Scotty girls push to be factor in brutal conference with young team

They've been underestimated in the conference the last few years, but the Glasgow girls' basketball team won't be a secret this season.

“These kids have busted their butts to become good basketball players,” head coach Willie Thibault said. “ I think we've snuck up on people the last two years. The sneaking is over now, they'll see us coming like we're wearing neon lights.”

Though the team wasn't sporting any casino signs with their gear on Monday, they should compete with the top teams in the conference, even if Malta separates itself from the pack again this season.

The Scotties will be in a pile of teams with a ton of returners coming back, including Plentywood who only lost one senior and Wolf Point, who hasn't lost a senior in two years.

“You don't play the games on paper, you play them on the court,” Thibault said. “We'll see who shows up.”

Despite losing two-time All-State guard Emilee Morehouse to graduation, the team will have plenty of talent. Three starters return from a team that went 11-5 overall and 6-4 in conference for the Scotties. Seniors Chloe Sukut and Taylor Markle and junior Shelby Fossum will be key leaders for the Scotties. Juniors Hanna Schutz and Tiffany Wetzel will also bring in key minutes from last year's squad.

Behind them is a solid group of young players who mainly played in JV and C squad games last season, but if they progress as the teams have in the past, there should be plenty of players who advance and give the varsity squad depth on the bench.

With the tough conference schedule, it will be important for the returners to pull some of the new additions along quickly so the team will be ready when they take on heavyweights Wolf Point and Plentywood in back-to-back road games Dec. 8-9.

“These kids, I think there's some urgency because of the time they've put in,” Thibault said. “If these kids didn't put in time (competing in the conference) wouldn't be a big deal. But it's a big deal because they put in that time in the off season.”

The Scotties begin their season on the road for the first three weeks of the season. The team will play at Scobey on Dec. 4 to begin the season. After trips to Glendive, Three Forks and Harlem the Scotties will finally host Sidney at Glasgow High School on Dec 19.

“I believe we have the kids to compete in this conference and this division,” Thibault said. “We'll see what happens. You have to play it on the court.”