Wolfpack on a roll
Glacier senior Trey Griffith, 3, makes a pass from under the basket during the first half of the game against Missoula Hellgate on Thursday night in Kalispell. On the same play Griffith got possession of the ball again and made a three point basket.
The West is still up for grabs and the Wolfpack has eyes on it.
Now only Flathead stands in the way.
Instead of a game-winning 3-pointer by Hellgate, a game-winning free throw by Glacier senior Trey Griffith decided a close, physical matchup between the top two teams in Western AA boys basketball on Thursday night at Glacier High.
Griffith broke a 36-all tie with 12.3 seconds left and Glacier emerged with its 10th straight victory - 37-36 - and a chance at winning the conference title for the first time in program history.
The victory was Glacier's second against Hellgate this season and tied the Wolfpack (9-2 in conference, 13-6 overall) and the Knights (9-2, 14-5) for first place. Glacier finishes the regular season tonight at home against crosstown Flathead in a rematch of an unforgettable crosstown clash that ended in overtime earlier this month. A win tonight gives the 'Pack the title and an automatic berth to the state tournament in Butte.
"If we don't win tomorrow, tonight doesn't really mean anything. So we have to come out tomorrow and win that one," said Glacier senior Colter Hanson.
It was a nice night of shooting for senior Bryan Chery - five 3-pointers en route to 15 points - and Glacier made just enough plays down the stretch to eke out this one.
Sluggish at first, the Wolfpack struggled all night getting into the inside-out offense that has flourished over the last month.
"I think we were nervous. They've been hearing all day how big a game this was going to be and I think they were just a little bit tight," Glacier head coach Mark Harkins said.
"And a lot of that credit goes to Hellgate. They wanted it slow and they wanted a slugfest. They got the tempo they wanted."
Hellgate, which was without senior center Jesse Ginn who was serving a one-game
suspension following two technical fouls in the previous game, never found a rhythm on offense, as many teams have against Glacier's pesky defense.
Neither team led by more than five points all night. In fact, almost the entire night was a one-basket game.
"It wasn't a pretty basketball game but it was just kind of a street fight," Harkins. "I thought both teams were physical and both teams played very, very hard and both wanted it. So I'm really proud of my guys for getting it done."
With the game tied 36-all with roughly 15 seconds left, Griffith's younger brother Kyle grabbed a defensive rebound and threw the outlet pass that ended up in Trey's hands. As the gym at Glacier erupted in anxious noise, the savvy senior sprinted towards the basket and went up amid a swarm of defenders, drawing the foul with 12.3 seconds left.
Trey sank one of three after a lane violation gave him a second chance at a missed first shot. With time winding down, Hellgate came down court and found a good look that almost looked destined to be the conference-title winner.
Not so.
"They have risen to the occasion both times we have played them," Hellgate head coach Jeff Hays said of Glacier. "They make the plays down the stretch."
The Griffith brothers combined for 10 points, Ryan Edwards had nine points and six rebounds and Evan Epperly grabbed a critical steal late in the fourth quarter for Glacier.
"Points were precious tonight. Every one was important," Harkins said. "I was proud of the kids for adapting and adjusting their style a little bit."
Glacier plays Flathead tonight at 8 after the girls game.
"I really hope this was their tight game. I'm just hoping they can come here tomorrow and play," Harkins said.
Hellgate 10 10 6 10 - 36
Glacier 9 11 6 11 - 37
HELLGATE - Nick Joscelyn 1 0-0 2, Connor Woodill 3 3-5 11, Cody Oliver 2 0-0 6, Kramer Ungaretti 1 0-0 2, Zach Peevey 3 1-2 7, Lucas Wittkopp 4 0-0 8, Mitchell Hall 0 0-0 0, Jake Alredge 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 4-7 36.
GLACIER - Bryan Chery 5 0-0 15, Trey Griffith 1 2-6 5, Kyle Griffith 2 1-4 5, Evan Epperly 0 1-2 1, Colter Hanson 1 0-0 2, Ryan Edwards 2 3-5 9, Brandon Doty 0 0-0 0, Jacob Leininger 0 0-0 0, Sean Peters 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 7-17 37.
3-pointers - Hellgate 4 (Woodill 2, Oliver 2), Glacier 6 (Chery 5, T. Griffith); Rebounds - Hellgate 23 (Woodill 6, Peevey 5), Glacier 28 (K. Griffith 7, Edwards 6, Hanson 5); Steals - Hellgate 10 (Woodill 5, Oliver 2), Glacier 3 (Hanson, K.Griffith, Epperly); Turnovers - Hellgate 10, Glacier 14; Fouls - Hellgate 13, Glacier 12; Fouled out - Wittkopp.