Zemke leads FVHS to title

The Daily Inter Lake

HELENA - State championship games seem to bring out the best in Charity Zemke.

The Flathead Valley Home School junior guard tossed in a season-high 28 points to lead the undefeated Lady Crusaders past rival Stillwater Christian School 68-63 Saturday in the Montana Christian Athletic Association girls basketball title contest at Carroll College.

Zemke was named the tournament MVP for a second straight time as Flathead Valley won its third straight crown. Last year she tallied 35 points for the Lady Crusaders in a championship game victory.

Zemke also finished with five assists, seven steals and six rebounds on Saturday.

Stillwater led Flathead Valley by 11 points in the first half. Flathead Valley, however, outscored Stillwater 29-19 in the final frame to pull out the win.

It was the third time the two schools have met this season with FVHS winning all three.

"They've all been close," said FVHS coach Paul Zemke.

"Stillwater came out with a good game, came out tough, got a good jump on us. They made our job a lot harder."

Only four FVHS players figured in the scoring. Kelsey Sladek tallied 19 points and Janelle Sheeran 17. Both are seniors.

Those two also joined Zemke on the all-tournament team.

Sladek scored 14 of her points in the final period and Sheeran 10 to spark the rally.

"One mistake here, one mistake there and it could have gone either way," said coach Zemke.

"Our girls kept control of it in the end."

FVHS' other scorer was Danae Sheeran, who finished with four points.

Brittany Downing led Stillwater offensively with 22 points. Nichole Danz tossed in 19. Both were named to the all-tournament team.

Flathead Valley has now won 33 straight games dating back to last season.

Paul Zemke is 79-9 in his four years as head coach.

Helena Christian School downed Foothills Community Christian School 55-51 in the boys championship contest.

The Stillwater Christian boys, two-time defending MCAA state champions, finished third. The Cougars defeated Yellowstone County Home School 82-62 in the consolation final.

Jacob Topp led SCS, and all scorers, with 22 points. Seth Konecky followed with 21, Zach Smith scored 10 and Brandon Lodien nine.

Earlier in the day, SCS beat Flathead Valley Home School 83-63 in a loser-out contest.

FVHS' Shae Heffernan led all scorers with 43 points.

Smith had 20 for SCS, Lodien 17 and Topp 12.

Stillwater Christian 12 21 11 19 - 63

Flathead Valley 8 14 17 29 - 68

Stillwater Christian - Megan Fraizer 1 3-4 5, Nichole Danz 8 0-0 19, Abigal Smith 1 2-4 4, Emma Miller 3 1-3 7, Dana Topp 1 0-0 2, Amanda Nichols 2 0-0 4, Brittany Downing 8 6-6 22. Totals: 24 12-17 63.

Flathead Valley (28-0) - Charity Zemke 10 5-9 28, Danae Sheeran 2 0-0 4, Janelle Sheeran 5 7-11 17, Kelsey Sladek 9 1-1 19. Totals: 26 13-21 68.

3-point goals - Danz (3); Zemke (3). Team fouls - Stillwater 23, Flathead Valley 23. Fouled out - None.