Bobcats wrap up summer league
<p>Superior Bobcat Jordan Mueller drives to the basket during last Tuesday's away game against Thompson Falls. Mueller had a solid summer and was often the team's leading scorer.</p>
SUPERIOR - The Superior Lady Bobcats played more summer league basketball games the Head Coach Jeff Schultz has ever scheduled this year and in those 37 games the team has grown and matured to a point the coach doesn’t even recognize his team anymore.
Capping off their summer league season in West Yellowstone, the Lady Bobcats faced a slew of tough opponents and continued to improve on both sides of the court.
The tournament started with a game against Twin Bridges, where according to Coach Schultz the squad played aggressively on defense and kept up with the pace set by Twin Bridges.
“We played them very tough,” Coach Schultz said. “Jordan Mueeler went on a scoring spree and Hannah Hollenback did an outstanding job on the boards against their two tall girls.”
Although the Bobcats played tough basketball, Twin Bridges was hot from the perimeter and shot approximately 70 percent from the floor, which sealed the victory for them 35-21.
“If they would not have been so red hot it would have been anyone’s game,” Coach Schultz said.
In the next match of the tournament Superior faced off against Harrison and once again the Lady Bobcats came out playing tough, aggressive basketball.
Danielle “Bubba” Ewoniuk led Superior in scoring and the Bobcats played fast-paced basketball, but the lack of subs ended up hurting the squad in the second half.
“We only had seven girls and played two games in Charlo the day before,” Coach Schultz said. “Our lack of subs started to wear on us and during that game it really took it’s toll.”
Superior lost the game 39-25 to end the first day of the West Yellowstone tournament.
In the second day of the tournament the Bobcats faced Lone Peak and although the team started slow, according to Coach Schultz they eventually woke up.
“We started to wake up in the second half and won 41-21,” Coach Schultz said. “Marissa (Koke) dominated the middle and scored early and often.”
Up next for the Bobcats was the host team, West Yellowstone, and although Superior produced a solid defensive effort they could not get the offense to follow suit.
“We did not shoot very well at all,” Coach Schultz said. “It was one of those games where there was a lid on the hoop. We played good defense but could not get the offense to follow.”
Superior lost 28-25 but there were still several standout performances during the game.
“Celein Parkin and Michele Smith played exceptionally well on defense and shut down their leading scorer,” Coach Schultz said. “Alise Rutherford scored two baskets and really grew as a freshman that hadn’t played as much varsity in the past but stepped up nicely.”
The final game of the tournament saw the short-staffed Bobcats joined by players from other teams to take on Ashton. Coach Schultz said the game was “a lot of fun for our girls” and that the team enjoyed playing with other girls.
“The whole tourney was a blast and we learned a lot,” Coach Schultz said.