Capital boys push past Glacier Friday

Merek Mihelish scored 12 points and Dylan Almquist fueled a late 6-0 run that pushed Helena Capital past Glacier 56-52 in Western AA boys basketball Friday at tje Wolf Den. 

The Bruins (8-8, 7-4 in Western AA games) also got 11 points from Brenton Belzer, but it was Almquist who sparked them late. 

Glacier had tied the game at 46-all on Asher Knopik’s 3-pointer with 3:32 left in the game, then again when Carter Knopik scored to answer a bucket by Brett Buehler. The Pack then had a chance to take the lead, but Carter Knopik’s three rattled out. 

Almquist drew a foul and hit two free throws to put Capital up for good, 50-48, with 1:58 left; after Glacier turned the ball over Almquist drove for a backet and a 52-48 lead with 1:33 remainng.  

Belzer hit two free throws with 30 seconds left to make it 54-48. 

Cooper Pelc and Slate Burrington had 10 points each to lead the Pack. Asher Knopik added nine. 

Capital    13    14    13    16    -    56 

Glacier    14    10    11    17    -    52

HELENA CAPITAL — Merek Mihelish 5 1-1 12, Conor Toivonen 4 0-3 9, Dylan Almquist 3 2-4 8, Landon Levang 0 0-2 0, Brenton Belzer 3 4-4 11, Brett Buehler 1 1-4 3, Drew Almquist 2 1-2 6, Kyle Bachmeier 3 0-0 7, Wil Spotorno 0 0-0 0, Kobe Gamradt 0 0-0 0, Joey Mergenthaler 0 0-0 0, Carson Toivonen 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 9-20 56. 

GLACIER — Cooper Pelc 4 0-0 10, Slate Burrington 5 0-1 10, Asher Knopik 3 2-2 9, Dylan Benzet 2 1-1 6, Liam Ells 2 2-2 6, Ethan Kastelitz 1 0-0 2, Easton Kauffman 0 0-0 0, Carter Knopik 2 0-0 4, Luke Nikunen 2 0-0 5, Hunter Daniels 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 5-7 52. 

3-point goals — Capital 5 (Belzer, Mihelish, Bachmeier, Co. Toivonen, Drew Almquist), Glacier 5 (Pelc 2, A.Knopik, Nikunen, Benzet. Fouls — Capital 11, Glacier 18.