Lions upset Horsemen with a Eureka victory

Horsemen to face T-Falls at Plains for last regular game of season

The Lions had their first real win of the season, but it was at the expense of the Horsemen at Plains Friday, when Eureka claimed a 65-56 victory.

The Lions previously had a dozen losses and only one win prior to Friday, but their triumph over Mission had been a one-point defeat until it was learned the Bulldogs had an ineligible player, which automatically gave the game to Eureka. The Lions had been plagued with player injuries, but they were at full strength Friday to the dismay of the Horsemen, which had one of its top starters, Mitch Thompson, on the bench with a minor ankle injury. Plains head coach John Revier hopes Thompson will be ready for the final two home games of the season this week, when they face the Bulldogs and eminent rival Thompson Falls Bluehawks.

Plains defeated the Lions at Eureka 45-41 Jan. 5. The Horsemen's defeat against the Lions last week put them at a 4-2 conference record and an overall record of 11-5.

The Plains boys found themselves behind from the start of the game. The Lions had a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and by halftime, still led by only seven points. Eureka took off in the third, at one point, gaining an 11-point spread. It wasn't until Horseman Brian Green hit a two-point layup with four seconds in the third quarter to tie the game 38-38. Eureka again pulled ahead with a four-point lead right away in the fourth, but the Horsemen battled back with Paul Green getting two-for-two at the foul line, followed by a pass from Green to Trent Thompson to tie the game a second time. The Lions, however, slipped ahead again, but Thompson hit his mark, and picked up a free throw point to put Plains ahead by one.

000200000670000007B366A,The lead was short-lived and Eureka pulled ahead with one of its six 3-pointers for the night. After that, the Horsemen couldn't come any closer than three points. It wasn't until the final 15 seconds of the game that Plains scored any three-point baskets, first by Tanner Colombo, then, with only three seconds on the game clock, Paul Green swished one through.

Revier said his team's 3-pointer success was well below average; they finished with two of 21 attempts. The coach said his team normally hits between 35 to 38 percent outside the arc.

Thompson led the Horsemen with 18 points and 10 of the team's 25 rebounds. Paul Green had 16 points for the night. The Horsemen had a lot of trouble hitting their mark from the field, said Revier, but their free throws were 14 out of 19. Junior Conor Ballantyne had five of six foul shots go through the rim.

Colombo led his team with five of the Horsemen's dozen steals, followed by Brian Green with four. Of the team's 12 assists, Colombo and Paul Green had three apiece.

The Horsemen's junior varsity squad claimed a 51-39 victory with Jessie Warren leading with 16 points. Dillon Fryxell collected 14 points. The Plains C-squad faced Thompson Falls' C-squad and won 45-37. Jordon Standing Rock led the Horsemen with 22 points.

The Horsemen have two home games left in the regular season. They take on the Mission Bulldogs Thursday at 5:45 p.m. with the junior varsity squad up first. On Friday at 4:15 p.m., beginning with the C-squad, the Horsemen face Thompson Falls.

The district tournament is scheduled for Polson Feb. 15-16. Divisionals, also at Polson, are slated for Feb. 21-23.