Trotters win trophy
Everyone knows that the hoister of the Lombardi Trophy, the Stanley Cup or a gold medal has achieved athletic greatness. The Sanders County Tournament Trophy might be on a smaller scale, but you wouldn’t know it by watching the girls’ basketball tournament last weekend in Plans.
This year, the hosting Trotters took the first place trophy after a perfect season (9-0 regular season, 2-0 in the tournament), after breezing by Noxon, 45-8, and outlasting Thompson Falls, 35-22 in the title game.
Thompson Falls came in second place, edging Hot Springs, 32-26, before falling to Plains and Hot Springs earned third, falling to Thompson Falls, then routing Trout Creek, 28-9, and defeating Noxon, 15-8.
In the first game, fourth seeded Noxon (2-7 reg. season) edged the no. 5 Trout Creek (0-6) on Friday. Noxon came out on top in the closest game of the tournament, 18-15. The Lady Devils were led by Bianca Davis who scored six points. Shey Lannum and Katelyn Martens added four each for the Noxon. Asiah Jensen scored nine for Trout Creek while teammate Zoey Osbourne tallied four.
Next up, no. 2 Thompson Falls (5-5) squared off against third seeded Hot Springs (3-3). Although the Lady Hawks came out on top, the Savage Heat pushed them until the end, falling, 32-26. Logan Beckman led Thompson falls with 14 points. Madi Fitchett and Shelby Bowden chipped in nine and six respectively in the win. Shayna Nagy of Hot Springs led all scorers with 17 points. Lizzy Cannon also chipped in four for the Savage Heat.
In the final contest on Friday, the Trotters showed Noxon why they were no. 1, with an impressive 45-8 victory. Kayla Holmes of Plains led the game with 14 points. Carley Vonheeder and Hailey Phillips also scored in double digits with 10 points apiece for the Trotters. Stacey Walter scored four to lead Noxon while Davis contributed two points in the loss.
On Saturday, Hot Springs jump-started the action by rebounding from a loss to Thompson Falls. With their backs against the wall, the Savage Heat eliminated Trout Creek, 28-9, in a loser out game. Hot Springs was once again led by Nagy with 14 points and Josey Carr contributed six more in the win. The Eagles were led by Jenson scoring six and Kamber Torti with three points.
In the consolation game with only an hour of rest, Hot Springs took down Noxon, 15-8, for the third place trophy. Nagy was in double digits for the third and final time, scoring 10, while Carr chipped in three and Lizzy Cannon added two in the win. The Lady Devils were led by Tierrah Camara, Davis, and Walter with two points each.
As if scripted, the cross-valley rivals met in a clash of no. 1 versus no. 2 in the championship game. The Trotters would not be denied coming out on top 35-22 against the Lady Hawks. Sami Jo Kinzie led Plains with 13 points, Holmes added seven and Phillips six in the victory. Fitchett led Thompson Falls with seven points, while Hannah McGuyer scored six.