grizzlyjournal

Beck leads Lady Griz past Idol Sports, 77-57

Veteran Montana Lady Griz coach Robin Selvig has built a stable women’s basketball program on several foundational principles, one of which was severely tested in the Lady Griz’ 77-57 win over All-American great Cheryl Swoopes’ Idol Sports Warriors Sunday.

With every new season, Selvig gives his returning upper-class players the first opportunity to step into starting positions vacated by departed seniors, and Sunday’s pre-season contest was the perfect test to see which of several solid vets would step into the vacancies left by all-conference starters Mandy Morales, Sonya Rogers and Britney Lohman.

But no fewer than five promising freshmen are pushing to turn the tables of tradition on this young season, and one -- frosh forward Katie Baker -- was named “player of the game” after scoring 19 points while grabbing seven rebounds in 20 minutes of play against the Warriors Sunday.

Baker is one of a trio of frosh -- off-guard Kenzie De Boer (6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists), and forward Alyssa Smith (3 points, 3 boards, 3 assists) are the others -- who are in the thick of the battle for those two open starting positions.

Two more, redshirt frosh Alexandra Hurley and freshman point guard Ashley Ferda -- whose play might be limited by a potential chronic injury -- may see increased playing time as the season progresses.

Selvig made certain every player got significant floor time to make their case.

With the exception of senior shooting guard Lauren Beck -- who played 31 stellar minutes, scored 22 points and stepped assertively into the role of team leader -- nine players logged between 15 and 22 minutes. All played well in short spells in a game that was never in doubt.

PHOTOS: Senior Lauren Beck (above) scored 22 points, grabbed 5 boards, and dished 3 assists while frosh Katie Baker (right) scored 19 points and grabbed 7 boards.

Joining Beck as a returning starter will be junior power forward Sarah Ena, who had a slightly off-kilter game, but still scored 14 points and grabbed eight boards. Senior Shaunte Nance-Johnson made only one of six shots, but dished four assists at point and will likely assume the starting role.

Those three will be expected to provide leadership until two starters and three more first-line reserves claim roles on a team that looks -- on paper -- to be inexperienced.

But several upperclass players -- backcourt players Stephanie Stender and Tianna Ware, and front court vets Shadra Robison, Jessa Linford and Misty Atkinson -- all played solid floor games, though only Atkinson (5 points and 4 rebounds) produced a stat line to scrutinize.

With such solid production from his frosh, Selvig will likely redshirt only one or two, while the others -- in their quest for playing time -- will likely push this year’s Lady Griz squad at an accelerated pace. There were few, if any, disappointed fans after Sunday’s game.

Swoopes led the Warriors with 31 points and 15 rebounds while Rogers donned the unfamiliar blue and red Idol Sports uniform and scored 13 points.

The Lady Griz jump into the fray on Friday, with a tough season-opening two-game road swing to Colorado State and Wyoming (11/15).

POSTGAME NOTES: Redshirt frosh Ashley Ferda sat at the end of the bench with a plastic boot on her right foot. Selvig said that Ferda was dealing with a chronic condition and her playing status wouldn’t be known until Monday or Tuesday. Ferda’s injury makes it even more likely that Selvig will play at least thee of his four true freshmen. The fourth true frosh, Kelsey Hildal, did not play and is a likely candidate for redshirt.

New-look Grizzlies dismantle Lewis and Clark State, 82-53

The Montana Grizzlies played a pre-season game against Lewis & Clark State of Lewiston, Idaho on Friday night... which they won 82-53.

But of much more importance than the win against the overmatched Warriors, were the early signs of a Montana team that is vastly changed from last year’s third place Big Sky Conference finishers. And as such is a team bristling with the promise as a serious Big Sky contender.

The evidence was in the stats. Montana’s defense forced 18 Warriors’ turnovers, while nabbing nine outright steals. On the other end Montana reversed a year-long trend of soft assist-to-turnover stats with a sparkling 17-to10 assist-to turnover ratio on the night. It didn’t hurt that Montana shot 60.6 percent from the field in the second half runaway, triggered by some surprising full-court pressure defense.

Senior point guard and All-America candidate Anthony Johnson notched nine of the team’s 17 assists to go along with his game-high 19 points. But Johnson was ably supported by freshman guard Will Cherry, who showed flashes of brilliance with stellar play at both ends of the floor, finishing with 10 points, three assists and only two turnovers.

Senior Jack McGillis -- playing most of the night at power forward in the absence of injured Derek Selvig -- scored 15 points on a variety of his patented herky-jerky bulldog drives, while senior sharpshooter Ryan Staudacher scored 10 on 4-of-9 conversions from long range. The remainder of the equally promising Griz frontcourt -- forwards Raason Young (8) and frosh Mathias Ward (7) and junior post Brian Qvale (7)  -- helped the Griz dominate inside. They also helped to contribute to a 40-29 Montana margin on the boards, led by Qvale’s 10 and Young’s 8.

Sophomore point guard Shawn Stockton scored points with productive minutes behind Johnson and Cherry, and senior forward Vassy Banny, still recovering from a knee injury, scored two points while snaring six rebounds.

Montana Coach Wayne Tinkle -- who’s seen Selvig and freshman forward Eric Hutchison felled by serious foot injuries, and junior off-guard Michael Taylor hobbled with a shoulder injury -- couldn’t hide his pleasure or his surprise at Montana’s solid play.

Johnson is a known quantity and has capable assumed his role as a vocal team leader. But Cherry’s easy assumption as a backup floor general is a promising sign for a Montana team that’s struggled to find confident floor leaders.

It’s not a matter of wishful thinking to predict that this year’s Griz have the potential to be a much improved team from last season. Simply put, they’re faster and quicker on both ends of the court.

A natural result of that team-wide quickness are a variety of full-court and half-court defensive pressure strategies, which Montana briefly unveiled over a short second half span. The pressure D quickly expanded Montana’s lead to the final 29-point margin. Montana fans haven’t seen effective pressure D from Montana since its 2006 championship season. Full court man pressure is exactly what Cherry relishes. (more on Cherry tomorrow and Sunday)

Once the Griz can harness that raw power, they’ll have the tools to compete with most -- if not all -- the teams on their non-conference schedule this year.

Tinkle said he recruited specifically to inject physical quickness into his squad. Still, he seemed mildly surprised in the post-game interview, that the Griz full-court defense, including two zone traps, worked so quickly and so efficiently. He said the squad had only worked on the pressure D for a day.

Newcomers Raason Young and Will Cherry had a lot to do with Montana’s defense. Cherry was most impressive, displaying the ability to force ballhandlers away from their offense and, in several cases disrupt passing lanes. Young is still struggling with his perimeter defense, but played efficient baseline defense.

Forward Tanner McIntosh scored 15 points for the Warriors while senior post James Craft scored 13.

Montana now turns its attention to the beginning of nonconference play when they host their own Karl Tyler Chevrolet Tourney next weekend. The Griz tip off against North Dakota on Nov. 13 at 8 p.m.

Montana Lady Griz Hoops: The best photos of 2009

Grizzly Journal was there at every home game of the Montana Lady Griz' Championship Season in 2008-09. These photos represent just a glimpse of the players, coaches and fans who participated in Montana's Big Sky Conference Championship. These photos represent my best and -- in some cases -- my favorite photos. Hope you enjoy them.

Montana Grizzly Hoops: Best Photos of 2009

In a brief look back at Montana's 2008-2009 season, I've posted my best/favorite Griz-in-action photos from last season. Hope you enjoy them.

Will Raason Young provide the answer for Montana's wing woes?

One reason diehard Montana Grizzly fans were buzzing after Montana’s first public scrimmage of the new season Tuesday was the play of Raason Young, a junior college transfer from Hagerston Community College in Washington, D. C.

Young’s debut as a Griz was impressive, as he scored 18 points from the wing position behind senior guard Anthony Johnson’s game-high 25. His play also means that Montana Coach Wayne Tinkle has finally added depth to a position that’s been thin (to say the least) for the past three years.

PHOTO RIGHT: Raason Young defends against sophomore point guard Shawn Stockton in Montana's first public scrimmage.

Two years ago the Griz lost a promising JC wing recruit mere weeks before the season began and struggled without success to fill the position. Last year, Oregon State transfer (and Missoula native) Jack McGillis stepped into the role.

McGillis, an explosive true small forward, played the position capably last season. But when McGillis got into foul trouble or needed a breather, Tinkle struggled to find the right combo of reserves to step up.

One scrimmage is certainly not enough to say with certainty that Young is the solution to Montana’s wing frustrations. But if Young can consistently fill the lines of a stat sheet like he did Tuesday, then the Griz will be solidly two deep at every position except post, where a rotation of players will still be necessary.

PHOTO RIGHT: Young scores two points over Montana post Brian Qvale after a quick reverse baseline drive. Frosh forward Mathias Ward looks on.

Young’s 18-points of offense was only part of the story. That 12 of those points came from a slick, quick-trigger, high-release, long-range shot might instantly transform the Griz into a potentially lethal long range shooting team from four of the five positions on the floor (more about those players later).

Just as impressive was Young’s lateral quickness on defense and on several slashing baseline dribble enter drives from the elbow on early offense.

Young was the only Griz player who -- on defense -- could keep up with Johnson. But, as Tinkle said post-game, he still needs work on D. But Young has the physical frame and lateral quickness of an exceptional defensive player and should make strides under the tutelage of Tinkle and assistant coach Bill Evans.

There’s time. With the season opener still three weeks distant, there’s time for Young to work his way into a role in tandem with McGillis. If he does, the Montana Grizzlies will have the depth and versatility to contend for the Big Sky Crown.

Johnson & Johnson pace Griz, Lady Griz pre-season scrimmages

The husband-wife duo of Anthony Johnson and Shaunte Nance-Johnson made the headlines in their teams’ initial outing of the 2009 Montana basketball season, but it was exceptional team depth -- some of it surprising -- that may write the complete story of the two teams as the season progresses.

The senior guard Johnson duo provided the marquee storylines for the initial public scrimmage by the Montana Grizzlies and Montana Lady Griz 2009-10 basketball teams Tuesday.  Both squads have been tabbed in most pre-season polls to finish their respective Big Sky Conferences in second place.

PHOTO: Montana senior guard Anthony Johnson drives through the lane for two of his game-high 25 points.

Anthony Johnson scored 25 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line for the Griz, while Shaunte started at point for the Lady Griz maroon squad, notching 19 points on two assists and 2-for-2 shooting at the free throw line.

But AJ got stellar support from junior college newcomer, Raason Young, in the wing position. Young scored 18 points with 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the three point line and sent an early signal that he’ll vie for playing time at wing for the Griz.

Johnson, who has been billed as a pre-season All-America candidate, flashed the on-court brilliance Griz fans got accustomed to last season, slicing quickly into the key on his patented slashing drives or pulling up quickly for smooth midrange jumpers.

But Young’s shooting touch and heady man-on defense had scrimmage viewers buzzing. The lanky 6’-5” wing has a high and quick shot release that’s difficult to defend. That shooting touch shows promises to invigorate Montana’s perimeter offense from the wing position this year.

The Grizzlies got balanced scoring from a several players expected to contribute during the year. Senior shooting guard Ryan Staudacher (15), senior wing Jack McGillis (12), sophomore power forward Derek Selvig (15) and junior center Brian Qvale (10) notched double digits for the Griz.

Junior shooting guard Michael Taylor scored eight points and logged a solid floor game while sophomore point guard Shawn Stockton -- who played much of the game at point opposite Johnson --  scored nine points and dished four assists.

Nance-Johnson stepped into her role as the Lady Griz point guard for the season. Nance-Johnson’s 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting led both squads. Senior shooting forward Lauren Beck scored 12 points on three treys, while junior forward Sarah Ena scored 11 points and cleared seven rebounds.

PHOTO: Montana Lady Griz senior guard Shaunte Nance-Johnson drives through the lane for two of her game-high 19 points.

But a group of impressive freshman logged aggressive games, validating pre-season poll-pickers for ranking the very young Lady Griz squad so high. Forward Alyssa Smith (13), forward Katie Baker (11), guard-forward Kenzie De Boer (13), and redshirt guard Ashley Ferda (8) played outstanding floor games in support of upper class players Stephanie Stender, Jessa Linford, Misty Atkinson and Shadra Robison, who they may well push for playing time.

It’s dangerous to ever say, “the best ever” when referring to any of Montana coach Robin Selvig’s long string of championship teams. BUT... this group of freshmen has potential to be one of Selvig’s best freshman classes. Time will tell, perhaps soon.

Check back for more photos from Tuesday’s scrimmage and for several pre-season KEYS for the Montana Grizzlies and the Montana Lady Griz.