BUTTE – Class AA boys basketball is shaping up to be extremely competitive, and over in Butte the Bulldogs are ready to showcase what they have in store this upcoming season.
“I think this year more so than where we were at last year when we struggled, is we found some balance,” said head coach Luke Powers. “We’re going to be able to get to the rim, we’re going to be able to score from outside. And defensively we’re going to be able to play a full court, up-tempo game.”
Balance that includes returning a top-10 scorer in Clay Ferguson, one of the best point guards in the state in Kash Kelly and sharp shooter Trevin Roth. All the team needs now to is to develop some mid-season chemistry early on. But Kelly says that having a great core of returners will go a long way.
“It helps out a lot,” Kelly said. “Last year, we were very young, we only got three wins. This year, we’re seniors, we’ve experienced what AA is like, it’s a lot faster pace than JV or sophomore basketball.”
Like most good teams, having experience in close-game situations can be the difference between a win and a loss. The Bulldogs didn’t find themselves in many of those situations last year, as they only won three total games. That being said, with a better chance to win those close games down the stretch, the Bulldogs expectation this year is to win it all, right here in Butte.
“I think the bar is through the roof, I think we can go all the way to the championship, I think we’re that good this year if we keep working and focusing on what we do,” added Kelly.
The State AA boys basketball tournament will be at the Butte Civic Center March 7-9.
