Olsen, Kastelitz key Glacier win

The Wolf Den continues to be a tough place for the Helena Capital boys to pull out wins, with Ty Olsen and the Glacier Wolfpack subduing the Bruins again Friday night, this time in overtime, 51-44.

Olsen scored 23 points for the Pack, which improved to 5-2 overall and 2-1 in Western AA basketball games. He had two baskets in the extra time; the second capped a 6-0 spurt that put Glacier ahead 50-44 with 1:20 left.

The hosts then proceeded to miss five straight free throws but Capital — unlike at the end of regulation, when Hayden Opitz spun in for a left-handed hook to tie the game at 42-all — could not take advantage.

“That’s a good team,” said Olsen, a senior who scored five points in a burst to close the third quarter, erasing most of a 30-23 deficit. “They’re physical and very good on the boards.”

Glacier ruled the glass 39-33, getting 11 boards from Cohen Kastelitz and another 10 from Noah Dowler.

“He was awesome,” Olsen said of Kastelitz, a junior. “We talked a lot before the game about rebounding, and how they’re very good on the boards. And he did great, scoring and getting boards.”

The game began physical and stayed that way: What seemed like easy looks fell off the rim for both sides. Glacier led 17-12 midway through the second quarter, then trailed by seven late in the third.

The fourth quarter saw seven lead changes, including Dowler’s lone bucket — off a feed from Tyler McDonald — that put Glacier up 41-40 with :33 left in regulation. Capital missed on its next trip down and fouled Kastelitz.

When Kastelitz missed the second free throw, Capital had enough time (12 seconds) to work the ball to Opitz, who wheeled around the 6-foot-7 Dowler and others for 14 points.

“Flush and forget,” Olsen said. “If they go down (and score), we can’t dwell on that. We just have to go down and execute and that’s what we did.”

Adam Nikunen’s pull-up jumper gave Glacier the lead for good, 46-44, with 2:05 left in OT. Kastelitz hit two free throws 20 seconds later. Then Olsen scored and then the Pack held on.

Glacier turns around and plays another home game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday against Helena High. They’ll see if iron sharpens iron.

“We watched (the Bruins) on film and they’re a very physical team,” Glacier coach Mark Harkins said. “You try to prepare the kids for it, but until you get into it. … We can talk all we want. But you learn by doing.”

Joey Michelotti came off the bench to score 17 points for the defending state champion Bruins (4-2, 1-2 in league), who have lost three straight times at Glacier.

Kastelitz had 13 points for the Pack.

“Cohen is just a battler. I kind of call him Rodman — that’s kind of how he plays,” Harkins said. “ He just rebounds and plays defense and scores around the hoop. I thought he was outstanding today.”

Capital 10 11 9 12 2 - 44

Glacier 12 7 9 14 9 - 51

HELENA CAPITAL — Hayden Opitz 7-15 0-0 14, Nick Michelotti 0-4 1-2 1, Hudson Grovon 1-8 0-0 2, Tyler Kovick 2-7 0-0 5m Luke Dowdy 0-2 0-0 0, Joey Michelotti 5-11 4-4 17, Henry Gross 2-7 0-0 5, Jack Dryanan 0-2 0-0 0, Austin Buehler 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 17-55 5-8 44.

GLACIER — Cohen Kastelitz 4-8 5-8 13, Noah Dowler 1-4 0-2 2, Ty McDonald 2-5 1-4 7, Adam Nikuenen 2-5 0-0 5, Ty Olsen 8-16 6-7 23, Kaid Buls 0-2 0-0 0, Travys Agan 0-1 0-0 0, Xavier Stout 0-2 0-0 2, Jeff Lillard 1-2 0-0 2, Carson Gulick 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-46 12-21 51.

3-point goals — Capital 5-15 (J.Michelotti 3-5, Gross 1-3, Kovick 1-3, N.Michelotti 0-2, Grovom 0-2), Glacier 3-11 (Nikunen 1-4, Olsen 1-2, McDonald 1-1, Kastelitz 0-1, Bulls 0-1, Stout 0-1, Lillard 0-1). Rebounds — Capital 33 (Opitz 6), Glacier 39 (Kastelitz 11, Dowler 10). Fouls — Capital 19, Glacier 10. Steals — Capital 5 (Gross 3), Glacier 5 (Nikunen 2, Olsen 2). Blocks — Capital 1 (Gross), Glacier 3 (Dowler, McDonald, Nikunen). Turnovers — Capital 8, Glacier 9.