Glacier girls rally late to beat FHS

Fans yawning at the prospects of another Glacier blowout versus its crosstown rivals were treated to a pleasant surprise Friday. This time the Bravettes pushed the Wolfpack to the limit before Glacier finally prevailed, 50-44.

Earlier this month Glacier won at home, 48-26.

This time the lead changed hands seven times in the second half. Flathead built its biggest lead of the game, 42-36, with just five minutes left when Danika Johnson scored off an assist from Ariel Johnson.

But that's when Wolfpack forward Lindsea Vaudt went to work. Vaudt hit a pair of jumpers in the lane, sparking an 8-0 run that put Glacier in command of the game.

"We know she can stick the 15-footer," said Glacier coach Doug Hashley. "And that's what they were giving us."

Hashley made adjustments to the Glacier attack, at the advice of his assistants, he said, which sparked the Wolfpack comeback.

After Vaudt righted the Glacier ship, Emilee Hashley and Sydney Sharaf finished the Bravettes off. Sharaf tied the score with a jumper with about three minutes left, and Hashley grabbed an offensive board and was fouled on the put back. Her two free throws gave Glacier the lead with a little more than two minutes left.

But Flathead's Kelsey Hildal, who led all players with 25, had an answer. Hildal tied the score at 44 with two minutes left on a twisting reverse layup.

But that was the Bravettes last gasp. Hashley, Vaudt and Sharaf scored the game's final points for the win.

Hashley fended off first half foul trouble to post a double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Glacier had a commanding 31-17 edge on the boards.

Hildal had seven steals as she wreaked havoc with the Glacier backcourt. On a night when she made one dazzling move after another, maybe the prettiest play came in the third period when she stepped in front of a Glacier pass near midcourt, and, tongue clenched firmly in her teeth, dribbled behind her back to avoid a Glacier defender and then hit a racing Tess Brenneman for a layup.

With the win Glacier earned a home playoff game versus Helena next week.

Glacier 11 13 7 19 - 50

Flathead 9 14 10 11 - 44

Glacier - Kadie Latimer 1 0-1 2, Sydney Sharaf 3 2-2 8, Lindsea Vaudt 4 0-0 8, Emilee Hashley 9 5-8 23, Brooke Watkins 1 0-0 3, Rachel Cutler 1 0-0 3, Kayla Smart 1 1-4 3, Maddey Frey 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 8-15 50.

Flathead - Kelsey Hidal 10 3-4 25, Ariel Johnson 2 0-0 4, Marissa Stivers 1 2-2 4, Danika Johnson 3 0-0 6, Tess Brennemen 2 0-0 5, Jaimee Zorn 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 5-6 44.

3-point goals: Glacier 2 (Cutler, Watkins . Flathead 3 (Hildal 2, Brenneman). Total fouls: Glacier 8 , Flathead 12. Fouled out: D. Johnson (Flathead).