Bison prepare for title defense
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
2 of 3 free articles.
Officially, the Salish Kootenai College Bison will enter the American Indian Higher Education Consortium National Basketball Championships on a four-game losing streak. But it’s a win that won’t show up in the record books that has calmed their coach’s nerves as they prepare for their title defense.
After the Bison lost to Northwest Indian College in the regular-season finale, SKC coach Zach Conko-Camel scheduled a scrimmage with an alumni team, full of past players that helped build the championship environment at SKC. During the victory against the alumni team, Conko-Camel saw something from his team that he hadn’t seen all season, even in their 10-game win streak to start 2010.
“We played it the right way. I saw the right things in their eyes. I saw what it’s going to take to win the tournament in their eyes for the first time,” Conko-Camel said. And he knows a little about winning championships – the Bison have won four of the last five AIHEC championships.
The Bison will have to defend their title against 10 other teams. The tournament starts Thursday in Santa Fe, N.M. Pool play Thursday and Friday determines the seeding in the single-elimination tournament, which starts Saturday and ends Sunday.
Sonny Eppinette, a 6-foot-6 center from Oklahoma, is the only remaining player from last year’s championship team. Conko-Camel said that Eppinette brings a mixture of strength and ability to the court.
“Physically, he’s our strongest player and he’s got real soft hands. He’s got touch. He’s got ability,” Conko-Camel said.
When Eppinette joined the team last year he tipped the scales at around 340 pounds, but has dedicated himself to the Bison’s new strength and conditioning program and has lost nearly 70 pounds.
“He’s committed himself to the team. He’s taken the lead on this year’s team. He’s the team captain, he’s the only team captain and he’s a winner,” Conko-Camel said. “He knows what to do to win, he’s going to do everything it takes to bring back a championship.”
When Eppinette hits the weight room, he isn’t alone. The Bison started weight training last year and have developed a program that has really helped them. Conko-Camel said this is the strongest team he has ever coached.
Strength and conditioning are key in a four-day tournament, especially when the tournament is played around 7,000 feet above sea level.
“Our conditioning is going to be beneficial. We’ve been working hard in the weight room to give us that extra spring and that’s going to help you when you get to Sunday,” Conko-Camel said.
