BASKETBALL: Braves fight for overtime win against Polson
<p>Flathead's CJ Dugan sails past Polson's Tanner Wilson for a layup during the first quarter at Flathead Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>The Braves' Matt Marshall drives past the Pirates' Julian Jones for a basket against Polson on Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
Flathead was getting nothing on offense.
Down six in the fourth quarter to Class A Polson, the Braves needed to do something to spark a comeback and avoid a third straight loss to start the season.
“We were struggling to find some offense and I finally figured out ‘maybe try this’,” Flathead coach Ross Gustafson said.
What ‘this’ turned out to be was the turning point in the game, a steady diet of Bridger Johnson in the post that vaulted the Braves to 62-58 overtime win against the Pirates Tuesday night, earning Gustafson his first win as a head coach.
“It’s probably on me that it took so long, but the guys really responded and I think Bridger just said ‘alright, we’ve got to go get this game’ and he was able to step up and score,” Gustafson said.
“He has that ability, so it was awesome to see him step up and do that.”
Johnson scored 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, and he got help from up and down the roster down the stretch.
“Just a great win for the Braves,” Gustafson said. “Lots of contributions and that’s what makes it a fun win, seeing so many guys help out.”
Down 51-50 with less than a minute to go, junior Wyatt Potter nailed a three from the left wing to put Flathead in front, the fifth lead change of a riveting fourth quarter. Matthew Rensvold answered on the other end under the basket to re-tie the game and Flathead was unable to get a shot off on their final possession of regulation.
The Braves (1-2) never trailed in overtime, but even after Matt Marshall banged home a 3 to put Flathead up five, Polson’s Payton Lefthand came back and made a 3 of his own to keep the Pirates afloat.
On the next Flathead trip, with the Braves winding down the final minute on the clock, Polson fouled Cooper Barrett and the junior guard calmly sank both ends of a 1-and-1 to ice the game.
The Braves’ bench, including Potter, Barrett and sophomore Sam Elliott, scored 21 points in the game, including 12 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Potter finished with 10 points and Elliott had seven, all in the final 12 minutes.
Marshall helped the Braves to a fast start for the second game in a row, scoring nine in the first quarter and finishing with a season-high 22. Flathead led 17-7 after the first quarter but found themselves trailing, 25-24, at halftime.
“They came out and stuck it to us early and we got ourselves in a hole like we did in the first two games of the season,” Polson coach Randy Kelley said.
“If we clean that up, clean up some of our turnovers, and hit some little buckets at the end it’s a different game.”
The Pirates (1-2) climbed back into it in the second quarter primarily from the free-throw line. In a foul-filled contest, Polson made 11 free throws in the second quarter as both sides battled through foul trouble.
“We need to make the adjustment on learning not to foul,” Gustafson said.
“They’re not hustle fouls, they’re not fouls when we’re stuck in a bad situation, these are things where we’ve got to learn that line between what’s a foul and what’s not when going for a steal.
“You foul when you’re behind and you’re reacting to everything,” he continued. “When you’re anticipating and one step ahead of the offensive players, that’s when you play really great defense.”
Lefthand led Polson with 18 points, including three 3-pointers. Tanner Wilson added 12 and Rensvold finished with 11.
The Braves are back on the court Friday night when they host Whitefish at 8 p.m. Polson returns home to host Hamilton Saturday at 4 p.m.
Polson 7 18 15 13 5 — 58
Flathead 17 7 13 16 9 — 62
POLSON — Wyatt Ducharme 1 2-2 4, Payton Lefthand 5 5-6 18, Tanner Wilson 3 5-8 12, Mathew Rensvold 5 1-3 11, Julian Jones 1 1-2 3, J’Von Niemeyer 1 1-3 3, Shade Main 1 1-4 3, Hudson Smith 1 2-2 4, Kabe Webster 0 0-0 0. Totals — 18 18-30 58.
FLATHEAD — Matt Marshall 8 2-2 22, Cade White 0 0-0 0, Kye AuClaire 1 2-3 4, Bridger Johnson 4 5-6 13, C.J. Dugan 1 0-1 2, Seth Adolph 0 0-0 0, Cooper Barrett 0 2-2 2, Wyatt Potter 4 0-0 10, Wyatt Smith 0 0-0 0, Sam Elliott 3 0-0 7, Micah Bucy 0 2-2 2. Totals — 21 13-16 62.
3-point field goals — Polson 4 (Lefthand 3, Wilson), Flathead 7 (Marshall 4, Potter 2, Elloitt). Total fouls — Polson 20, Flathead 26. Fouled out — Polson (Jones), Flathead (White). Technical fouls — None. Records — Polson (1-2), Flathead (1-2).