Trotters to rely on solid core of returners

Experience and exuberance are two factors being counted on to propel the Plains Trotters girls’ basketball team to the upper echelons of the Western 7B conference this season.

With only one senior on a 19-player roster, which includes five freshmen and two eighth graders, the Trotters still have a solid core of varsity experience.  The Trotters finished the 2023-24 season with a 12-12 overall record and a trip to the Divisional tournament at Salish Kootenai College. 

That team began the year with a 7-1 record before running into the heart of the 7B conference and annually tough opponents like Sanders County rival Thompson Falls, Eureka and Mission. 

Gone from last year’s team are graduated seniors Blakely Lakko, Teirainy Bellinger and Peyton Wasson. 

That leaves forward Trystan Larsen as the lone returning senior along with a talent-laden group of juniors, sophomores and freshman. 

But solid “buy-in” for the Trotters summer basketball program revealed significant improvement from the underclassmen. 

“We expect to be very competitive this season,” said Trotters’ head coach Brooks Sanford. “We had solid buy-in for our summer program with many of our players improving and a few new players learning the system”. 

That level of improvement over the summer and a positive, energy-driven attitude throughout the team is the source of Sanford’s optimism. 

“With more experience and confidence, we should be more difficult to defend with any of our five players on the floor being able to score,” Sanford said. 

Juniors Katelyn Subatch, Rani Kilgore and Sarah Anderson provide skills that Sanford and assist coach Mike Tatum, who is the Plains head football coach, are reason for optimism. 

And the sophomore group, led by Aubree Butcher, a standout volleyball player, Jaycee Carr, Taryn Merideth, Emilia Rivinous, Ashley Ferlan and Madi O’Keefe, are a hard-working bunch that provide the team with solid depth. 

Sanford also said varsity help should come from a strong freshman class, led by Ferlan, Rice and Grace Subatch. 

As is the case with most area coaches, defensive improvement is one of the aspects of the game being worked on during the early, pre-season practices. 

“Improving all aspects of the game is a goal every day,” Sanford said. “Learning how to anticipate on defense so it becomes second nature is one of our top goals”. 

And, Sanford added, attitude and energy will be a major factor to the team’s success. 

“Our players have a very positive outlook and a lot of energy in practice,” he said. “If that translates to the game night, it will be a fun year”. 

The Trotters open their season December 5th with a home game versus Flathead Valley Christian, then remain at home for a contest versus Two Eagle River December 12. 

    Plains Trotters head coach Brooks Sanford works with a group of players on defensive skills during an early season practice ahead of their season-opener December 5th against Flathead Valley Christian in Plains. (Photo by Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)