By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The Rocky Boy Stars (1-1 overall) return 10 letter-winners and boast some speed this season.
"We have a little bit of experience and speed," said head coach Bobby Small. "Most of these kids have been playing for me the last couple of years on the varsity."
Juniors Josh Raining Bird, Jesse Poolaw, Eric Roasting Stick, sophomores Mike Morsette, Adam DeMontiney, Mike Seaton, Craig Gopher, and seniors Nathan Stanley, Darrell Sunchild, and Ronnie Lodgepole return from last year's squad, who finished 5-13, and fourth at the District 9-C tournament.
"They are still young yet, but they are going to be competitive," Small said. "They are a year older and they have matured a little bit."
The Stars will use a traditional up-tempo offense this season.
Junior Kyle MacDonald, Raining Bird, Gopher, and Sunchild all notched double figures for the Stars in opening-season play.
MacDonald and Raining Bird poured in 19 points apiece, Gopher, who stands 6-foot-4, tallied 18, and Sunchild added 13 in the 90-75 swamping of non-conference Brockton at the Native American Classic.
The Stars went 5-for-7 from the free throw line and shot 47 percent from the field in the contest.
Sunchild scored 12 points in the 67-45 loss to non-conference Heart Butte Saturday.
Sophomore Dustin Sunchild and senior Anthony Standing Rock round out the roster.
Small is a veteran coach of 21 years, and is in his second stint at the helm of the Stars. Small was at the reins of the program from 1982-1991, before returning five years ago.
"We are pretty quick, we see the floor well, and we pass well," Small said.
The Stars host Box Elder Friday, Dec. 17, and travel to Hays Saturday to take on the Thunderbirds.
"To lose to Heart Butte and to come back and play two good teams like that, they are up for it," Small said.
The Stars return to action at Harlem on Jan. 6.
Rocky Boy Stars Boys' Basketball Schedule
Dec.
17
Box Elder
7:30 p.m.
18
@Hays/LP
7:30 p.m.
Jan.
6
Harlem
7:30 p.m.
7
@Big Sandy
7:30 p.m.
14
Blue Sky
7:30 p.m.
15
@K-G
7:30 p.m.
21
@Box Elder
7:30 p.m.
22
Hays/LP
7:30 p.m.
28
@Highwood
7:30 p.m.
29
@Turner
7:30 p.m.
Feb.
3
@Harlem
7:30 p.m.
4
Big Sandy
7:30 p.m.
11
@Blue Sky
7:30 p.m.
12
K-G
7:30 p.m.
18
Highwood
7:30 p.m.
19
Turner
7:30 p.m.
16-19
Districts
Havre
March
2-4
Divisionals
Shelby
9-11
State
Butte
