Central girls set lofty goal for season

By Bill Foley - 12/05/2008

The Butte Central girls' basketball players will get a reminder of their team goal every time they drive past the Butte Civic Center.

The old arena will host the

Class A state girls' basketball

tournament March 5-7, and Butte Central hasn't partaken in the state tournament since completing a back-to-back state title run in 1982.

The Maroons would like nothing more than to end that long drought.

"It's a huge goal," BC coach Meg Murphy said. "I told them maybe 10 percent will play college basketball. The rest will have to rely on that banner."

The long road to state begins Friday when the Maroons take on Billings Central at 3:45 p.m. at the Maroon Activities Center. The game is part of an eight-team

tip-off tournament hosted by the Maroons.

Central went 8-13 last season. That record included a win in Great Falls at the Central A tournament that gave the Maroons a taste of post-season success.

Murphy is in her second year of her second stint as coach of the

See CENTRAL, Page B5

Maroons. The 2008-09 season brings a bit of a switch in philosophy as sophomore post players Lexie Murphy, the daughter of the coach, and Quinn Peoples will be featured more.

In recent years, the Maroons have been more of a 3-point

shooting team.

"We're going inside out," said coach Murphy, who was a post on the 1981 state champion BC squad. "It's been a long time."

Murphy (6-foot) and Peoples (5-11) contributed off the bench last season. But both saw crucial time for the Maroons, especially at the divisional tournament.

The BC twin towers will be joined in the starting lineup by seniors Saidee Johnston and Kacey Daily and junior Kourtney Kambich.

Kambich is filling in for senior Brooke Pokorny, who will miss the first three games because she didn't get in enough practice time because of a family vacation.

"At least we'll get some kids experience at point guard," coach Murphy said. "It will benefit us down the road."

Pokorny and Johnston are four-year varsity players, and Daily has been a varsity contributor for three years. So, senior leadership will be a strength.

Senior Lacey Davidson is a reserve player who gives the Maroons some fight off the bench.

"She's a really scrap player," Murphy said. "She's a really good rebounder, and she plays hard."

The rest of the Maroon bench is young, but Murphy said she likes what she has in sophomores Theresa Banks and Breanne Krzan and freshmen Kaci McKeon and Brynne Kambich.

The divisional tournament this season is in Belgrade. The Maroons will have to place in the top two there to come home for state.

Murphy said the Maroons have a shot.

"I think we really match up with anybody in our conference," she said.

The Maroons play three of their four pre-Christmas games at home.

They play Butte High Jan. 15, and play host to Anaconda Jan. 22. BC heads to Anaconda Feb. 21.

BC's first conference game is Tuesday at home against Belgrade.

Butte Central girls

2008-09 schedule

All home games at Maroon Activities Center unless otherwise noted

December

5 — vs. Billings Central. 6 — vs. Hardin. 9 — vs. Belgrade. 19 — at Stevensville.

January

3 — vs. Lewistown. 9 — at Browning. 10 — at Havre. 15 — vs. Butte High (Civic Center). 17 — at Livingston. 22 — vs. Anaconda. 24 — at Corvallis. 27 — at Belgrade. 31 — at Lewistown.

February

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

Tip-off Tournament

Girls

Friday

at MAC

2 p.m. — Hardin vs. Browning

3:45 p.m. — Butte Central vs. Billings Central

5:30 p.m. — Missoula Loyola vs. Livingston

7:15 p.m. — Salmon, Idaho vs. Laurel

Saturday

at Civic Center

10 a.m. — Browning vs. Laurel

11:45 a.m. — Butte Central vs. Hardin

1:30 p.m. — Billings Central vs. Missoula Loyola

3:15 p.m. — Livingston vs. Salmon, Idaho