Easy work for the Wolfpack

The No. 5 Glacier boys showed their muscle on Tuesday night, running away with a Western AA win over Missoula Sentinel at home, 70-50. The Wolfpack jumped out early and never looked back, holding off a few strong runs by the Spartans to win the game comfortably.

Glacier (5-2, 10-3) scored the first 11 points of the game, holding the Spartans scoreless for the first four minutes of the game. The key was the fast break, a staple of the Pack attack that was working at full strength on Tuesday. Glacier kept pushing in the first, leading 17-2 with a minute to play in the quarter before a pair of Sentinel buckets narrowed the lead at the break.

The deep ball kept Sentinel close in the second quarter. Each time the Wolfpack got a substantial lead, the Spartans would rally with a 3-pointer.

With the Pack up 14 with two minutes to play in the half, Sentinel's Derek Colberg nailed a 3-pointer, which was quickly followed by a free throw and a steal and basket, cutting Glacier's lead to just 28-20, until Sean Peters was able to get to the free-throw line, ending the half with a 29-20 Wolfpack lead.

"One of leaders, one of our captains was sick tonight and couldn't play," Glacier coach Mark Harkins said of senior guard Andy Boyer, one of the team's best perimeter defenders. "We had young guys come in and give us great minutes to give them a break. I was proud of the kids that came in and stepped up."

The Pack defense was able to keep the Sentinel runs shorter in the second half, helping the team get back out in transition. Glacier opened the third quarter on a 15-5 run, giving itself plenty of breathing room for the rest of the half.

The Wolfpack started hot in the fourth quarter, going on a 10-0 run after an opening 3 by the Spartans, taking a 61-41 lead with 3:35 in the game. The teams traded baskets and the Pack closed it out on free throws.

"They made a little run there and the kids responded really well," Harkins said. "I like how they played tonight. Now we just have to get back to practice and get ready for Saturday."

Four Glacier players reached double-digit in scoring, led by Kyle Griffith's 16. Evan Epperly scored 14, Sean Peters 12 and Colton Harkins added 10. Ryan Edwards scored eight points and set the tone on defense with five blocks, including a few emphatic blocks in the second quarter that ended up in the front row.

"I thought the kids played well tonight, we had really balanced scoring," Harkins said. "It was a great team effort tonight."

Alec Bray led Sentinel (2-5, 5-10) with 13 points, including three 3-pointers.

The Wolfpack heads to Missoula on Saturday for a bout with Big Sky (0-6, 1-13). Glacier won the first meeting by just three points, 64-61.

"They all count now," Harkins said. "We have a lot of stuff to work on still. It's nice to have three practice days in a row to clean some things up and get ready for Big Sky."

Sentinel 6 14 18 12 - 50

Glacier 17 12 22 19 - 70

SENTINEL - Alec Bray 5 0-0 13, Riley King 3 1-2 9, Derek Colberg 2 2-2 7, Sam Hanich 3 0-0 6, Jason Neibergs 2 1-2 6, Nate Jewett 2 1-2 5, Brad Corntassel 2 0-0 4, Tanner Maier 0 0-2 0, Austin Violette 0 0-2 0. Totals: 19 5-12 50.

GLACIER - Kyle Griffith 8 0-0 16, Evan Epperly 5 3-4 14, Sean Peters 5 1-2 12, Colton Harkins 4 0-0 10, Ryan Edwards 4 0-1 8, Logan Iverson 2 0-0 4, Karl Hellwig 1 0-0 2, Matt Peters 0 2-2 2, Dan Fivas 1 0-0 2. Totals: 30 6-9 70.

3-point goals - Bray 3, King 2, Colberg 1, Neibergs 1, Harkins 2, Epperly 1, S. Peters 1; Rebounds - Sentinel 24 (Corntassel 4), Glacier 32 (S. Peters 7); Assists - Sentinel 2 (King, Neibergs), Glacier 10 (Epperly 6); Steals - Sentinel 5 (Violette 2), Glacier 16 (Epperly 7); Turnovers - Sentinel 19, Glacier 11; Team fouls - Sentinel 13, Glacier 16; Fouled out - none.