Butte High girls start new title hunt

By Bill Foley - 12/05/2008

In March, the Butte High girls' basketball team could actually taste the school's first state title.

That crown, however, slipped away to Missoula Big Sky in a classic battle in Great Falls.

Friday, the Bulldogs begin the quest to get back to the title game when they play at Missoula Hellgate at 7:30 p.m.

"That loss stung us," Bulldog six-year coach Jeff Arntson said of the defeat that ended Butte High's season with a school-record 21-2.

See GIRLS, Page B5 "We had high hopes that we were going to be able to hang that first banner ever at Butte High School. We're going to do everything we can to get there again." The Bulldogs return three starters from last year's team that carried the No. 1 ranking most of the season. Only two of those starters, though, will be in the lineup Friday night.

To start the season, the Bulldogs will also be without All-State junior guard Lexie Nelson. Nelson will miss at least the first two weeks with a stress fracture in her foot. She could be out until after the holiday break.

Nelson averaged 14.6 points last season before stepping up to 22.7 points per game in the three-game state tournament.

Forward Gwenn Abbott and point guard Kalli McCloskey, both seniors, also return to the starting lineup.

Abbott, who scored 23 points in the state championship game, averaged 10.7 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season.

McCloskey averaged 6.1 assists and 3.3 steals.

"I think Kalli McCloskey is one of the best point guards not only in the state of Montana, but the northwest," Arntson said. "She's a real game changer." The Bulldogs have two major holes to fill from last year.

Brianne McClafferty took her game to Montana Tech, while Joey O'Neill is starting as a true freshman at Weber State.

Arntson said he'll fill those holes with depth.

"We're high on all our players," Arntson said.

Brianne Holland-Stergar, a 6-foot-2 senior, will step into O'Neill's starting spot. She was a force off the bench for the Bulldogs last season.

The Bulldogs have a handful of players competing for playing time.

Senior Tatum Holland (5-11), who returns after two years not playing hoops for the Bulldogs, experienced junior Micaul McClafferty (6-foot) and sophomore Kabri Emerson (6-1) will vie for playing time at post, while sophomore Calley Bosch, who saw time as a freshman, and senior Hannah Dysinger, whom Arntson calls a "team player," will compete for time at the wing.

Experienced junior Kelli Dennehy will battle for playing time with promising sophomores Alex Thatcher and Maria Robinson.

In all, 54 players went out for the team, meaning Butte High will have two freshmen teams for the first time.

Arntson said that's a by-product of appearing in two state championship games in three years.

"The kids are going out and want to play basketball," he said. "That goes with the success we've had." Butte High's first home game is Dec. 16 against Helena High at the Butte Civic Center.

Other notable games are the Dec. 18 title game rematch with Big Sky at the Civic Center, a Jan. 3 home tilt with Dillon, a Jan. 15 game with Butte Central and a Feb. 12 trip to Anaconda.

The Bulldogs will play six games at the Civic Center. That allows them to call the arena their "home gym" so they can practice there before the state tournament.

This year, the state title will be decided in Butte.

Butte High girls' 2008-09 schedule All home games at Butte High Gym at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

December 5 — at Missoula Hellgate. 9 — at Helena Capital. 16 — vs. Helena High (Civic Center). 18 — vs. Missoula Big Sky (Civic Center).

January 2 — at Belgrade. 3 — vs. Dillon (Civic Center, 6 p.m.). 8 — at Great Falls Russell. 10 — vs. Great Falls High. 15 — vs. Butte Central (Civic Center, 6 p.m.). 23 — at Billings West. 24 — at Billings Senior (4:30 p.m.) 29 — at Great Falls High. 31 — vs. Great Falls Russell (Civic Center).

February 5 — at Bozeman. 7 — vs. Billings Skyview (Civic Center, 6 p.m.) 12 — at Anaconda (6 p.m.) 20 — vs. Billings West. 21 — vs. Billings Senior (4:30 p.m.). 26 — vs. Bozeman. 28 — at Billings Skyview (6 p.m.).