Basketball: Hellgate pounds 'Pack
<p>Glacier senior guard Evan Epperly (10) is fouled as he puts up a shot Tuesday night during Glacier's loss at home to Missoula Hellgate. Feb. 25, 2014 in Kalispell, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Missoula Hellgate junior forward Rhett Baerlocher (right) ties up the ball as Glacier junior wing Sam McCamley (3) drives to the hoop Tuesday night during Glacier's loss at home to Missoula Hellgate. Feb. 25, 2014 in Kalispell, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Missoula Hellgate (15-4 overall, 9-2 conference) shot 66 percent from the field in the second half and scored 22 fourth-quarter points to top Glacier 59-43 for a Western AA road victory on Tuesday night.
Hellgate junior Tres Tinkle’s team-high 23 points and game-high eight rebounds paced the Knights who led 23-18 at the break.
The Wolfpack (9-10, 5-6), led by senior Evan Epperly’s 24-point effort, stuck with the second-ranked team in the state until the final period, trailing by just eight points after the third quarter. Hellgate took off in the fourth, eventually taking its largest lead of the night leading by 18 points with 37 seconds remaining.
“It was a good ball game, and it was a lot closer than I think the score showed,” Glacier coach Mark Harkins said.
Glacier’s woes came from behind the arc, shooting just 2-16 from the three-point line, both treys coming from senior Kyler Harkins. Glacier was 36 percent from the field for the game.
Bryan Michaels added eight points for the Wolfpack and led his team in rebounds, pulling down seven boards.
The game featured two ties but no lead changes as Hellgate never let the Wolfpack hold a lead in the contest.
Rhett Baerlocher and Brady Henthorn also scored in double figures for the Knights, adding 10 and 14 points, respectively.
Glacier will look to get back in the win column with the crosstown game against Flathead scheduled for 7 p.m. on the Braves homecourt.
Hellgate12111422—59
Glacier991114—43
HELLGATE — Tres Tinkle 8-14 4-5 23, Rhett Baerlocher 2-5 6-6 10, Brady Henthorn 3-7 5-6 14, Devin Brady 1-3 0-0 2, Pat Colberg 4-6 1-1 9, Mark Lebsock 0-3 1-2 1, Totals 18-38 17-20 59.
GLACIER — Evan Epperly 10-17 4-7 24, Bryan Michaels 2-9 4-4 8, Kyler Harkins 2-7 0-0 6, Tanner Olsen 1-8 1-2 3, Greg Jones 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 16-45 9-13 43.
3-point goals — Hellgate 6-13 (Tinkle 3-4, Henthorn 3-6), Glacier 2-16 (Harkins 2-6). Totals fouls — Hellgate 12, Glacier 15. Fouled out — none. Rebounds — Hellgate 31 (Tinkle 8), Glacier 22 (Michaels 7). Steals — Hellgate 7 (Baerlocher, Henthorn, Lebsock 1), Glacier 14 (Epperly 3).