Seeley Hosts Girls Basketball Tournament

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Invitational Girls Basketball Tournament was held Friday and Saturday, June 24-25 at Seeley-Swan High School (SSHS) and Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) School. The tournament attracted regional teams from Whitefish to Florence and Shelby to Centerville including last year's top Class C team in the state Belt and Class B's second place team Fairfield.

Last season the Lady Blackhawks worked their way to the State Class C tournament and took fourth. Five seniors from the team have graduated: Paige Holmes, Stephanie Robbins, Delaney Holzworth, Marisol Caro and Eliana Robinett. This is the first year in ten years there is not a lady Holmes on the team. During the past four years, Paige has been a member of the team. The previous two years Shelby was on the team and the previous four years had Ashley on the team.

Seeley fielded two teams for the tournament this weekend. They included five seniors: Alex Bohlman, Cera Strumpfer, Mary Strumpfer, Tessa Grimes and Stevi Meade. One junior on the team was Iriey Anderson. There were six sophomores on the team: Ashley Miller, Autumn Morse, Andi Bohlman, Lauryn Barnes, Chloe Robbins and Lily Mercer. There were two freshmen on the team: Terra Bertsch and Kara Good. For this weekend's tournament two additional players from SLE, Tara Cahoon and Bethany Hoag, were recruited to assist with manpower (ladypower) needs.

When one obtains a two-day tournament with eleven teams and nominally two hundred to two hundred and fifty players, scoring in individual games often is not a high priority. Some priorities include socialization with other teams from around the state (players, coaches, parents, grandparents), coaches working with different player line-ups, players becoming familiar with team play with other members of the same team, activity on the court and enjoyment. Reviewing team play during the two days, there were several "worthy" teams including Belt, Bigfork, Choteau, Fairfield, Lone Peak, Shelby and Victor.

Some of the team play that was significant included the passing and ball handling of Belt. The members of this team were all very quick and had "good" hands. Their shooting percentages were very high considering how early we are in the season. Bottom line: Belt is a very, very good team.

Seeley's two freshman Bertsch and Good played very well and look like good additions to the SSHS team. Hoag had several "very good" games.

Seeley's Team I had better offensive team play the second day; there was definite improvement from day one to day two. The defensive play of Seeley's teams appears to be improving. General teamwork also seems to be improving. Most of the players were physically exhausted at the end of the tournament-this is a good sign and will help make America GREAT again.