couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn to start. He said Plains was out-hustling, out-rebounding, and playing with more intensity to start the game. “The kids ended up playing a lot better as the game went on,” Fuller said.

His players stuck with some of the fundamentals they built on throughout the year. “The kids worked hard all year to develop getting the ball on the inside,” Fuller said. “The kids started to work the ball inside and we were all able to execute.”

Fuller said his team wasn’t the most proficient offensive team, but by playing hard on the defensive end they were able to overcome that obstacle. The team’s stout defense led to several turnovers during the championship game, which were turned into points for the Loggers.

“We had a unique team with 10 eighth-graders,” Fuller said. “We also want to give kudos to coach Kyle Hannah’s seventh-grade team who also had a great year.”

Fuller’s team beat Eureka’s B-team in the first game of the tournament and then got a victory against Troy in the semi-final game.

Throughout the season a rotating cast of two seventh-graders were able to play with the eighth-grade team, giving them valuable experience.

Fuller said Ryggs Johnston’s shooting bailed the team out during several games this season, but the whole team rallied in the final game, especially Tim Goodman. Goodman scored 13 points in the championship game.

Johnston led the team with 15 points, Ben Diller had 4 points and Austin Swartzenberger, Ryan Christensen, and Kevin Barnes each added a bucket.

Hannah’s seventh-grade team lost to a Thompson Falls team, who boasted a couple six-footers on their team, in their first game of the tournament, but rallied to beat Noxon in their second game. They then fell to Troy’s eighth-grade team in their final game.

“Overall, the seventh and eighth-graders had a great attitude and were really fun to work with all season,” said Fuller. “This was one of the most enjoyable group of kids I’ve worked with,” he said.