Wolfpack girls trip Bravettes
<p>Flathead senior Sani Davis (left) and Glacier senior Rachel Chery (right) battle for possession of the ball Tuesday night during the crosstown matchup at Flathead High School. </p>
<p>Glacier junior Cassi Hashley (21) grabs a loose ball Tuesday night during the crosstown matchup at Flathead High School.</p>
Cassi Hashley scored 22 points and pulled in 23 rebounds to lead Glacier to a 55-43 Western AA girls basketball win over crosstown-rival Flathead on Tuesday night at Flathead High School.
Hashley was dominant in the post, pulling in nine rebounds just on the offensive side, lifting the Glacier offense through a physical, defensive battle.
“We knew we had to get it inside tonight,” Glacier coach Kris Salonen said. “We knew that’s where our bread and butter was, that’s where we we’re stronger.”
Glacier (10-3 overall, 3-2 league) was consistently able to get the ball inside, scoring 36 points in the paint. The Wolfpack was able to work through Flathead in both the half court, and at times around the Bravettes’ tough press, which still managed to cause 21 turnovers and 18 steals.
The patience on offense allowed the Wolfpack to build a 16-point lead by the fourth quarter, pushing it well out of reach of the cold-shooting Bravettes.
Flathead (6-5, 2-3) shot just 23 percent from the field, just 18 percent in the second half. While the Bravettes were aggressive all game, and strong on the offensive glass, they couldn’t connect from the free-throw line either, finishing 16 for 31. The Bravettes missed the front end of a pair of fouls at the beginning of the fourth that could have swung momentum and cut the lead to single digits.
“We have to finish,” Flathead coach Karly Tait said.
“We were getting offensive rebounds, getting fouled and then missing free throws ... That’s potentially 15 points that we could get back and we lose by 12. Free throws and a couple more made baskets and it’s a totally different ball game.”
The Wolfpack built its pead in the first half, ending the opening quarter on a 12-4 run that included four missed Flathead free throws. They stretched out their largest lead of the game at the beginning of the second, starting the frame on a 11-4 run to go up 25-12. They led by double digits for the rest of the game.
“It’s a hard gym to play in,” Salonen said. “We haven’t played very well. This is the first time in seven games that we have played well. I’m proud of the girls.”
Emma Andrews finished with 14 points and had six steals to lead the Bravettes. Jenessa Heine scored 10.
The Wolfpack will host Hellgate (1-11, 0-5) at home on Thursday. Flathead will play the Knights in Missoula on Saturday.
Glacier 14 21 11 9 — 55
Flathead 8 14 14 7 — 43
GLACIER — Rachel Chery 1-2 2-2 4, Hannah Atlee 2-4 0-0 4, Kailea Vaudt 3-7 1-2 7, Kirstyn Haugenoe 2-9 0-0 4, Cassi Hashley 10-16 2-3 22, Taylor Loomis 2-3 0-0 4, Katie Wiley 3-8 0-0 6, Aly Williams 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 25-52 5-7 55.
FLATHEAD — Emma Andrews 5-13 3-7 14, Dani Davis 1-9 2-9 4, Emily Russell 1-10 4-6 6, Jessika Abbrescia 0-5 5-7 5, Jenessa Heine 5-13 0-0 10, Tana Fountain 1-6 2-2 4. Totals: 13-56 16-31 43.
3-pointers — Glacier 0-5, Flathead 1-12 (Andrews). Rebounds — Glacier 45 (Hashley 23), Flathead 36 (Russell 9). Assists — Glacier 10 (Hashley 3), Flathead 8 (Davis 5). Blocks — Glacier 2 (Atlee, Hashley), Flathead 1 (Davis). Steals — Glacier 8 (Atlee, Vaudt 3), Flathead 18 (Andrews 6). Fouls — Glacier 20, Flathead 10. Technical fouls — none. Fouled out — Vaudt, Heine.