For Glacier girls, a first

There’s a first time for everything.

Reese Ramey scored 15 points and the Wolfpack overcame 11 3-pointers from Capital to complete the weekend sweep of the Helena schools for the first time program history and take a 50-40 victory Saturday at the Wolf Den. 

“It means a lot,” Ramey said. “We beat Capital last year in divisionals and some people said it was lucky, but this proves that it wasn’t and that we deserved to win then, and we deserved to win today.”  

Eva Dahlquist led the Bruins (3-3 overall, 1-1 in Western AA games) with 18 points while Ali Miller tallied 16; both hit five 3-pointers. Capital did not make a 2-point field goal, going 7-19 from the line along with the 11 triples. 

“We definitely had a plan,” Glacier coach Amanda Cram said. “Capital did not shoot the ball that well last night (against Flathead), so I was feeling pretty confident.  

“We try to hang our hats on being a defensive man team, knowing that we would have to change it up sometimes, but when you have a plan and all five girls execute it, the game becomes a lot easier.”  

Karley Allen added 12 points for Glacier, who moves to 4-2 on the season and 2-0 in Western AA games. 

“It’s hard to go back-to-back games, especially after that track meet last night,” Cram said. “I felt that we played well together as a team and they got it done together.” 

After losing Cadence Daniels to injury against Helena, Glacier got a boost as Riley Bigelow returned to the rotation.  

The Wolfpack came out of the gates strong defensively grabbing five steals — with Ramey picking up three — and jumping out to an 8-3 lead. 

After a Capital timeout, Dahlquist and Miller hit back-to-back threes putting Capital ahead 9-8. 

After another Bruins triple to start the second quarter, Glacier went on a 9-0 run over seven minutes to take a 21-15 lead just before half. Dahlquist again had an answer, knocking down her third triple of the half to make it 21-18. 

Glacier slowly grew the lead through the third quarter with Allie Krueger going on a solo 5-0 run, including an and-one layup that made it 33-24. 

“Allie Krueger’s and-one, she had two or three down the stretch, was clutch for us,” Ramey said. “Other girls had big hustle plays and that really sealed the game.” 

Allen pushed the lead to double digits early in the fourth as Glacier, at 40-30. 

The Bruins answered back with an 8-2 run, including three free throws from Dahlquist midway through the quarter — Capital’s first points from a shot inside the arc — to cut the lead to 42-38. 

Krueger again stopped the Bruins’ momentum with another basket plus the foul. 

Ramey sealed the win in the closing minutes, knocking down a big jump shot from the right wing and then converting from the foul line to give Glacier the win. 

The Wolfpack head on the road Tuesday to take on Missoula Big Sky before returning home against Butte Friday. 

Helena Capital    12    6    9    13    -    40 

Glacier    12    9    14    15    -    50 

CAPITAL — Eva Dahlquist 5 3-5 18, Ali Miller 5 1-4 16, Madi Emmert 1 0-0 3, Kate Drynan 0 2-6 2, Kadee Cummings 0 0-0 0, Jaiden Grooms 0 0-2 0, Taylor Zanto 0 1-2 1, Greta Hogeman 0 0-0 0. Totals 11 7-19 40 

GLACIER — Rylee Bigelow 1 0-0 2, Karley Allen 4 4-4 12, Allie Krueger 4 1-2 9, Madi Stevens 2 0-0 4, Reese Ramey 6 2-2 15, Cassidy Daniels 2 3-4 8, Cazz Rankosky 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 10-12 50. 

3-point goals — Capital 11 (Dahlquist 5, Miller 5, Emmert), Glacier 2 (Ramey, Daniels). Fouls — Capital 13, Glacier 15. Fouled out — none. 

    Glacier's Cassidy Daniels (24) scoops up a loose ball for a steal in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier's Karley Allen (14) heads to the bucket for a basket in the first quarter against Helena Capital at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier's Rylee Bigelow (2) shoots in the lane in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier's Cassidy Daniels (24) drives to the basket after a steal in the first quarter against Helena Capital at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier's Cazz Rankosky (25) shoots in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Glacier's Karley Allen (14) drives to the basket in the second quarter against Helena Capital at Glacier High School on Saturday, Jan. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider