Flathead vs. Glacier in regular-season finale
The Daily Inter Lake
The Glacier boys already have the number two spot locked up in Western AA basketball, but a win against Flathead would help give the Pack its swagger back.
The crosstown schools face off tonight with the boys playing at 8 at Flathead High. The girls teams play at 6 p.m.
Last weekend, the Glacier boys (13-6 overall, 8-3 in conference) dropped two disappointing losses to Helena and Helena Capital by a combined 136-100. The lopsided losses snapped a six-game win streak for the Wolfpack.
Flathead, on the other hand, is looking to regain some of its crosstown supremacy and even the series before finishing the regular season. The Braves (3-15, 2-8) lost earlier in the month to Glacier, 78-65.
The lethal Wolfpack offense ranks second in AA, averaging 63.1 points per game. Billings West is first with 68.6.
Senior Ben Cutler leads the Pack attack with 23.1 ppg, followed by junior Shay Smithwick-Hann, 12.7.
Flathead is led on offense by Karl Ingram, who had a season-high 26 points against Glacier in the first matchup. Ingram averages 14.6 ppg and 7.6 rebounds per game, followed by George Sherwood, 8.9 ppg and 5.6 rpg.
The Braves have had moments of brilliance this season against teams like Missoula Sentinel, who fell to Flathead 62-59 on Feb. 14.
On the girls side, the Wolfpack (8-11, 4-7) are hoping to earn a home-court playoff game by edging Helena High (9-9, 5-5) for fourth-place in Western AA. But the Bravettes are looking to spoil that bid behind the hot hand of senior Kelsey Hildal, who averages 18.8 ppg.
Glacier has had two devastating injuries recently, losing Emilee Hashley and Kayla Smart, who are day-to-day. But the Wolfpack have a slew of players who look ready to step up when needed, including Rachel Cutler (5.8 ppg), Lindsea Vaudt (5.3 ppg) and Brooke Watkins (3.7 ppg).
The Bravettes (1-17, 1-9) have a solid core that complements Hildal's play out front. Hildal is coming off a monster game against Helena High, where she scored 37 points. Danika Johnson averages 7.3 ppg and 5.9 rpg at the post position, while Tess Brenneman covers the entire floor and averages 6.6 ppg and 4.8 rpg.
The Wolfpack topped Flathead earlier in the season, 48-26.