Big Sky boys handle Glacier
Glacier's Will Salonen (23) looks to shoot against Missoula Big Sky's Jacob Gardanier (22) at Glacier High School on Tuesday, Jan. 25. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Connor Sullivan (2) lays in two points ahead of Missoula Big Sky's Shane Shepherd (12) at Glacier High School on Tuesday, Jan. 25. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's John Pyron (1) draws a foul on Missoula Big Sky's Caden Bateman (10) on his way to the basket at Glacier High School on Tuesday, Jan. 25. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
The way the Missoula Big Sky boys got it going against Glacier Tuesday, in a convincing 72-56 at the Wolf Den, probably surprises some.
That the Eagles’ three Western AA losses came by two, six and four points might have served as a warning.
Caden Bateman and Shane Shepherd scored 16 points each for Big Sky, which turned a 20-11 deficit a minute into the second quarter into a 36-28 halftime lead. Eamon Higgins added 15 points off the bench and the Eagles improved to 4-5, 2-3 in league games.
Glacier (3-7, 2-4 in league) was the squad coming off a decisive crosstown win, while Big Sky fell to Missoula Hellgate 46-42 in its last game. But momentum is a slippery thing, especially when your opponent shoots 55 percent from the field, including 8-for-14 from the arc.
“Athletically they’re as good as anybody in the conference,” Glacier coach Mark Harkins said. “And we let them get comfortable shooting the ball. I mean, we didn’t guard their shooters very well, and they started hitting shots. Credit to them for hitting shots, but we didn’t play very good defense tonight.”
Glacier had an impressive start, with John Pyron’s baseline jumper putting the hosts up 17-8 after one quarter. Xavier Stout hit a three to put the Pack up 20-11, and when Connor Sullivan hit another trey it was 24-20, Glacier, with 4:05 left in the half.
Shepherd’s three at the 2:40 mark put Big Sky up for good, 25-24, and the Eagles’ 2-3 zone became disruptive: Josiah Cuaresma made two steals that led to baskets, the last a put-back by Shepherd that made it 33-26; in between Koble Jensen’s theft led to a dunk by Bateman.
Higgins hit a three for a 36-28 halftime lead.
Big Sky found fewer transition baskets after intermission but still shot well against Glacier’s man-to-man defense. An 8-0 run sparked by threes from Cuaresma and Higgins made it 60-42 with 38 seconds left in the third quarter.
“We tried a little zone; I didn’t think it was very good,” Harkins said. “I think man in the end is our best defense, and we’re going to keep working on it and getting better at it.”
Sullivan scored 16 points to lead the Pack; he hit four 3-pointers. Noah Dowler worked the inside 15 points and seven rebounds. The 6-foot-7 junior was 7-for-8 from the floor.
“I still love this team, I think they have the pieces,” Harkins said. “Noah I think had his best game offensively tonight. Connor shot the ball well. We’ve just to keep going and focus on the positives.”
Glacier’s next action is Thursday at Missoula Hellgate.
Big Sky 8 28 24 12 - 72
Glacier 17 11 16 12 - 56
MISSOULA BIG SKY — Caden Bateman 8-13 0-0 16, Shane Shepherd 7-11 1-2 16, Josiah Cuaresma 4-6 0-0 11, Louis Sanders 2-6 2-2 7, Trevyn Reed 0-3 2-2 2, Eamon Higgins 5-8 2-2 15, Jacob Gardanier 2-4 1-1 5, Koble Jensen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-51 8-10 72.
GLACIER — Nolan Hyde 2-6 1-2 5, Will Salonen 0-8 0-2 0, Noah Dowler 7-8 1-2 125, Ty Olsen 2-4 0-0 5, Connor Sullivan 6-12 0-0 16, John Pyron 2-4 2-5 6, Kyson Wagner 2-5 0-0 4, Jake Turner 1-1 0-0 2, Xavier Stout 1-2 0-0 3, Tyler McDonald 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-51 4-11 56.
3-point goals — Big Sky 8-14 (Cuaresma 3-3, Higgins 3-4, Shepherd 1-2, Sanders 1-3), Glacier 6-12 (Sullivan 4-7, Olsen 1-1, Stout 1-1). Rebounds — Big Sky 28 (Bateman 8), Glacier 29 (Dowler 7). Fouls — Big Sky 14, Glacier 8. Steals — Big Sky 8 (Cuaresma 4), Glacier 5 (Pyron 2). Blocks — Big Sky 6 (Bateman 3, Cuaresma, Sandes, Reed), Glacier 1 (Pyron). Turnovers — Big Sky 10, Glacier 18.