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SKC Bison wins and bears it

by Marianne Addison

Monte, the University of Montana's Grizzly basketball mascot who made an appearace at Sunday's game, gives four-year-old Zarec Couture a bear rub (Kim Swaney, photo)

With seven minutes to play in the first half, Delbert Trombley came alive to lead a one-man three-point scoring barrage as he hit back-to-back threes, giving SKC their first lead of the game with the score at 27-26. SKC didn't look back and held the lead for the rest of the game. SKC led by one at the half, 45-44. Trombley led all scorers with 14 points by snapping four three-pointers and a fast-break lay-up. Howard Walker was already in double digits by halftime with 11 points and Pius Takes Horse was on his way with 8 points. Bobby Takes Enemy, a forward with a heavily taped right hand, led LBHC with 12 points before halftime and Cameron McCormick added 10 points. Takes Enemy finished with 18 points and McCormick who led the Rams with 23 points, had four rebounds, and two assists.

SKC began the second-half with an 11-0 run in the first three minutes of the half. LBHC's first score of the second half came as a result of an Andy Roundface rebound and assist to Elvis Old Bull Jr., who converted a three-point play. The mighty Bison stampede turned up the tempo and converted numerous steals and tip-ins in the second half.

Meanwhile, the Rams didn't show any signs of giving up as Cameron McCormick and Andy Roundface kept attacking the basket and feeding each other passes leading to points. To cut the lead to single digits, McCormick snapped three three-pointers in a row. McCormick scored 13 points and Roundface contributed nine in the second-half as they kept the Rams' hopes alive. Roundface finished with 15 points, a team high of seven rebounds, one steal, and one assist. Frustration fouls by the Rams, however, sealed the game as SKC went to the free-throw line and extended their lead.

Reserve Justin Tonasket provided a spark off the bench as he came in and hustled after steals and pressured the ball on defense. His hustle led to him to make numerous drives to the hoop and finished with 17 points, most of those coming in the second half. Ed Running Rabbit did a lot of things to control the tempo as a cooler-than-ice point guard and led SKC with seven assists and three steals. Flathead Reservation local SKC player, Howard Walker, also snatched up three steals to go along with 23 points, a game high eight rebounds, three assists, and one block. Delbert Trombley's phenomenal play, however, led SKC to victory as he swished in six three-pointers en route to 24 points to go along with five rebounds.

Stats for the game were impressive. In addition to Walker, Tonasket, and Trombley's scoring performances, Pius Takes Horse added 18 points, two assists, and one steal; Andrew "White Chocolate" Zimmer scored 15 points and grabbed three rebounds; Joe Chartraw converted many free throw opportunities to score nine points plus he contributed six rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

The difference in the game was defense. SKC employed a man to man defense in the first half, switched to a half-court trap defense, then ultimately decided to implement a full-court pressure defense leading to 12 steals converting into two points on the other end of the court by SKC.

Many of SKC's baskets were made in transition, as the players aggressively looked to the hoop as soon as they touched the ball. There was no slowing down the ball to run an offense, unless the game's pace bordered on the chaotic side. Both teams looked to drive to the hoop almost every time and sometimes settled on shooting threes when players driving to the hoop met intimidating defense and dished the ball out to a teammate on the wing for a three-point opportunity.

Fans appreciated the style of play. On a fast-break, in which Joe Chartraw fed a cutting Justin Tonasket, a fan enthusiastically commented that, "That is how basketball is supposed to be played!"

Coach Zach Camel was pleased with the way SKC steered the ball. In the previous game, SKC won 148-83; there was a one-pass, one shot type of offense. Camel thought it was good to see that his team could play in a set half-court offense, as well as at an up-tempo pace. He celebrated his team on their ability to share the ball.

On another note, Mike Chavez, a University of Montana basketball player, was in attendance for the game. Right after practice and lifting weights in Missoula, Chavez weathered the roads and made the trip to Ronan for the game. Monte, UM's mascot acknowledged Chavez's presence as he went over, dusted off his coat, and gave him a bear hug. The humble Chavez almost seemed to shy away from the attention given to him when the announcer showed appreciation for Mike being at the game.

As Chavez stayed behind after the game to catch up on old times with the players from LBHC, he patiently signed SKC mini-basketballs. He grew up with many of the guys on Little Bighorn's team, some of them are related to Chavez and also played in tournaments with him. Reporters interviewed him and fans spoke with him throughout the course of the game. Chavez has become quite the media story in his senior year at UM, similar to the days of his high school senior year. Last week, he appeared on the front page of The Missoulian's Sports section.

"It was a pretty good game," Chavez said of the 108-98 SKC victory. "It was a better game than last night."

"Yeah, it was a good game," said the cool-headed LBHC's Cameron McCormick following the loss. McCormick showed Chavez his ticket stub of the University of Montana versus Montana State University game that the watched on Saturday.

The Rams began their first year of the basketball program at Little Bighorn College on October 1, 2006. Presently, they have joined the National Junior College Athletic Association. According to McCormick, they have won four games against JV college teams, but are currently defeated in conference play. Of the stay at Flathead, McCormick said, "It was pretty nice, but I bet it's even better in the summer or fall."