Bravettes hang on to win opener
Looking at the action on Saturday, it was easy to tell it was Flathead's first game of the season. Poor shooting, missed free throws and turnovers mired the Bravettes' season opener against Lake City (Idaho).
Heck, even the announcer sounded rusty, referring to two-time All-Stater Holli Hashley as a junior during pre-game introductions. Hashley also got into the act, missing a breakaway layup in the fourth quarter.
"I was running too fast and didn't slow myself down," Hashley said of the gaffe.
But that was about the only mistake Hashley made during the contest. After leading western Montana in scoring the last two seasons, the senior picked up right where she left off, scoring a game-high 17 points, including 7-of-7 from the charity stripe, as Flathead defeated the Timberwolves 48-43.
"She had a good game tonight," Flathead coach Dennis Latimer said. "She has a real nose for the ball and did a good job on the boards, too."
The Bravettes came out stale and trailed 11-8 after the opening quarter. However, they exploded for 20 points in the second and led 28-19 at the break.
Each time the T'Wolves appeared ready to claw their way back into the game, Flathead managed to get a key bucket, including three straight layups from Hashley in the third quarter.
"It was gut-check time," Hashley said. "We knew they were getting close, so we had to break away."
After lauding Hashley's play, Latimer also pointed out the necessity for his team to get contributions from other players.
Junior Christina Zorn (7 points) also added a pair of key third-quarter baskets and sophomore point guard Meghan O'Connell (7 points)
helped lead the Bravettes with her intense play.
"(O'Connell) only has one speed - all out," Latimer said. "There's not a bigger competitor or leader on this team, and that's what you want from a point guard.
"And Christina has done a good job for us. She does a good job penetrating to the basket and making plays. She's only 5-2, but she plays a lot taller."
Despite the sometimes poor play on the offensive end, Flathead's defense came up huge throughout, forcing several turnovers in key situations with a smothering full-court press.
"We're going to go full-court a lot this year," Latimer said. "We're a little deeper this year, so we feel we can play at that pace."
Up next for Flathead is a game at Whitefish Thursday. The Bravettes will host Columbia Falls on Friday.
BRAVETTES 48, T'WOLVES 43
Flathead 8 20 13 7 - 48
Lake CIty 11 8 12 12 - 43
Flathead - Christina Zorn 3 0-0 7, Chaeney Latimer 1 4-6 6, Lindsay Ingram 1 0-2 2, Holli Hashley 5 7-7 17, Meghan O'Connell 0 7-8 7, Sara Newgard 1 1-4 3, Chelsea Vaudt 1 0-2 2, Leslie Quay 2 0-0 4. Totals: 14 19-29 48. Three-point goals: 1 (Zorn). Fouled out: None.
Lake City - Richelle Fenenbock 2 3-4 8, Emma Hawn 3 0-0 8, Riki Moreland 4 0-0 9, Brittany Bemis 2 2-2 8, Caitlin Crimp 1 0-0 2, Lindley Couser 0 1-2 1, Barb Satterthwaite 0 1-2 1, Katy Baker 2 2-2 6. Totals: 14 9-12 43. Three-point goals: 6 (Hawn 2, Bemis 2, Fenenbock, Moreland). Fouled out: Moreland, Baker.