Lake City turns lights out on Wolfpack
Glacier’s McKell Bennett goes in for a layup while being defended by Lake City’s Sydeney Butler during Friday evening’s game at Flathead High School.
Players and fans gather and wait at the Glacier High School gym for an announcement regarding where the evenings’ basketball doubleheader will be played during a power outage on the north end of Kalispell. The girls and boys games were moved to Flathead High School.
The shooting couldn’t have been much hotter.
The Lake City Timberwolves (7-1) made seven 3-pointers in the first half Friday as they pulled away from the Glacier Wolfpack for a 71-47 nonconference victory at Flathead High School.
Timberwolves junior guard Gina Mitchell led Lake City with 27 points, including three of those treys.
Mitchell’s classmate Sydney Butler added 19 points.
“Gina Mitchell played her best game she’s played at Lake City. She was the hot hand tonight. She got the ball and the opportunity to score,” said Lake City coach Royce Johnston.
“We will take a 25-point win on the road,” he smiled.
A power outage on the north end of Kalispell caused both games of a planned doubleheader to be moved from Glacier to Flathead.
The girls game, scheduled for 6 p.m., actually started a little after 7. The boys contest, planned for 8 p.m., didn’t get under way until about 9:30.
“We’d like to thank Flathead for opening their doors so we could play the game,” said Glacier coach Doug Hashley.
“And I have to really compliment our girls. This was nothing. Of course they wanted to play in their home gym, but it was like no big deal,” he said.
The Wolfpack carpooled to Flathead, then had a quick meeting upon arrival.
“We never talked about it again and boy, did they play hard,” Hashley said.
“I think it was fine,” Johnston said of the move.
“I just told the girls that we’ve got to deal with adversity. We’ve played (at FHS) before. (The Wolfpack) didn’t get to play a home game, either,” he said.
The Timberwolves quickly made themselves at home. They scored 20 points in the first quarter and built themselves a 35-18 lead at the half.
But Johnston was impressed with the Glacier work ethic and attitude.
“They pressed us and got up and down the court and they didn’t quit at all,” he said of the Wolfpack.
There were several times that Lake City built itself leads of more than 20 points, only to turn around and see the margin cut into the low teens.
Hashley also loved a lot of what he saw from the Wolfpack.
“I am really, really happy with the way we played. There were so many good things,” he said.
“I thought they shot the ball extremely well,” Hashley said of the Timberwolves.
But when (the Timberwolves) did miss, “we were in a box out ready to get the rebound. We really, really played hard and we got something done with our hard work.
“It’s just going to get better and better and better. We are just really pleased with the effort. We’re sharing the ball, I like our traps ... we’re growing and it’s cool. It’s cool to watch the girls,” Hashley said.
“I’m so dang pleased right now with what we’re doing. We did some good things against a great team,” he said.
Brooke Watkins led the Wolfpack with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Baylee Quay and Ashlee Waggener added seven points each.
Lake City 20 15 20 16 — 71
Glacier 9 9 14 15 — 47
Lake City (7-1) — Jansen Butler 2 0-0 5, Sydney Butler 7 3-7 19, Jasmyn Smith 1 0-0 3, Alyssa Kacalek 1 1-2 3, Jenna Lewis 1 0-0 2, Dailyn Ball 1 0-0 2, Jenny Kerr 2 2-3 6, Gina Mitchell 10 4-4 27, Burgess 0 2-2 2, Katie Rowe 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 12-18 71.
Glacier (1-1) Rachel Cutler 2 1-2 5, Paige Latimer 1 1-2 3, Cami Mathison 2 1-2 5, Nicole Heavirland 0 2-2 2, Baylee Quay 3 1-3 7, Brooke Watkins 6 0-0 14, Ashlee Waggener 3 1-2 7, McKell Bennett 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 7-15 47.
3-point goals: Lake City 7 (J. Butler 1, S. Butler 2, Smith 1, Mitchell 3), Glacier 4 (Watkins 4), Fouls: Lake City 17, Glacier 18. Fouled out — Cutler.