Thought you Griz fans (by the way congratulation on the big win over Nevada) would like to read this article I took out of the Billings Gazette. It also mentions Griz recruit Gus Chase at the very end of the article.
GO GRIZ!!
GO GENERALS!!
Sukut, Bulluck marching on with Generals
By BILL BIGHAUS
Of The Gazette Staff
Chase Sukut and James Bulluck, two prep basketball standouts from Billings, are right in the middle of Sheridan College's version of March madness.
Both are starters for the Wyoming school, which has qualified for the 59th annual National Junior College Athletic Association tournament. The Generals will begin play this Wednesday afternoon against No. 1-ranked Howard College of Texas (32-1) at the Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kan.
Sheridan, 30-4 overall and unranked nationally, will be making its first national tournament appearance since 2002 and its fourth visit since 1975. The Generals will also be looking for their first victory at the 16-team, double-elimination tournament since 1977.
"It's going to be amazing," Sukut said of the competition. "It's going to be a challenge, but our team has never been afraid of a challenge." First up for the Generals will be Howard College, a ball-hawking ballclub that Sheridan coach Joel Davidson regards as "probably the most athletic team in the country."
In wading through the recent 17-team Region IX tournament on its home floor, though, the Generals -- deep and talented themselves -- had a lot thrown at them.
"No question our kids have done a great job all year," said Davidson, the school's 35-year-old head coach. "But they're not satisfied being 30-4 and they will not be satisfied being 30-6. They want to go down there and compete."
Sukut, a sophomore from Billings West, and Bulluck, a freshman from Billings Skyview, have certainly played a big part in making the Generals a very worthy opponent.
"To me, it's not that big of a deal," Sukut said of tackling No. 1 right off the bat. "If we want to make a run at the national tournament why not start with the No. 1 team in the country?"
The 6-foot-1 Sukut, a point guard and team captain, has already signed to play next season with NCAA Division I Wisconsin-Green Bay. He has averaged 14.3 points, three assists and three rebounds per game this year for the Generals.
Sukut has started every game in his two seasons at Sheridan.
"He gets better every week," said Davidson. "He was a great player in high school, but if those people saw him play now they would be shocked."
Davidson said the 175-pound Sukut has added strength in the weight room and still possesses the intangibles that come with being the son of a successful high school coach. Sukut's father, Joe, coached for 24 years at Clyde Park, Colstrip and Billings West.
Primarily an outside threat in high school, "He is strong when it comes to going to the basket and finishing in traffic," Davidson said of Sukut. "He has hit some big shots for us this year (inside and out). He doesn't let the pressure get to him. He just goes out and makes plays."
The 6-5, 190-pound Bulluck, a small forward who has started every game this season, also falls into that category. He has chipped in with 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, three steals and two assists per outing.
"Obviously I liked him out of high school, but I didn't have any idea how good he would be in his first year," Davidson said. "He has turned out to be our glue. He's the one guy we have to have on the floor at all times ...
"He is so versatile. He'll take a big charge, and he's hit a bunch of big shots as well."
Bulluck led Region IX in 3-point shooting accuracy at 53 percent, 57 of 108.
Playing alongside Sheridan's six talented sophomores "just made me want to improve my game," said Bulluck. "I wanted to do whatever I could to help those guys."
His shooting from the perimeter has provided one of the biggest boosts.
"This year I've just been lucky enough to have my stroke," said Bulluck. "Being able to shoot like I have has made my overall game come together."
Both Sukut, who is nailing 48 percent of his 3-pointers (68 of 143), and Bulluck were all-Region IX selections. Bulluck, who can also give defenders fits when he chooses to attack the basket, also made the all-Region IX tournament team.
The Generals have won their last seven games and led the region in scoring (93.6 ppg), overall shooting (49.7 percent) and 3-point shooting (42.1 percent).
But Sheridan's defense -- mostly man-to-man -- also never rests.
"Our main thing as a team is defense," said Bulluck. "I believe if we play defense like we did against (Northeastern Colorado) we can beat any team in the country."
Sheridan triumphed in four straight games over five days at the Region IX tournament, held in the school's Bruce Hoffman Golden Dome.
The Generals, who went 16-0 at home this year, defeated McCook Community College 105-64, Otero Junior College 72-71, North Platte Community College 87-73 and No. 15-ranked Northeastern Colorado 107-100 in two overtimes.
Sukut and Bulluck both scored 17 points against Northeastern Colorado -- a team with a 30-3 record -- during the title clash in the raucous Golden Dome.
It was a 3-pointer by Sukut which put Sheridan up 98-97 with two minutes left in the second overtime. It was the last basket by the Generals, who closed out the game by connecting on nine of 10 free throws.
"It was very exciting," Sukut said. "I never got to play in a championship game in high school. I was just enjoying every minute ... just loving every part of it."
Davidson, who was the coach of the year in Region IX, took over as head coach at Sheridan prior to the 2003-2004 season. He had spent the previous four years as an assistant under Brian Marso.
"Chase Sukut is the first kid I signed as a head coach," said Davidson, who is a 1989 graduate of Sheridan High School. "I'll remember him forever. He's as good a kid that will ever come through this program."
NOTES: The Generals will make the 13-hour bus ride to Hutchinson on Sunday ... Sheridan's star player, 6-4, 245-pound forward Gordon Chase, has already signed with the Montana Grizzlies ... Chase has averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds this season ... He has scored over 1,100 points in his two years with the Generals and is one of just three or four players in school history to accomplish that, said Davidson ....
Williston (N.D.) State, 22-10, has also qualified for nationals by winning the Region XIII title ... Williston will open against Georgia Perimeter College, 28-6, on Tuesday afternoon ... The Tetons' roster includes freshman Mark Heen and sophomore C.J. Johnston, both of Bainville ... Williston lost to Sheridan 97-79 in mid-November during a tournament in Powell, Wyo.
Published on Friday, March 17, 2006.
Last modified on 3/17/2006 at 12:18 am
Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.
GO GRIZ!!
GO GENERALS!!
Sukut, Bulluck marching on with Generals
By BILL BIGHAUS
Of The Gazette Staff
Chase Sukut and James Bulluck, two prep basketball standouts from Billings, are right in the middle of Sheridan College's version of March madness.
Both are starters for the Wyoming school, which has qualified for the 59th annual National Junior College Athletic Association tournament. The Generals will begin play this Wednesday afternoon against No. 1-ranked Howard College of Texas (32-1) at the Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kan.
Sheridan, 30-4 overall and unranked nationally, will be making its first national tournament appearance since 2002 and its fourth visit since 1975. The Generals will also be looking for their first victory at the 16-team, double-elimination tournament since 1977.
"It's going to be amazing," Sukut said of the competition. "It's going to be a challenge, but our team has never been afraid of a challenge." First up for the Generals will be Howard College, a ball-hawking ballclub that Sheridan coach Joel Davidson regards as "probably the most athletic team in the country."
In wading through the recent 17-team Region IX tournament on its home floor, though, the Generals -- deep and talented themselves -- had a lot thrown at them.
"No question our kids have done a great job all year," said Davidson, the school's 35-year-old head coach. "But they're not satisfied being 30-4 and they will not be satisfied being 30-6. They want to go down there and compete."
Sukut, a sophomore from Billings West, and Bulluck, a freshman from Billings Skyview, have certainly played a big part in making the Generals a very worthy opponent.
"To me, it's not that big of a deal," Sukut said of tackling No. 1 right off the bat. "If we want to make a run at the national tournament why not start with the No. 1 team in the country?"
The 6-foot-1 Sukut, a point guard and team captain, has already signed to play next season with NCAA Division I Wisconsin-Green Bay. He has averaged 14.3 points, three assists and three rebounds per game this year for the Generals.
Sukut has started every game in his two seasons at Sheridan.
"He gets better every week," said Davidson. "He was a great player in high school, but if those people saw him play now they would be shocked."
Davidson said the 175-pound Sukut has added strength in the weight room and still possesses the intangibles that come with being the son of a successful high school coach. Sukut's father, Joe, coached for 24 years at Clyde Park, Colstrip and Billings West.
Primarily an outside threat in high school, "He is strong when it comes to going to the basket and finishing in traffic," Davidson said of Sukut. "He has hit some big shots for us this year (inside and out). He doesn't let the pressure get to him. He just goes out and makes plays."
The 6-5, 190-pound Bulluck, a small forward who has started every game this season, also falls into that category. He has chipped in with 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, three steals and two assists per outing.
"Obviously I liked him out of high school, but I didn't have any idea how good he would be in his first year," Davidson said. "He has turned out to be our glue. He's the one guy we have to have on the floor at all times ...
"He is so versatile. He'll take a big charge, and he's hit a bunch of big shots as well."
Bulluck led Region IX in 3-point shooting accuracy at 53 percent, 57 of 108.
Playing alongside Sheridan's six talented sophomores "just made me want to improve my game," said Bulluck. "I wanted to do whatever I could to help those guys."
His shooting from the perimeter has provided one of the biggest boosts.
"This year I've just been lucky enough to have my stroke," said Bulluck. "Being able to shoot like I have has made my overall game come together."
Both Sukut, who is nailing 48 percent of his 3-pointers (68 of 143), and Bulluck were all-Region IX selections. Bulluck, who can also give defenders fits when he chooses to attack the basket, also made the all-Region IX tournament team.
The Generals have won their last seven games and led the region in scoring (93.6 ppg), overall shooting (49.7 percent) and 3-point shooting (42.1 percent).
But Sheridan's defense -- mostly man-to-man -- also never rests.
"Our main thing as a team is defense," said Bulluck. "I believe if we play defense like we did against (Northeastern Colorado) we can beat any team in the country."
Sheridan triumphed in four straight games over five days at the Region IX tournament, held in the school's Bruce Hoffman Golden Dome.
The Generals, who went 16-0 at home this year, defeated McCook Community College 105-64, Otero Junior College 72-71, North Platte Community College 87-73 and No. 15-ranked Northeastern Colorado 107-100 in two overtimes.
Sukut and Bulluck both scored 17 points against Northeastern Colorado -- a team with a 30-3 record -- during the title clash in the raucous Golden Dome.
It was a 3-pointer by Sukut which put Sheridan up 98-97 with two minutes left in the second overtime. It was the last basket by the Generals, who closed out the game by connecting on nine of 10 free throws.
"It was very exciting," Sukut said. "I never got to play in a championship game in high school. I was just enjoying every minute ... just loving every part of it."
Davidson, who was the coach of the year in Region IX, took over as head coach at Sheridan prior to the 2003-2004 season. He had spent the previous four years as an assistant under Brian Marso.
"Chase Sukut is the first kid I signed as a head coach," said Davidson, who is a 1989 graduate of Sheridan High School. "I'll remember him forever. He's as good a kid that will ever come through this program."
NOTES: The Generals will make the 13-hour bus ride to Hutchinson on Sunday ... Sheridan's star player, 6-4, 245-pound forward Gordon Chase, has already signed with the Montana Grizzlies ... Chase has averaged 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds this season ... He has scored over 1,100 points in his two years with the Generals and is one of just three or four players in school history to accomplish that, said Davidson ....
Williston (N.D.) State, 22-10, has also qualified for nationals by winning the Region XIII title ... Williston will open against Georgia Perimeter College, 28-6, on Tuesday afternoon ... The Tetons' roster includes freshman Mark Heen and sophomore C.J. Johnston, both of Bainville ... Williston lost to Sheridan 97-79 in mid-November during a tournament in Powell, Wyo.
Published on Friday, March 17, 2006.
Last modified on 3/17/2006 at 12:18 am
Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.
