Bengals hold off Wolfpack
Holding a team to four field goals in the second half is usually a surefire way to win.
But even a great defensive effort needs some offensive support peppered in once in awhile, which is what the Glacier girls just couldn’t do on Saturday.
After falling behind early for the second game in a row, the Wolfpack clawed back to within two points of one of Western AA’s top teams.
But then the rally unraveled. Senior Mariah Shein scored a three-point play with 1:53 left and the Helena Bengals went on to make seven of their next eight free throws while Glacier had a scoring drought, sealing the game at 44-32 at Glacier High.
“It’s just been an offensive struggle and we’re just going to keep battling and learning,” Glacier coach Kris Salonen said.
The Bengals have now won three straight and seven of their last eight and improved to 5-0 in conference, which puts them tied for first with Missoula Sentinel.
Glacier falls to 5-7 overall and 0-4 in conference and heads into the final month of the regular season with eight games remaining.
Rachel Cutler scored 11 points, Ashlee Waggener had eight and Sydney Sharaf chipped in seven for the Wolfpack, which trailed by nine after three quarters.
Waggener led off the final quarter with four-straight points and then Baylee Quay followed with three free throws to put Glacier within two, 32-30. A minute later, Helena cooled off the 7-0 run with a basket, but Cutler came right back and answered with a score of her own, making it 34-32 with 2:30 left. From there, the Wolfpack was unable to muster another point for the rest of the game.
“We knew that when we had the lead we wanted them to foul us so we could get to the free throw line,” Helena coach Jason Murgel said. “We made the free throws late in the game. We knew it would be a tough game coming off last night’s win (against Flathead) and coach Salonen has those girls playing hard. She’s doing a good job and they’re going to be fine. I’m just pleased to get out of here with a win.”
Sharaf, who had the wind knocked out of her at one point in the third quarter while fighting for a loose ball, showed her toughness while running the point for Glacier. The 5-foot-5 senior had to come out, but not for long. When Salonen asked her if she was OK, Sharaf gave a frown of approval, and headed back out, chin up.
Meanwhile, Quay and Cutler added the physical play that Salonen had hoped to get. Quay grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and Cutler had six.
“The main thing is confidence and just understanding that you can play,” Salonen said. “We’ve got to be able to adjust and be confident offensively. That’s where we have to be and I think in that second half we showed so much improvement.”
Glacier trailed from the start after a few too many turnovers — seven in the first quarter and 11 by half.
Slow starts have plagued the girls this season and Salonen said changing something even like pre-game warm-ups is an option.
“We’re just playing from behind. We’re proving that we can compete, we can come back and get in it, but now we’ve got to have a good start,” she said.
Glacier hosts Missoula Hellgate on Thursday and Flathead on Friday.
Glacier 4 8 11 9 — 32
Helena 14 7 11 12 — 44
HELENA (7-5, 5-0) — Sydne Simanton 0 3-4 3, Kyndal Williams 3 3-4 12, Mariah Shein 2 4-5 8, Sydney Carpenter 0 2-2 2, Taylor Kanthack 1 2-4 4, Kelsey Williams 3 0-1 7, Monica Grimsrud 2 4-6 8. Totals 11 18-26 44.
GLACIER (5-7, 0-4) — Rachel Cutler 4 2-4 11, Sydney Sharaf 3 0-0 7, Baylee Quay 0 4-7 4, Patty Hughes 1 0-0 2, Brooke Watkins 0 0-1 0, Ashlee Waggener 3 1-2 8, McKell Bennett 0 0-2 0, Paige Latimer 0 0-0 0, Cami Mathison 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 7-16 32.
3-point goals — Helena 4 (Kyndal Williams 3, Kelsey Williams 1), Glacier 3 (Cutler, Sharaf, Waggener); Rebounds — Helena 43 (Grimsrud 12, Kanthack 6, Simanton 6), Glacier 27 (Quay 7, Cutler 6); Turnovers — Helena 22, Glacier 15; Team fouls — Helena 16, Glacier 15; Fouled out — Kelsey Williams.