Bench, balance key Wolfpack boys

Glacier's Luke Nikunen (3) drives to the basket for a reverse layup in the first half against Missoula Sentinel at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Cohen Kastelitz (1) drives to the basket in the first half against Missoula Sentinel at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Liam Ells (2) shoots in the second half against Missoula Sentinel at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Easton Kauffman (5) knocks down a three in the second half against Missoula Sentinel at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Brantly Salmonsen (10) drives to the basket in the first quarter against Missoula Sentinel at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Joshua Eagleton (13) shoots in the first half against Missoula Sentinel at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Slate Burrington (21) goes to the basket in the first half against Missoula Sentinel at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Glacier's Noah Cummings (40) knocks down a shot in the second half against Missoula Sentinel at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

by JON ALLEN
Staff Writer | January 28, 2024 12:00 AM

Easton Kauffman scored 12 points, including three 3-pointers, and Glacier used its balance and depth to defeat Missoula Sentinel 53-44 in Western AA boys basketball Saturday.

Noah Cummings added nine points for the Wolfpack (5-5, 4-2 in Western AA) and had two fourth-quarter blocks to help seal the game.

“I thought our bench was awesome tonight,” said Glacier coach Mark Harkins. “I thought the guys who came in off the bench gave us great minutes, it's a great luxury.”

Grady Walker scored a team-high 13 points for the Spartans(6-5, 2-5), who trailed for the majority of the game.

Both teams traded baskets out of the gate with Sentinel leading 4-3 early. Glacier captured the lead and went on a 13-4 run, capped off by a Luke Nikunen floater high off the glass to put the Wolfpack up 16-8.

Sentinel would hang close, as a Walker three cut the lead to 26-21 halfway through the second. The Wolfpack offense kept their foot on the pedal and finished the first half on a 10-3 run to lead 36-24.

In the third quarter both teams struggled from the field, but a Cummings jumper gave Glacier its largest lead of the night at 46-30.

Sentinel rallied at the start of the fourth, scoring the first seven points of the quarter and making it 47-40. Cummings and the Glacier defense held strong and limited the Spartans to just four points the rest of the way.

“I think composure is a big thing,” said Cummings on stopping the Spartans’ fourth quarter momentum. “We have depth on the bench and we are ready to go, so just staying calm and knowing who we are, we can win.”

Glacier is back at home on Thursday as they take on crosstown rival Flathead.

Sentinel 10 14 9 11 - 44

Glacier 18 18 11 6 - 53

MISSOULA SENTINEL — Jackson Krueger 3 0-0 7, Blake Taft 0 0-0 0, Skyler Chalmers 0 0-0 0, Lincoln Rogers 2 1-3 6, Evan Richardson 1 0-0 3, Kade Robinson 2 0-0 4, Grady Walker 5 1-1 13, Kade McDonough 1 0-0 2, Holter Schweyen 3 3-4 9. Team totals 17 5-8 44.

GLACIER — Cohen Kastelitz 3 1-2 7, Liam Ells 3 0-0 7, Luke Nikunen 2 0-0 4, Owen Henry 1 0-0 3, Easton Kauffman 4 1-2 12, Brantly Salmonsen 1 0-0 2, Josh Eagleton 2 1-2 5, Gabe Christianson 0 0-0 0, Slate Burrington 1 2-2 4, Jackson Endreson 0 0-0 0, Noah Cummings 4 1-2 9. Team totals 21 6-10 53.

3-point goals — Sentinel 5 (Walker 2, Rogers, Richardson, Krueger), Glacier 5 (Kauffman 3, Henry, Ells). Fouls — Sentinel 8, Glacier 7. Fouled out — none.