AA Boys State Basketball: Wolfpack slips in semis to Missoula Hellgate

Glacier senior guard Kyle Griffith (4) drives along the baseline Friday afternoon during Glacier's semifinal game with Missoula Hellgate at the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.

Glacier senior guard Matt Peters (32) saves a ball from going out of bounds Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup with Missoula Hellgate in semifinal play at the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.

Glacier senior forward Logan Iverson (24) lays the ball in Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

The Glacier student section attempts to distract a free throw attempt Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior forward Logan Iverson (24) questions an officiating call Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior forward Logan Iverson (24) celebrates Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Hellgate sophomore Tres Tinkle celebrates after a dunk Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior guard Reid Siderius (3) has the ball knocked away Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior post Ryan Edwards (44) works for position under the basket Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior guard Matt Peters (32) is called for a charge Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior guard Matt Peters (32) lays the ball up Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier junior guard Evan Epperly (10) shoots the ball Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior forward Logan Iverson (24) lays on the ground after a foul was called on him Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior forward Logan Iverson (24) battles for a rebound Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior post Ryan Edwards (44) secures a rebound Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior guard Kyle Griffith (4) puts up a shot Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior forward Logan Iverson (24) puts up a shot Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier head coach Mark Harkins talks during a timeout Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

A fan watches the game Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior guard Reid Siderius (3) makes a three-point shot Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier junior guard Evan Epperly (10) puts the ball up Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior guard Reid Siderius (3) fouls Hellgate's Tres Tinkle (right) Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

A nervous fan watches the game Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior guard Kyle Griffith (4) lays the ball in Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior forward Logan Iverson (24) shouts after fouling out Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier junior guard Evan Epperly (10) eyes the basketball Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior post Ryan Edwards (44) passes the ball Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior forward Logan Iverson (24) shoots the ball Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Glacier senior guard Kyle Griffith (4) looks to shoot Friday afternoon during Glacier's matchup against Hellgate on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

by Joseph Terry Daily Inter Lake
| March 8, 2013 11:20 PM

GREAT FALLS – The third time wasn’t a charm for the Glacier boys against Missoula Hellgate.

The Wolfpack nearly erased an impossible lead, but couldn’t connect late, losing to the Knights 48-45 in the semifinals of the Class AA state basketball tournament on Friday at Four Seasons Arena.

Down six points with 45 seconds left, the Pack gave itself a chance to tie at the buzzer. Bryan Michaels, who hit a three-quarter court shot in Great Falls earlier this season to beat C.M. Russell, launched a last-second heave, but hit the loud speaker above the court, ending the game.

Glacier controlled the first half, but couldn’t find its rhythm after the break. The Wolfpack offense scored just two field goals in the first seven minutes of the third quarter, falling behind 38-32.

Glacier closed the lead early in the fourth and trailed just 40-39 with five minutes to play, but couldn’t keep it going. The Pack scored just two points in the next four minutes and found itself down 47-41 with 44.7 seconds to play.

Senior center Ryan Edwards got to the line to hit 1 of 2 free throws with 26 seconds left and Reid Siderius answered a Hellgate free throw with a 3-pointer with six seconds to play. Hellgate missed a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession, but Michaels couldn’t convert after pulling in the late rebound.

“We put a set in that was working pretty well (against the Hellgate zone),” Glacier coach Mark Harkins said. “They made some adjustments and I didn’t adjust well the other way. We really struggled in the second, third and fourth quarter to get a basket.”

Glacier dominated the first quarter, scoring the last 10 points of the frame to take a 19-11 lead. Things slowed down in the second quarter, but the Pack still led by seven, 26-19, with 2:29 to play.

Glacier, however, scored just one more bucket before half, as Hellgate cut the Wolfpack lead to 28-27 at the break, robbing all the Pack’s early momentum.

“They had a good plan,” Harkins said. “I thought we still got some pretty good looks, we just struggled to put it in the basket. It’s one of those nights that we struggled to score. It came down to the end and we couldn’t quite finish.”

Glacier is still alive in the tournament, and will advance to a loser-out game today against Great Falls High, to be played at CMR at 9 a.m. The Bison rolled in its loser-out game on Friday, beating Missoula Big Sky 57-44.

“This is a hard bounce back game,” Harkins said. “Our focus is going to be primarily getting them ready to play. Convince them all is not lost, the sun’s going to come up tomorrow and that sort of thing.

“(We can) make a run for a third place trophy. That’s something we’ve never done. That’s still a good goal. We’re disappointed right now but we’ve got to get past that and come ready to play tomorrow.”

Missoula Hellgate 11 16 11 10 — 48

Glacier 19 9 8 9 — 45

MISSOULA HELLGATE (19-4) — Tres Tinkle 7-14 4-5 19, Luke Bewley 1-3 0-0 2, Pat Colberg 2-2 0-2 4, Brady Henthorn 1-2 2-6 5, Devin Bray 6-11 1-1 14, Dylan Harvala 0-2 1-2 1, Kole Swartz 0-2 0-0 0, Mark Lebsock 0-0 0-0 0, Hunter Mahlum 0-0 2-4 2. Totals 17-36 10-20 48.

GLACIER (18-4) — Bryan Michaels 3-4 0-0 6, Logan Iverson 3-11 1-1 8, Ryan Edwards 1-2 1-2 3, Evan Epperly 2-7 0-1 5, Kyle Griffith 6-11 2-2 14, Charlie Obermiller 0-0 0-0 0, Matt Peters 1-3 4-4 6, Reid Siderius 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 17-39 7-10 45.

3-point goals – Hellgate 4-10 (Colberg 1-1, Henthorn 1-2, Tinkle 1-3, Bray 1-4), Glacier 4-11 (Siderius 1-1, Peters 1-2, Iverson 1-4, Epperly 1-4). Rebounds – Hellgate 22 (Bray 5), Glacier 23 (Edwards 6). Fouls – Hellgate 14, Glacier 18. Fouled out – Peters, Iverson. Steals – Hellgate 4 (Tinkle 2, Henthorn 2), Glacier 6 (Griffith 3). Assists – Hellgate 12 (Harvala 3, Henthorn 3), Glacier 13 (Iverson 4). Blocks – Hellgate 1 (Tinkle), Glacier 4 (Edwards 3, Griffith). Turnovers – Hellgate 9, Glacier 9.

Semifinal

Capital 6 17 19 17 — 59

Skyview 21 5 11 19 — 56

HELENA CAPITAL (17-6) – Kyle Harrington 3-6 2-4 8, Levi Dawes 1-4 4-6 6, Carson Dummer 2-7 1-2 5, Hunter Beto 6-8 1-3 13, David Lindgren 3-4 6-7 13, Kyle Nickol 2-5 4-5 9, Aaron Gilman 1-2 0-0 3, Keeley Larson 1-2 0-0 2, Marcus Lindgren 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-38 17-24 59.

BILLINGS SKYVIEW (18-4) – Daine Muller 10-22 3-3 29, Tanner Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Josiah Running Crow 1-4 0-0 2, Alex Zacher 4-6 1-2 11, Matthew Fuhrman 3-9 2-5 8, Cole Snowden 0-1 0-0 0, Jacob Smyle 0-0 0-0 0, Nolan McHugh 0-3 0-0 0, Konner Wiechman 2-3 0-0 6. Totals 20-48 6-10 56.

3-point goals – Capital 4-7 (D.Lindgren 1-1, Gilman 1-1, Beto 1-3, Nickol 1-2), Skyview 10-18 (Muller 6-12, Zacher 2-2, Wiechman 2-3, Fuhrman 0-1). Rebounds – Capital 29 (Dummer 9), Skyview 24 (Muller 6). Steals – Capital 3 (D.Lindgren 2), Skyview 7 (Zacher 2). Assists – Capital 7 (Beto 3), Skyview 11 (Fuhrman 7). Blocks – Capital 2 (Dummer 2), Skyview 2 (Muller, Running Crow). Turnovers – Capital 11, Skyview 8.

Loser Out

Butte 9 11 16 13 — 49

Billings West 18 21 25 6 — 70

BUTTE (5-18) — Jake Dennehy 1 0-0 2, Peter Granger 1 1-2 3, Zach Bunney 1 0-0 3. Cory Farstveet 5 3-4 14, Dallas Cook 5 0-1 10, Killian O’Leary 0 1-2 1, Brian Smith 5 1-7 13, Kyle Peterson 1 0-0 2, Dalton Daum 0 0-0 0, Chase Plum 0 0-0 0, Gabe McClafferty 0 1-2 1, Chase Kremer 0 0-0. TOTALS: 19 7-18 49.

BILLINGS WEST (18-4) —Josh Zeller 2 0-0 5, Nate Dening 4 0-0 8, Andrew Campbell 7 1-1 17, Jared Samuelson 4 1-1 9, Stewart Harris 2 0-0 4, Brennan Whittmeyer 4 4-4 15, Tanner Berg 2 0-3 5, Michael Tessmer 1 0-0 2, Danny Betcher 1 0-0 2, Jeremiah Coachran 1 1-2 3. TOTALS: 28 6-10 70.

3-point field goals: Butte 4-16 (Smith 2-5, Bunney 1-3, Farstveet 1-3), West 8-11 (Whittmeyer 3-4, Campbell 2-4, Berg 1-1, Zeller 1-1, Samuelson 1-1); Rebounds: Butte 33 (Farstveet 6), West 38 (Betcher 7); Assists: Butte 10 (Farstveet 3), West 14 (Zeller 4); Blocks: Butte 4 (four players with 1), West 5 (Campbell 2); Steals: Butte 8 (Bunney 2), West 12 (Zeller 3, Whittmeyer 3); Total Fouls: Butte 12, West 18; Fouled Out: None; Turnovers: Butte 19, West 17.

Missoula Big Sky 5 9 12 18 — 44

Great Falls 11 17 14 15 — 57

MISSOULA BIG SKY (11-12) – Olan Donaldson 1-5 0-2 3, Ethan Donaldson -4 0-0 0, Ryan Koster 1-2 2-4 4, Cole Baker 2-13 5-6 9, Jesson Preston 5-12 2-2 14, Jay Owens 1-4 1-4 3, R.J. LaValley 0-4 0-0 0, Tyler Thornock 3-4 4-4 10, Colin Bingham 0-1 1-2 1, Alex Mustard 0-1 0-0 0, Chris Lange 0-0 0-0 0, Brad Wakai 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 13-52 15-24 44.

GREAT FALLS (11-12) – Dylan Tatarka 9-15 2-2 21, LaRance Racine 1-5 1-2 3, Jace Anderegg 3-7 0-0 6, Lukas Vining 2-7 3-4 8, Kolby Sukut 3-3 0-0 6, Bryce Clark 3-6 1-1 8, Cooper Johnson 1-1 0-0 2, Matt Wyman 1-3 1-2 3, Lester Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Bridger Logan 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-47 8-11 57.

3-point goals – Big Sky 3-17 (Preston 2-5, O.Donaldson 1-1, Wakai 0-1, E.Donaldson 0-2, LaValley 0-2, Owens 0-3, Baker 0-3), Great Falls 3-8 (Clark 1-2, Tatarka 1-2, Vining 1-3, Racine 0-1). Rebounds – Big Sky 15, Great Falls 17. Assists – Big Sky 3 (3 with 1), Great Falls 13 (Tatarka 5). Steals – Big Sky 5 (Owens 3), Great Falls 4 (Racine 2). Blocks – Big Sky 1 (LaValley), Great Falls 5 (5 with 1). Turnovers – Big Sky 9, Great Falls 15.