Bruins' runs stop Wolfpack girls
<p>Glacier sophomore guard Hailee Bennett (left) and Glacier senior forward Hannah Atlee (12) pressure Helena Capital junior McKenzie Johnston (32) Saturday afternoon during Western AA girls basketball play at Glacier High School. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Glacier senior center Cassi Hashley (21) is fouled by Helena Capital senior Sierra Bignell while going up for a shot Saturday afternoon at Glacier High School.</p>
Leading by as many as seven points in the first half, Glacier (10-4 overall, 4-2 Western AA) played step-for-step with the top team in the state, only for No. 1 Helena Capital (13-1, 7-1) to go on a 11-0 stretch over three minutes in the third quarter, beating the Wolfpack 57-49 in a Western AA conference girls basketball game on Saturday afternoon at Glacier High School.
The game broke open when tied 28-28 with five minutes left in the third quarter, Bruins senior guard Alexa Welch got hot from deep.
Welch hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 4:57 left in the quarter, then another and another, Capital turning Glacier over on four straight possessions and converting those takeaways to a 39-28 lead in the span of 1:57.
Welch punctuated the quarter with her fourth 3-pointer of the period, giving Capital a 44-34 lead entering the fourth.
“It was Alexa Welch,” Glacier coach Kris Salonen said.
“We were manning (on defense), because we felt that worked best, but they set so good of screens, they’re so disciplined in what they do offensively, and that’s kind of why they are the team they are right now. They’re really good.”
Glacier did its best to close the gap in the fourth quarter, scoring the first six points to cut the Capital lead to 44-40.
The Wolfpack couldn’t get closer than four points though, falling as the Bruins went into full stall mode in the last four minutes of the game.
The third quarter doomed Glacier after a first half that saw the Wolfpack jump out to a 17-10 lead midway through the second quarter.
Foul trouble hindered Glacier soon after, as Capital closed the half on a 14-5 run, scoring half its points from the free-throw line.
Welch finished with 17 points and Michaela Dowdy had 18 for Capital, who remain undefeated in conference.
Cassi Hashley had 20 points and nine rebounds for Glacier and Katie Wiley had 10 points and three blocks for the Wolfpack, which outrebounded the Bruins 31-14 but struggled with 20 turnovers.
“The biggest thing we preach is to take care of the basketball,” Salonen said.
“We were forcing it. We just weren’t being patient and smart. We have to get better at that.
“The one positive thing we have to take from this is knowing that you can compete with the best team in the state. Now, how do we get over that hump and beat these teams? The good news is we have the chance to play Sentinel and Capital again. Hopefully the second time around can be a little better.”
Capital 10 14 20 13 — 57
Glacier 10 12 12 15 — 49
CAPITAL — Alexa Welch 6-9 1-1 17, Michaela Dowdy 8-10 2-6 18, McKenzie Johnston 3-8 3-7 11, Sierra Bignell 1-4 2-2 4, Rayna Pilgeram 1-1 2-2 5, Savanna Bignell 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 20-39 10-18 57.
GLACIER — Hannah Atlee 1-2 0-0 2, Katie Wiley 3-4 2-4 10, Cassi Hashley 8-14 4-5 20, Hailee Bennett 3-10 1-2 7, Taylor Loomis 3-12 2-4 8, Ali Williams 1-2 0-1 2. Totals: 19-46 9-16 49.
3-pointers — Capital 7-19 (Welch 4-6, Johnston 2-5, Pilgeram 1-1), Glacier 2-7 (Wiley 2-2). Rebounds — Capital 14 (Dowdy 3, Johnston 3), Glacier 31 (Hashley 9). Assists — Capital 12 (Johnston 4), Glacier 8 (Bennett 3, Loomis 3). Blocks — Capital 2 (Dowdy 2), Glacier 1 (Thomas). Steals — Capital 11 (Johnston 5), Glacier 6 (Wiley 3). Fouls — Capital 15, Glacier 21. Fouled out — Capital, Si. Bignell. Glacier, Atlee. Technical fouls — none.