Sorenson gets Wolfpack going, scores 17

One starter was out with a concussion, two more had foul problems and so the Glacier Wolfpack needed another answer for the Butte Bulldogs on Thursday.

It was Bethany Sorenson.

The junior guard came off the bench to score 17 points, shepherding the Pack through a rough first half and then hitting a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter as Glacier (6-4) sewed up the 44-38 Western AA girls’ basketball win.

The three sparked a 9-0 run to put the Pack up 40-32 with 3:12 left in the game.

After McCaul McCarthy hit a three for Butte (2-8), Sorenson curled down the lane for a layup and a 42-35 gap with 2:20 remaining. It looked like a set play, but Sorenson – who sat out last year with a torn knee ligament – said it came in the flow of Glacier’s offense.

“I just think I did a backdoor cut and Ellie (Keller) saw me,” the junior said.

“Bethany is a great basketball player and we knew her day would arrive,” Glacier coach Amanda Cram said. “We’ve been trying to build her confidence coming off her ACL injury last year, and – tonight was the night. She arrived; all her hard work paid off. We just let her do her thing.”

Butte showed better than a two-win team, with Tylar Clary tying up rebounds and ball handlers and getting five steals, and McCarthy (11 points, seven rebounds) leading the way on the boards.

Glacier’s Sidney Gulick was lost four minutes in after knocking heads with a Bulldog over a loose ball. Soon guards Keller (12 points) and Kenzie Williams had two fouls each.

Enter Sorenson, who converted a steal into a three-point play in the first quarter, and converted a rebound into another to put her team up 17-11 in the second.

Wolfpack players not named Sorenson hit just three of 15 shots the first half, but her 12 points helped Glacier lead 21-20.

“We’ve struggled the last three games with shooting from outside,” Cram said. “When that’s happening you have to find a different way. I don’t know, we’re a little hot and cold shooting wise right now.”

Butte took a 32-31 lead into the fourth period. Keller put Glacier in front for good with a pair of free throws, and Sorenson’s second bomb of the game made it 36-32. Glacier was on its way.

“It didn’t happen until the fourth quarter, but I think it shows we never give up,” Cram said. “We’ll continue to do what we do.”

Glacier travels to face unbeaten Missoula Hellgate Saturday. The Knights narrowly beat the Pack 50-49 on Jan. 16.

Butte 9 11 12 6 – 38

Glacier 12 9 10 13 – 44

BUTTE (2-8) – Tylar Clary 0-5 1-2 1, McCaul McCarthy 4-6 2-2 11, Ashley Olson 3-3 3-5 9, Kodie Hoagland 1-6 2-2 4, Mackenzie Tutty 3-10 2-5 8, Emmarie Richards 1-4 0-0 2, Laura Rosenleaf 0-0 0-0 0, Madalynn Rhodes 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 13-35 10-16 38.

GLACIER (6-4) – Sidney Gulick 0-0 0-0 0, Ellie Keller 4-9 3-4 12, Emma Anderson 2-6 5-9 9, Kenzie Williams 0-4 1-4 1, Kaylee Fritz 1-5 1-1 3, Jenessa Henson 0-3 0-2 0, Bethany Sorenson 5-8 5-6 17, Kiersten Smith 1-2 0-0 2, Cameron Gilman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-37 15-26 44.

3-point goals – Butte 2-13 (McCarthy 1-1, Rhodes 1-1, Tutty 0-1, Richards 0-2, Hoagland 0-3, Clary 0-5), Glacier 3-10 (Sorenson 2-4, Keller 1-2, Fritz 0-2, Henson 0-2). Rebounds – Butte 32 (McCarthy 7, Rosenleaf 7), Glacier 25 (Andreson 6, Sorenson 6). Fouls – Butte 18, Glacier 16. Fouled out – McCarthy. Steals – Butte 10 (Clary 5), Glacier 13 (Williams 4). Blocks – Butte 2 (Olson, Rosenleaf). Turnovers – Butte 19, Glacier 14.