Glacier girls sink Pirates

Glacier's Rachel Cutler stepped up when her team needed her most.

The Wolfpack sophomore sank four free throws in the final minute and Glacier held off the Polson Pirates 46-40 on Tuesday night at Glacier High School.

Cutler had misfired for most of the nonconference basketball matchup, but scored six of her nine points in the fourth quarter, including clutch shooting from the line.

"We knew she'd make some shots … she's a player and a nice addition to our squad," said Glacier coach Doug Hashley afterward.

Hashley's daughter, Emilee, finished with 14 points, while Lindsea Vaudt scored eight for the Wolfpack (1-1). Ashlee Waggener filled in for point guard Maddey Frey, who fouled out early in the third quarter, and chipped in seven points.

Polson's Sierra Pete nearly led her team to a come-from-behind win over the Class AA Wolfpack. She scored half of her 16 points in the fourth quarter and brought the Pirates (0-1) back from an eight-point deficit to get within one point with 34 seconds left. But Cutler grabbed a rebound off a Polson missed free throw and was fouled. After swishing both shots, she hustled back on defense and came up with the ball after Polson missed a shot. Another foul, another two free throws Cutler netted.

"We were excited to get the win," said Hashley, whose team won only one game last season in the school's inaugural year. "We want to create some excitement on this team."

Polson's Amanda James drained three 3-pointers and finished with nine points, while Nicole Davey scored seven.

Glacier started off slow and forced a number of turnovers in the first half, but held an 18-14 lead at the break. In the second half, both offenses came alive and topped their first half scores in the fourth quarter alone.

The Wolfpack had to rely on a small bench as injuries sidelined starters Kayla Smart and Paige Latimer, and sickness kept Kadie Latimer off the court.

"I'm most proud of the girls who played hard," Hashley said. "We had some relentless intensity for only having seven girls."

The Pirates didn't make things easy for the Wolfpack either.

"We knew (Polson) would make a run at the end," Hashley said. "They're a good team. They're very well coached and will be a force in Class A."

Polson coach Randy Kelley hopes so, even though his team started the season with a few hiccups.

"We need to work on keeping our poise at the end of games," said Kelley, who led the Pirates to an 11-11 record in Northwestern A last year in his first season as coach. "We were kind of undersized (tonight), but we battled. I liked our effort."

Kelley said he'd like his team to make a run at the conference title. Pete's outstanding performance on Tuesday is a good place to start.

"She does a lot of good things on the court, we need it to be contagious to the other girls," Kelley said.

The Pirates will compete in the Southwestern A vs. Northwestern A Tip-Off Tourney on Friday and Saturday in Hamilton.

The Wolfpack take on Whitefish next Tuesday in Whitefish before heading to Great Falls to take on the Bison Dec.19.

Polson 5 9 7 19 Ñ 40

Glacier 10 8 11 17 Ñ 46

Polson (0-1) Ñ Amanda James 3 0-0 9, Sierra Pete 5 6-8 16, Breanne Kelley 0 1-2 1, Rochelle Woods 0 0-2 0, Nicole Davey 3 1-3 7, Sarah Newton 1 2-4 4, Cali Hislop 1 0-0 2. Totals 10 11-22 40

Glacier (1-1) Ñ Sydney Sharaf 2 1-3 5, Rachel Cutler 2 5-8 9, Lindsea Vaudt 3 2-3 8, Emilee Hashley 6 2-2 14, Ashlee Waggener 2 2-4 7, Zoey Pettit 1 1-1 3. Totals 15 13-21 46

3-pointers Ñ Polson, James (3); Glacier, Waggener

Fouls Ñ Polson 21; Glacier 22