Jim Mee's 30 points lift Loggers by Lions

The Daily Inter Lake

LIBBY - Jim Mee's double-double powered Libby to a 66-49 nonconference boys' basketball victory Saturday night.

Mee led all scorers with 30 points and also pulled down 16 rebounds. He had five treys in the contest.

Mee collected 18 points in the first half, 12 coming in the second quarter, as Libby led 32-24. The Loggers put the game out of reach with a 23-point third period.

Luke Truman paced Eureka with 11 points.

Eureka 13 11 11 14 - 49

Libby 13 19 23 11 - 66

Eureka - Josiah Begay 2 1-2 5, A. Sanders 1 2-2 4, Tanner Newell 3 1-2 7, Ben Dechart 4 0-2 10, Chad Price 0 1-2 1, John Davis 4 1-3 9, Luke Truman 5 1-2 11. Totals: 20 7-14 49.

Libby - Zach Rowan 2 2-5 4, Conner Benson 4 0-0 8, Brandon Puckett 0 1-2 1, Jim Mee 12 1-2 30, Colton Cannon 1 0-1 2, Bryan Cooper 4 2-3 10, Kelly May 2 1-2 5, Jordan Gragert 1 0-2 2. Totals: 26 7-17 66.

3-point goals: Dechart; Mee (5); Team fouls: Eureka 15, Libby 17; Fouled out: Cooper.

Polson 53, Bigfork 36

BIGFORK - Polson outscored Bigfork 18-6 in the third period en route to a Northwestern A victory.

Bigfork (0-3 and 2-3) and Polson were tied at the half at 20-all.

"We just had a flat third quarter," said Bigfork coach Jim Epperly.

"We need to be more mentally focused coming out of the locker room."

Epperly said the Vikings battled Polson on even terms in the first half and claimed 10 offensive rebounds.

"We had none in the second half," he said.

"We stood around a lot."

John Rausch led Polson, and all scorers, with 16 points. Roland Benedict had 12 for Bigfork.

Keenan Evans had six rebounds for the Vikings.

Polson 7 13 18 15 - 53

Bigfork 7 13 6 10 - 36

Polson - Craig Bagnell 2 2-2 6, John Rausch 5 4-4 16, Andy Manley 0 2-2 2, Waylon Michel 1 1-2 3, Cody Doyle 0 3-6 3, Tim Rausch 1 2-4 4, Aaron Clairmont 2 2-4 7, Ryan Kelley 3 0-0 6, Zach Langston 2 3-7 7, Joe Andrews 0 0-2 2. Totals: 16 19-33 53.

Bigfork - Roland Benedict 3 5-5 12, Levi Dockstader 2 0-0 5, Brock Boll 3 3-3 10, Garrett Pewe 2 0-0 4, Keenan Evans 2 1-2 5. Totals: 12 9-10 36.

3-point goals: J. Rausch, Clairmont; Boll, Benedict, Dockstader; Team fouls: Polson 15, Bigfork 24; Fouled out: Dockstader, Benedict.

Missoula Sentinel 79

Columbia Falls 66

COLUMBIA FALLS - Andy Garland and Mark Henkel combined for 49 points as Class AA Missoula Sentinel upended Class A Columbia Falls.

Garland led all scorers with 27 points while Henkel followed with 22.

Chase Grilley had a big night for Columbia Falls (3-3) with 26 points.

Sentinel led 42-24 at the half.

"Down 18 at the half, our kids came out and showed some pride (in the second half)," Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg said.

"I was proud of their effort. It's unfortunatge we didn't come out with the same intensity in the first half."

Columbia Falls slipped to within 11 points of Sentinel in the final half, but failed to scored on three straight trips down the court.

Sentinel controlled the boards 42-28. The Spartans had 13 offensive rebounds in the first half.

Missoula Sentinel 23 19 20 17 - 79

Columbia Falls 14 10 25 17 - 66

Missoula Sentinel - Andy Garland 11 5-6 27, Mark Henkel 7 7-10 22, Taylor King 4 3-4 11, Connor Griffith 3 0-2 6, Logan Jacobson 2 1-2 5, Kyle Kostelecky 2 0-0 4, Kendal Maier 1 0-0 2, Dan Thisselle 1 0-0 2. Totals: 31 16-25 79.

Columbia Falls - Chase Grilley 9 6-8 26, Grant Getts 5 2-6 13, Zane Ridings 4 0-2 10, Mitchell Wassam 3 0-0 6, Chase Fairbank 2 0-0 4, Cody Bowman 1 2-3 4, Mackey Nolan 0 3-4 3. Totals: 24 13-23 66.

3-point goals: Henkel; Grilley (2), Ridings (2), Getts; Team fouls: Missoula Sentinel 20, Columbia Falls 20; Fouled out: Wassam.