Offensive woes eliminate Polson at Class A state basketball tourney

BUTTE — The Polson boys struggle to score cost them again.

The Pirates shot just 28 percent against Livingston on Friday in the first loser-out game at the Class A state boys basketball tournament, losing 70-48.

“That’s been our problem the whole second half of the season,” Polson coach Brad Pluff said. “We just haven’t shot the ball well and it carried through to the state tournament.”

The Pirates scrapped with Livingston for the first quarter, going shot for shot with the Rangers for the first six minutes. Early scores by Zack Camel and Cody Fischer tied the game at 4-4.

After a pair of free throws gave Livingston the lead, Vince DiGiallonardo evened the score again with a smooth drive to his left for a layup in traffic. Later, Will Davey answered a Rangers bucket by stealing the ball and running back with the breakaway layin, tying it at 8-8.

But the Pirates offense couldn’t play catch up all game. Livingston scored five points in the last two minutes to close the first quarter with a 13-8 lead.

After trading buckets to start the second, the Rangers made their run.

Livingston scored seven points in less than a minute to turn a 15-12 advantage into a 10-point lead. A minute and two Polson baskets later, they did it again, scoring seven straight points to lead 29-16. The Rangers kept pushing, scoring their last 10 points of the half in transition and taking a 37-20 lead into the break.

The scoring gap got even bigger with Livingston opening up the third quarter with two 3-pointers. Camel answered the second with a 3 for Polson, but the Pirates couldn’t get enough stops to stay in the game.

“We got our butt kicked in all facets of the game today,” Pluff said. “They’ve got a good team. Give them credit. I don’t feel like we played well but they had a lot to do with that.”

Fischer and DiGiallonardo, both seniors playing in their last game, led the Pirates with 11 points each. Riley Sampson had a game-high 12 rebounds.

“It’s tough and I feel sorry for the seniors,” Pluff said.

“I’ve coached Vince since he was in fourth grade little guy football. I’ve watched him grow up. I wished it could have gone a little better for him and the other two seniors.

“It is what is. If you can’t shoot the ball you can’t win.”

Dallas Lussier scored 16 points to lead the Rangers, who had three scorers in double digits. Livingston will play in the consolation semifinals today at 11 a.m.

Polson finished the season with a 10-13 record after losing both games in the tournament.

“Everybody here’s good and you have to show up with your best game to beat them,” Pluff said. “We didn’t.”

In the other loser-out game Friday, Browning beat Stevensville 80-73.

POLSON (10-14) – Ian Laimbeer 1-7 0-0 3, Cody Fischer 3-10 4-4 11, Riley Sampson 3-6 0-0 6, Vince DiGiallonardo 4-12 3-5 11, Zack Camel 3-16 0-0 7, Will Davey 3-5 0-0 6, Dylan Kelley 0-0 0-0 0, Br0ady Hislop 0-3 0-0 0, Cedrick Smith 1-1 2-2 4, Hayden Congdon 0-4 0-0 0, Eric Williamson 0-0 0-0 0, Quinn Harlan 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-65 9-22 48.

LIVINGSTON (17-5) – Braeden Greathouse 3-4 7-8 14, Landon Willyerd 3-7 3-4 9, Marcus Payne 3-6 2-3 8, Decker Wilson 4-11 0-0 10, Dallas Lussier 7-18 1-2 16, Orlan Peckenpaugh 0-1 0-0 0, Scott Wilson 0-2 1-2 1, Kevin Iokot 3-6 1-3 7, Mike Severson 0-1 0-0 0, Jesse Darr 1-3 3-6 5, Chance Zahn 0-1 0-0 0, Colton Gavne 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-60 18-28 70.

Polson 8 12 14 14 — 48

Livingston 13 24 23 10 — 70

3-point goals – Polson 3-16 (Camel 1-4, Fisher 1-4, Laimbeer 1-2, Hislop 0-1, Congdon 0-1), Livingston 4-9 (Wilson 2-4, Lussier 1-2, Greathouse 1-1, Willyerd 0-1, Payne 0-1). Rebounds – Polson 43 (Sampson 12), Livingston 48 (Payne 11, Lussier 10). Assists – Polson 4 (DiGiallonardo 2), Livingston 10 (Greathouse 3, Payne 3). Steals – Polson 8 (DiGiallonardo 2, Camel 2), Livingston 9 (Greathouse 2, Payne 2, Wilson 2). Blocks – Polson 3 (Sampson, Camel, Davey), Livingston 3 (Lussier, Severson, Darr). Turnovers – Polson 16, Livingston 15. Fouls – Polson 18, Livingston 13. Fouled out – none. Technicals – none.

Browning 80, Stevensville 73

BROWNING (20-2) — Jonathan Hall 3-6 1-2 7, Gary Monroe 6-11 0-1 15, Cliff Ollinger 4-6 0-0 8, Josiah Davis 4-9 2-2 10, Dee Jay Lazy Boy 9-17 1-3 24, Kurt Red Crow 0-1 0-0 0, Jonathan Skunkap 1-4 1-2 4, Jaron Calf Robe 1-4 1-3 3, Vince Omeasoo 0-1 0-2 0, Quintin Morgan 0-0 0-0 0, Jalen Croff 0-0 0-0 0, Daniel Hall 4-5 1-1 9. Totals 32-64 7-16 80.

STEVENSVILLE (18-5) — Zach Gavlak 6-8 6-11 18, Jesse Sims 5-11 5-10 15, Jared Schultz 3-11 0-0 8, Josh Schultz 8-21 3-5 25, Tyler Gavlak 2-5 0-0 5, Josh Lords 0-0 0-0 0, Austin Kelling 0-0 0-0 0, Austin Lords 0-1 2-4 2. Totals 24-57 16-30 73.

Browning 27 11 17 25 — 80

Stevensville 8 28 25 12 — 73

3-pointers — Browning 9-23 (Lazy Boy 5-10, Monroe 3-6, Skunkcap 1-2, Davis 0-4, Colf Robe 0-1), Stevensville 9-28 (Josh Schultz 6-18, Jared Schultz 2-7, T. Gavlak 1-3). Rebounds — Browning 39 (Hall 13), Stevensville 34 (Z. Gavlak 8, Josh Schultz 8). Assists — Browning 24 (Davis 14), Stevensville 14 (Jared Schultz 6). Fouls — Browning 18, Stevensville 17. Fouled out — Zach Gavlak, Sims. Technicals — Stevensville (bench). Steals — Browning 4 (Hall, Ollinger, Lazy Boy, Calf Robe), Stevensville 7 (Jared Schultz 2, Josh Schultz 2, T. Gavlak 2). Blocks — Browning 2 (Monroe, Hall), Stevensville 3 (Z. Gavlak 2). Turnovers — Browning 12, Stevensville 12.