Pirates suffer key injury before state
Mowbray, a senior forward, twists an ankle during team's final practice session
POLSON - The Polson Lady Pirates have been dealt a bit of adversity before they have even stepped onto the Class A state basketball tournament floor.
Pirate senior forward Kari Mowbray sprained her ankle during practice Wednesday evening.
The injury happened right at the end of practice, said Lady Pirate head coach Bruce Thomas.
The ankle was iced right away, so now Mowbray and company will wait and see.
"She was scared. It was hurting. Now all we can do is wait and see how it responds," Thomas said.
Polson, the champion last weekend of the inaugural Northwestern A divisional basketball tournament, will play Central A runner-up Browning at 6:30 p.m.. Libby, which placed second at divisional, faces Central A champion Lewistown at 2:30.
The other opening round games today at Hamilton's Dale Berry Court are Billings Central vs. Dillon at 12:30 and Anaconda vs. Hardin at 8.
The Pirates may look into starting 5-foot-10 senior Alia Eraky in tonight's game.
"We're getting a little more height (Mowbray is 5-8), but a little less experience," Thomas said.
"I know they like to shoot and run, and press," Thomas said of the Browning Indians.
But other than that?
"I don't know much about them. I know they're taller than we are.
"Who knows how you're going to play that first game at tournament?" the coach said.
"You never know what your offense is going to do. But if we can handle their pressure and play good defense …"
The Polson offense was alive and well when the Pirates defeated Libby 56-40 Saturday night. The Pirates shots 58.7 percent on the night - and made 66.7 of their first quarter attempts.
"(The Pirates) just put a nice weekend together. Hopefully, we can go (to Hamilton) and be competitive."
State A Girls Basketball
At Hamilton
Opening round
Thursday
12:30 p.m. - Billings Central vs. Dillon
2 p.m. - Lewistown vs. Libby
6:30 p.m. - Polson vs. Browning
8 p.m. - Anaconda vs. Hardin
Friday
12:30 p.m. - Loser Out
2 p.m. - Loser Out
6:30 p.m. - Semifinals
8 p.m. - Semifinals