Wolfpack runs past Polson
After surrendering a 12-0 run in the third quarter, the Wolfpack needed a miracle - or at least a 12-0 run of its own.
The Glacier High School boys' basketball team earned its first victory Thursday night, edging Polson 55-53 in nonconference play.
Leading 21-20 after a seesaw first half, the Pirates scored 12 straight points, including eight by junior center Zach Langston, to open a 35-22 advantage with 4:55 left in the third frame.
Then Glacier called a timeout - and went streaking.
"We talked about cranking up the defense," Glacier coach Mark Harkins said. "I told them, 'You're not going to get 13 points in one possession. You've got to do it one time after another. We need stops. We need good possessions offensively,'"
The Wolfpack listened.
A Shay Smithwick-Hann bucket stopped the bleeding and ignited a 27-8 spurt capped by a 12-0 run to open the fourth quarter.
Smithwick-Hann finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. He drained two free throws with seven seconds to play, giving Glacier a 55-51 lead.
But the Wolfpack's emotional spark came courtesy of junior guard Ben Sansaver, who stole a pass near midcourt and raced for a layup, pulling the Wolfpack within six points late in the third quarter.
"Any time you make a big play, the crowd gets into it, your defense gets into it, the momentum is going to turn for you," Sansaver said. "You've just got to keep it going, got to keep making big plays."
Sansaver finished with nine points and four steals, most of which came following Polson's big run.
"We just had to pick it up if we wanted to get back into the game," Sansaver said. "Our fans were amazing. Our whole team pulled it back together. We had guys coming off the bench just playing big basketball."
Junior post Mike Rasmussen scored consecutive buckets in the fourth quarter. His first shot tied the game at 43-all, pulling Glacier even for the first time since the middle of the second quarter.
Glacier's Ben Cutler tied Langston with a game-high 20 points. Cutler went off after the break, draining three treys en route to 15 points.
Langston's spectacular second half included 16 points and plenty of dirty work.
"We played zone all night, and we felt like with maybe six minutes to go there in the fourth, we had four or five straight possessions where we lost shooters, especially Cutler," Polson assistant coach Brett Morehouse said.
"Granted, he's shooting from a little bit deeper out, but those are things we talked about coming into the game. Two or three breakdowns in a game that's back and forth like that gave them the momentum."
John Rausch and Ryan Kelley scored 10 points apiece for Polson, which was hurt by 15 turnovers.
"Glacier was playing man, and we need to do a better job of answering that aggressiveness ourselves," Morehouse said. "Our offense is built to handle pressure, and I just don't think we took advantage of it tonight"
According to Harkins, the Wolfpack is a highly emotional team. Now, it's also a winner.
"It's awesome," Harkins said. "It's a great thing for us.
"We don't focus on wins and losses, and we're still not going to, but it's really nice to get it. I would be lying if I said it wasn't."
Glacier visits Whitefish tonight at 7:30. Polson hosts Whitefish on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Polson 11 10 20 12 - 53
Glacier 8 12 17 18 - 55
POLSON (1-2) - Craig Bagnell 2 0-2 5, John Rausch 3 4-6 10, Waylon Michel 1 0-0 2, Cody Doyle 2 1-2 5, Tim Rausch 0 1-2 1, Ryan Kelley 3 4-4 10, Zach Langston 8 4-5 20. Totals 19 14-21 53.
GLACIER (1-2) - Connor Fuller 1 1-2 4, Shay Smithwick-Hann 6 2-3 15, Mike Rasmussen 2 0-0 4, Ben Cutler 7 3-5 20, Brian Chery 0 1-2 1, Cody Grosswiler 1 0-0 2, Ben Sansaver 4 1-3 9. Totals 21 8-15 55.
3-point goals - Pol. 1 (Bagnell), Gla. 5 (Cutler 3, Fuller, Smithwick-Hann). Rebounds - Pol. 33, Gla. 36. Steals - Pol. 3, Gla. 11. Blocks - Pol. 1, Gla. 4. Turnovers - Pol. 15, Gla. 11. Total fouls - Pol. 12, Gla. 18. Fouled out - None.