Sant’s shot sinks Wolfpack

MISSOULA — Easton Sant’s buzzer-beating fadeaway jumper lifted Missoula Hellgate over Glacier 49-47 in Western AA boys basketball Tuesday. 

The contested shot capped a late 10-4 surge by the Knights, who trailed 43-39 after Cooper Pelc scored in the lane for Glacier with 7:15 left in the game. The Wolfpack led much of the second half but went cold late and saw Hellgate’s Parker Link hit two big threes. 

The first put the Knights up 44-43; the second put the hosts up 47-44 with 1:51 left. 

Pelc hit a corner 3-pointer to knot the game at 47-all with 1:35 remaining, and had a chance at the lead — but a deflected pass led to a scramble and hurried miss with 27 seconds left. 

Sant then dribbled down the clock before hitting his game-winner. He had nine points; Chance McNulty led the Knights (14-4 overall, 10-3 in Western AA games) with 12. 

Liam Ells had 18 points for the Pack (4-11, 2-11 in league), 10 coming in the second quarter as Glacier took a 26-23 halftime lead. 

Glacier    11    15    15    6    -    47 

Hellgate    14    9    13    13    -    49 

GLACIER — Cooper Pelc 2 0-0 5, Liam Ells 7 2-2 18, Slate Burrington 2 3-3 7, Dylan Banzet 0 0-0 0, Luke Nikunen 0 0-0 0, Carter Knopik 1 1-2 3, Ethan Kastelitz 1 0-0 3, Easton Kauffman 2 0-0 5, Asher Knopik 2 1-2 6, Hunter Daniels 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 7 9 47.  

MISSOULA HELLGATE — Easton Sant 4 0-0 9, Jacob Finch 2 0-0 4, Zane Gillhouse 2 6-7 10, Chance McNulty 4 2-2 12, Spencer Wayland 1 4-4 6, Parker Link 3 0-0 8. Totals 16 12-13 49. 

3-point goals — Glacier 6 (Ells 2, Pelc, Kastelitz, Kauffman, A.Knopik), Hellgate 5 (Link 2, McNulty 2, Sant). Fouls — Glacier 17, Hellgate 8.