Glacier nips Libby; Braves roll

The Daily Inter Lake

LIBBY - Shay Smithwick-Hann scored 22 points and Logan Quay hit a free throw in a double bonus with 6 seconds left to help lead Class AA Glacier over Class A Libby on Saturday 64-60 in boys' basketball.

The Wolfpack held a 53-39 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Libby's Jim Mee scored 15 of his 26 points, including five of six free throws, to get the Loggers within two points in the final minute.

But that's as close as they got and Quay's free throw made it a two-possession game in the final seconds.

"They made their run with about 4 minutes left, but our boys showed some good composure," Glacier assistant coach Andy Fors said.

The Wolfpack attempted just six free throws in the fourth quarter, making two of them. It was the third victory for the program and, combined with the freshmen and junior varsity victories, its first sweep.

The Wolfpack and Loggers equaled each other with 45 rebounds and 11 turnovers.

Glacier's Mike Rasmussen had 12 boards to go with eight points before fouling out. Connor Fuller and Ben Cutler each added 10 points. Smithwick-Hann had three 3-pointers and six rebounds.

"We came out and ran the floor on them in the first half," Fors said. "We worked great in transition. We manned them up on defense and Shay did a good job on Mee. Mee is an outstanding player. We put an emphasis on being physical because they are a big team and out-rebounded them in the first half. Then we put a big emphasis on having a good third quarter because that's when we've been struggling. And we did that."

Libby's Joel Fuller had 10 points, three assists and two steals. Mee hit two 3-pointers, including one in the fourth. The Loggers dropped to 6-5.

Glacier 14 24 15 11 - 64

Libby 13 14 12 21 - 60

GLACIER (3-7) - Connor Fuller 4 1-2 10, Shay Smithwick-Hann 8 3-3 22, Kramer Wilson 1 1-2 3, Mike Rasmussen 4 0-3 8, Ben Cutler 3 4-6 10, Cody Grosswiler 1 0-0 3, Ben Sansaver 1 1-3 3, Logan Quay 2 1-2 5. Totals 24 11-21 64.

LIBBY (6-5) - Zack Rowan 1 2-2 4, Connor Benson 1 0-2 2, Brandon Pucket 0 2-2 2, Jim Mee 8 8-1 1 26, Joel Fuller 3 7-10 13, Brian Cooper 3 0-0 6, Kelly May 1 2-2 4, Jordan Gragert 1 1-3 3. Totals 18 22-32 60.

3-point goals - Glac. 5 (Smithwick-Hann 3, Fuller, Grosswiler), Lib. 2 (Mee 2). Rebounds - Glac. 45 (Rasmussen 12, Smithwick-Hann 6), Lib. 45 (Mee 7, Cooper 5). Assists - Glac. 9 (Fuller 3, Sansaver 2), Lib. 8 (Fuller 3, Benson 2). Steals - Glac. 10 (Sansaver 3), Lib. 9 (Fuller 2, Cooper 2). Blocks - Glac. 3 (three with 1), Lib. 1 (Mee). Turnovers - Glac. 11, Lib. 11. Total fouls - Glac. 20, Lib. 18. Fouled out - Rasmussen.

Flathead 73, Bigfork 35

BIGFORK - Flathead broke away from Bigfork after a tight opening quarter to post an easy nonconference victory.

The Braves (8-2) led 14-12 after eight minutes of play, but took a 34-20 advantage into the locker room at the half.

"We played a good first quarter, but from there Flathead cruised," Bigfork coach Jim Epperly said. "They got us inside. (Brock) Osweiler was a load for us."

Osweiler finished with a game-high 20 points.

Roland Benedict led Bigfork with 15 points.

On Friday night, Jim Mee scored 26 points, nine in the third quarter, as the Libby Loggers pulled away from host Bigfork in a Northwestern A contest.

"We played a great first quarter, then we got in foul trouble," Epperly said.

Bigfork (3-8, 0-6) led 15-7 after the first period, but two starters each picked up three fouls in the second quarter.

"We can't do that. We're not that deep," Epperly said.

Flathead 14 20 19 20 - 73

Bigfork 12 8 7 8 - 35

Flathead - Jake Thiesen 4 0-0 9, Sam Tedrow 2 2-2 6, Michael Gallagher 6 0-0 13, Danny Salois 1 0-0 2, Charlie Dotson 2 3-5 7, Connor Cavigli 2 1-8 5, Coltin Hoffenbacker 3 2-4 8, Brock Osweiler 8 4-8 20. Totals: 28 12-27 73.

Bigfork - Roland Benedict 3 7-10 15, Levi Dockstader 2 0-0 6, Jake Milner 1 0-0 2, Brock Boll 2 0-0 5, Garrett Pewe 0 1-3 1, Scott Taylor 0 1-2 1, Keenan Evans 2 1-1 5. Totals: 10 10-16 35.

3-point goals: Thiesen, Gallagher (2); Benedict (2), Dockstader (2), Boll; Team fouls: Flathead 13, Bigfork 17; Fouled out: none.

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Libby 7 21 23 16 - 67

Bigfork 15 10 7 19 - 51

Libby - Zach Rowan 3 3-4 9, Conner Benson 5 2-2 12, Jim Mee 8 7-7 26, Joel Fuller 4 1-2 9, Colton Connor 0 0-2 0, Bryan Cooper 5 0-0 10, Jordan Gregert 0 1-8 1. Totals 25 14-25 67.

Bigfork - Roland Benedict 6 3-4 17, Levi Dockstader 1 2-4 5, Jake Milner 0 1-2 1, Brock Boll 6 0-0 12, Garrett Pewe 1 1-2 4, Scott Taylor 1 0-0 2, Keenan Evans 1 3-4 5, Ben Sandry 2 0-0 5. Totals 18 10-16 51.

3-pointers: 3 (Mee 3), Bigfork 5 (Benedict 2, Dockstader 1 Pewe 1, Sandry 1), Total fouls: Libby 12, Bigfork 18. Fouled out: None.

Whitefish 61, Polson 51

WHITEFISH - Colt Idol scored nine of his game-high 24 points in the final quarter as Whitefish roared past Polson.

Whitefish outscored Polson 23-12 in the final stanza to move to 5-6 overall, 2-3 in Northwestern A play.

Idol tallied 17 of his points in the final half.

"We just got some turnovers and converted," Whitefish coach Eric Stang said of his team's big finish.

"We had to shoot the ball a high percentage in the fourth quarter because I don't remember us missing too many."

Aaron Clairmont paced Polson with 15 points.

Polson 10 14 15 12 - 51

Whitefish 14 10 14 23 - 61

Polson - Craig Bagnell 3 0-0 6, John Rausch 2 4-6 9, Aaron Clairmont 7 0-0 15, Ryan Kelley 2 4-6 8, Zach Langston 4 3-4 11, Cody Doyle 1 0-0 2. Totals: 19 11-16 51.

Whitefish (5-6, 2-3) - Matt Whitehead 5 1-2 13, Aaron Tkachyk 0 1-2 1, Shawn Watterud 3 2-2 10, Josh Backer 1 2-3 4, Brian Flickinger 1 0-0 2, Colt Idol 11 0-0 24, Jake Smith 2 1-2 5, David FauntLeRoy 1 0-0 2. Totals: 24 7-11 61.

3-point goals: J. Rausch, Clairmont; Whitehead (2), Watterud (2), Idol (2); Team fouls: Polson 15, Whitefish 14; Fouled out: Langston; FauntLeRoy.

Stillwater 45,

Helena Home 36

HELENA - Zach George scored 18 points in helping Stillwater Christian School defeat Helena Home School on Saturday and earn a weekend split at Carroll College.

It was Stillwater's second win on the season.

On Friday, Helena Christian downed the Cougars 63-44.

Stillwater 7 17 9 12 - 45

Helena Home 6 7 11 12 - 36

Stillwater Christian (2-12, 2-3 MCAA) - Ryan Thompson 1 0-2 2, Jake Meerkatz 2 2-2 8, Logan Ward 2 1-2 5, Zach George 7 3-7 18, Josh LeGassey 3 0-0 6, Jon Harrel 3 0-0 6. Totals: 18 6-13 45.

Helena Home School - Matt D'Estere 4 2-2 12, Levi Howel 5 2-3 13, Phil Kaiseoski 0 2-4 2, Andrew Nistler 1 2-2 4, Nick Metroka 0 0-2 0, TJ Kertola 1 1-4 3, Rush Emerson 1 0-2 2. Totals: 12 9-19 36.

3-point goals: Meerkatz (2), George; D'Estere (2), Howell; Team fouls: Stillwater 18, Helena Home 15; Fouled out: Meerkatz.

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Stillwater 2 10 10 22 - 44

Helena Christian 22 12 17 12 - 63

Stillwater Christian - Logan Ward 4 0-0 9, Zach George 5 2-4 12, Tim Butterfield 1 0-0 2, Josh LeGassey 3 0-0 6, Jon Harrel 7 1-2 15. Totals: 20 3-6 44.

Helena Christian - Matt Olson 1 0-0 2, Kyle Cleasby 6 0-0 16, John Cox 1 0-0 3, Cade Foster 5 1-1 12, Eric Grosh 2 0-0 4, Kevin Foster 6 2-2 15, Alan Burgges 2 0-1 5, Jake Sperson 1 0-2 2, Teajan Grosh 1 0-0 2, Treavor Larson 0 0-2 0, Sam White 1 0-2 2. Totals: 26 3-10 63.

3-point goals: Ward; Cox, K. Foster, C. Foster, Burgges, Cleasby (4); Team fouls: Stillwater 17, Helena Christian 13; Fouled out: NA.

Missoula Big Sky 60, Ronan 57

RONAN - Even in defeat, the Chiefs asserted themselves among the state's best.

Class A Ronan fell to Class AA Missoula Big Sky in overtime after the Chiefs were unable to seal a win in regulation.

Ronan (10-2) led 27-25 at halftime, but Big Sky (6-4) outscored the Chiefs 14-9 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Mike Fisher led Ronan with a game-high 17 points. Jordan St. Clair and Moss Tanner added eight points and six rebounds apiece, while Makenzy Kelch and Nolan Harris each added seven points. Tanner tallied seven assists, and Fisher grabbed four steals.

Justin Montelius paced a balanced Big Sky offense with 12 points, followed by Mike Devlin with 11, Beau Donaldson with 10 and Heath Eustance with nine.

The Eagles and Chiefs combined for 11 3-pointers, and both teams played man-to-man defense for most of the game.

"Neither of us are very big, but we have a lot of quick kids," Ronan coach John Hollow said. "It was great high school basketball. Unfortunately, our kids came out on the short end of it.

"We matched their intensity. I was very proud of our kids. We were every bit as physical tonight as they were."

The Chiefs were perfect at the free-throw line, making all 11 of their attempts.

"We had two opportunities to win the game late and just came up short, but hopefully in the long run that will make us a better team," Hollow said.

Big Sky 12 13 13 14 8 - 60

Ronan 10 17 16 9 5 - 57

BIG SKY (6-4) - Mike Devlin 5 0-0 11, Spencer Powell 1 5-8 7, Mike LaValley 3 2-4 8, Justin Montelius 4 1-2 12, Heath Eustance 3 2-2 9, Jake Peterson 1 0-0 3, Beau Donaldson 4 2-6 10. Totals 21 12-22 60.

RONAN (10-2) - Moss Tanner 3 2-2 8, Mike Fisher 6 5-5 17, Ryon Hesselgesser 1 0-0 2, Makenzy Kelch 3 0-0 7, Jordan St. Clair 3 0-0 8, Micah Lee 1 0-0 2, Eddie Ness 1 4-4 6, Nolan Harris 3 0-0 7. Totals 22 11-11 57.

3-point goals - BS 7 (Montelius 3, Eustance 2, Devlin, Peterson), Ron. 4 (St. Clair 2, Kelch, Harris). Team fouls - BS 15, Ron. 23. Fouled out - Fisher, St. Clair.

Girls

Libby 40, Glacier 37

LIBBY - Glacier battled back from a 33-20 deficit, but couldn't quite overtake Libby (7-4).

Glacier's Emilee Hashley scored on a breakaway layup to get the Wolfpack within two, 39-37.

Brooke Hageness made a free throw with 16 seconds left to put Libby on top by three.

Glacier missed a trey at the end.

"Were getting close to being consistent," Libby coach Jim May said.

"A 28-point half for us, we'll take that."

Libby's Jackie Mee led all scorers with 18 points.

Hashley finished with 13.

Glacier 10 8 6 13 - 37

Libby 12 16 5 7 - 40

Glacier - Kayla Smart 3 1-2 7, Jolee Kampf 2 0-1 4, Kadie Latimer 1 1-1 3, Lindsea Vaudt 2 0-0 4, Emilee Hashley 6 1-2 13, Sydney Sharaf 1 0-0 3, Ashle Waggener 1 0-0 3. Totals: 16 3-6 37.

Libby - Brooke Hageness 1 1-5 3, Holly Cirian 2 0-0 4, Korey Kulbeck 2 0-0 4, Brittany Martin 1 0-0 3, Jaime Gilden 1 2-2 4, Laice Dedrick 1 2-6 4, Jackie Mee 5 6-6 18. Totals:13 11-19 40.

3-point goals: Sharaf, Waggener; Martin, Mee (2); Team fouls: Glacier 20, Libby 13; Fouled out: Waggener, Hashley.

Whitefish 52, Polson 37

POLSON - Ashlee Ferda scored 18 points and Amanda Ormsby followed with 12 as Whitefish rolled over Polson.

Jessica Buckless paced Polson with 12.

Whitefish 9 14 16 13 - 52

Polson 5 8 11 13 - 37

Whitefish - Ashlee Ferda 5 6-9 18, Desiree Clarke 1 4-5 6, Dana Labuda 0 1-2 1, Chelsea Ray 2 4-4 9, McCara Cullen 3 0-0 6, Amanda Ormsby 4 4-4 12. Totals: 15 19-24 52.

Polson - Jessica Buckless 3 4-6 12, Amanda James 3 2-2 8, Rochelle Woods 2 0-0 4, Merilee Mowbray 1 0-0 2, Nicole Davey 2 2-2 6, Cali Hislop 1 1-2 3, Loni Havlovick 0 2-4 2. Totals: 12 11-16 37

3-point goals: Ferda (2), Ray; Buckless (2); Team fouls: Whitefish 17, Polson 19; Fouled out: None.

Eureka 51,

Thompson Falls 37

EUREKA - Melanie Finch's double-double (19 points and 11 rebounds) guided Eureka past Thompson Falls in a District 8-B battle.

"They pushed the ball at us hard offensively and we had to hustle back in transition," Eureka coach John Hammond said.

"When we made it (basket), we pressed the whole game. It was a good one to be a part of."

Mariah Newell led Eureka in steals with six and Carli Hammond dished out a team high five assists.

Thompson Falls 6 11 15 5 - 37

Eureka 14 9 16 12 - 51

Thompson Falls - Nichole Hagadon 4 5-6 13, Rheanna Padden 1 4-5 6, Katie Petteys 0 0-1 0, Kyla Molzhon 1 3-5 5, Karli Tavill 4 1-5 9, Katelyn Jedlicka 2 0-0 4. Totals: 12 13-22 37.

Eureka (5-6, 4-1) - Tayler Holder 3 2-2 8, Carly Hammond 1 0-1 2, Melanie Finch 8 3-4 19, Kayci West 0 0-2 0, Auna Lawler 4 0-0 8, Mariah Newell 5 4-10 14. Totals: 21 9-19 51.

3-point goals: none; Team fouls: Thompson Falls 15, Eureka 22; Fouled out: Padden.

Stillwater 51,

Helena Home 16

HELENA - Stillwater Christian School jumped out to a 41-5 halftime lead Saturday and never looked back.

Nichole Danz paced the Cougars with 18 points.

On Friday, Stillwater whipped Helena Christian School 51-32.

Amanda Nichols led SCS with 18 points.

Stillwater 24 17 4 6 - 51

Helena Home 4 1 5 6 - 16

Stillwater - Charli Wells 2 0-0 5, Nichole Danz 7 0-0 18, Abby Smith 3 0-0 6, Dana Topp 1 0-0 2, Lindsey Vander Ark 3 0-0 6, Amanda Nichols 3 0-0 6, Julia Bray 4 0-0 8. Totals: 23 0-0 51.

Helena Home - Sierra Chumbus 1 0-0 2, Hannah Geisser 2 0-0 4, Shanna Kerttula 4 1-2 10. Totals: 7 1-2 16.

3-point goals: Wells, Danz (4), Kerttula.

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Stillwater 10 15 15 11 - 51

Helena Christian 5 0 10 17 - 32

Stillwater - Charli Wells 1 0-0 2, Nichole Danz 5 0-0 11, Abby Smith 2 1-1 5, Dana Topp 2 0-2 4, Sarah Cloyed 2 0-0 4, Linsdey Vander Ark 0 1-3 1, Amanda Nichols 8 2-7 18, Julia Bray 3 0-0 6. Totals: 23 4-13 51.

Helena Christian - Natasha Mathis 2 1-3 5, Gloria Cox 5 1-2 11, Ahsley Mathis 0 0-3 0, Allison Tollakson 1 0-0 2, Anana Schroeder 1 2-4 4, Caroline Bradford 4 2-3 10. Totals: 13 6-15 32.

3-point goals: Danz.