BC boys host tourney

By Bill Foley - 12/05/2008

The Butte Central boys' basketball team is coming off an

appearance in the Class A state championship game.

If the Maroons are going to get back there this March, they'll take an entirely different path.

Recent BC teams relied on the long ball for success.

"This year's team should be able to use the post more this year, and

hopefully we'll be

taking more high-

percentage shots," Central coach Brodie Kelly said. "In the past few years, we have led the conference in 3-point attempts by a wide margin. This year, we will be working harder to use the post."

The Maroons will try their new approach at 7:15 p.m. Friday when they take on Billings Central in the BC-hosted tip-off tournament at the Civic Center.

Saturday, the Maroons play Hardin at 3:15 at the Maroon Activities Center.

The Maroons return just one starter — senior guard Casey Norbeck — from last year's team that fell to Browning in the championship game in Billings.

BC also returns sophomores Jonathan Richards (6-foot-3) and Andy Ritter. They both saw lots of action off the bench as freshman.

Richards earned All-Conference accolades in a reserve role.

Returning letter winners include senior guard Josh LeProwse and junior forwards Sean Ferriter and Justin Dunbar.

Varsity newcomers include Aschen Richards, Mike Joyce,

See BC, Page B5

Tom Markovich and Oren Fenwick.

"Aschan is a 6-5 sophomore who played with the JV and freshmen teams last year," Kelly said. "He is very skilled for a big man and brings a new dimension to our team. He has done a great job contesting shots and rebounding so far in practice."

Kelly said sophomores Fenwick (6-3) and Markovich and junior Joyce are battling for the eight through 10 slots in the BC rotation.

"All three of them have been doing a great job defensively and are trying to find roles within our offense," Kelly said.

Kelly said his starting five will be based more on chemistry than simply the best five players.

"Right now, we have seven guys that could be starters — Josh LeProwse, Andy Ritter, Jonathan Richards, Casey Norbeck, Aschan Richards, Sean Ferriter and Justin Dunbar," Kelly said.

Another new dimension to the 2008-09 Maroons will be some zone defense.

"We will continue to rely on good, solid half-court man," Kelly said. "This year, we will have some personnel groups that will allow us to play more zone than we have in the past."

The Maroons play Butte High Jan. 15 at the Civic Center. They play host to Anaconda Jan. 22 and play the Copperheads in the Snake Pit Feb. 21.

The Central A division tournament is in Belgrade, and the Class A state tournament is in Great Falls.

Butte Central boys

2008-09 schedule

All home games at Maroon Activities Center

December

5 — vs. Billings Central (Civic Center. 6 — vs. Hardin. 11 — at Belgrade. 19 — at Stevensville.

January

3 — vs. Lewistown. 9 — vs. Browning. 10 — vs. Havre. 15 — vs. Butte High (Civic Center). 17 vs. Livingston. 22 — vs. Anaconda. 24 — vs. Corvallis. 29 — vs. Belgrade. 31 — at Lewistown.

February

6 — at Browning. 7 — at Havre. 12 — vs. Helena High. 13 — at Livingston. 21 — at Anaconda.

Tip-off Tournament

Boys

Friday

at Butte Civic Center

2 p.m. — Missoula Loyola vs. Livingston

3:45 p.m. — Laurel

vs. Salmon, Idaho

5:30 p.m. — Hardin

vs. Browning

7:15 p.m. — Butte Central vs. Billings Central

Saturday

at MAC

10 a.m. — Billings Central vs. Missoula Loyola

11:45 a.m. — Livingston vs. Salmon, Idaho

1:30 p.m. — Browning vs. Laurel

3:15 p.m. — Butte Central vs. Hardin