Hot Springs' historic season comes to halt at state finals

The Savage Heat's run to the state championship came to an end with two heartbreaking losses at the Class C State Championship at Belgrade last week.

Hot Springs opened the tournament with a 62-57 overtime loss to Harlowton Thursday and ended the season with a 43-40 loss to Hinsdale Friday. “They were both winnable games and both were heartbreaking losses,” said Savage Heat coach Mike Benson.

Benson said that in both losses, Hot Springs turned the ball over too much and didn't hit their free throws. “You can't turn the ball over and not hit your free throws and expect to win at that level,” he said. Hot Springs had 17 turnovers against Harlowton and 24 against Hinsdale.

Benson said what was most disappointing in not getting a win in their first trip to the state tournament in 20 years was that he thought the Savage Heat could've beat anybody there. “I thought we were good enough to win the tournament,” he said. “If we take care of business, we could've beat anybody there.” Benson said there was so much parity at the tournament that a couple of things not going a team's way could end the season.

“I can't fault the kids effort; I have no grief on that part,” Benson said. He said his team just ran into some good teams. “At that level, there are no weak teams,” he said.

“It was a great season,” Benson said. He said that he doesn't want the two losses to overshadow what a great season Hot Springs had, a season that they finished 21-5, won 18 games in a row and returned to the state tournament for the first time since 1988. With the resiliency of his team, Benson said he doesn't have to worry about the team dwelling on the losses.

Benson said the team had put the losses behind them and were looking forward to next year by the time they ate dinner after the game. He said a lot coaches wouldn't like their team to get over losses so quick, but that's what he likes about the team. “I rather have them get over it than sit around and stew,” he said.

With only two seniors on the team, the core of the team is returning and Benson sees no reason why the Savage Heat can't make a run at the state championship next year. “You never know if you will get back or not,” he said. “It takes a little luck to get there and a little luck to win when you're there.”

Against the Lady Engineers Thursday, MacKenzie Wood had seven of her team-high 17 points in the first quarter and the second quarter started with the scored tied at 13. The Savage Heat's defense took over in the second quarter, only allowing five points and Hot Springs went into halftime with a 26-18 lead.

Hot Springs dominated the first half of the third quarter and had built a 31-18 lead with about four minutes left in the quarter, but the Engineers came storming back and took a 35-31 lead in the final quarter.

Harlowton had a 44-41 lead when Wood fouled out with 2:44 left, but Hot Springs held the Engineers to only one point the rest of regulation and Matea DePoe knotted the score with a jumper with under 40 seconds to play. DePoe was fouled on the shot, but missed the free throw and the game went into overtime, where the Engineers hit three of their 14 3-pointers in the game and went on to win 62-57.

Half of the Engineers' 3-pointers were from Bailey Snelling. Snelling went seven for 11 from behind the arc and finished with 33 points. Benson said this was the difference in the game. “We gave her open looks all night,” he said. “Our defense everywhere else was good enough to win the game,” he added.

Jordon Fisher finished with 12 points against Harlowton and both DePoe and Carrie Fisher finished with nine.

Hot Springs had a 36-25 lead heading into the fourth quarter against Hinsdale Friday, but were outscored 18-to-four in the final quarter and dropped the game 43-40. Benson said turnovers and missed free throws were the team's meltdown in the fourth quarter. “It was a carbon copy of the night before,” he said. The Savage Heat had 24 turnovers in the game and went six for 12 at the free throw line. Hot Springs went two for six from the foul line in the fourth quarter, including the two front ends of one-and-ones.

Wood led the team in scoring again with 14 points. She was followed by Jordon Fisher, who finished with 13 points. DePoe put in six points and also pulled down eight of the team's 23 rebounds.

Highwood won the tournament with a 53-41 victory over Big Sandy. Hinsdale went on to finish third with a 36-29 victory over Belt.