Trotters snap streak with league win
Junior forward Laurel Danhof came off the bench to give her team a big lift with this fourth quarter bucket in the Trotter's closely contested 37-29 victory over Eureka on Saturday.
Junior guard Kelsey Beagley changes direction on her dribble while a Lion defender does her best to keep up.
Nikki Kunzer drives hard to the basket as she gets tangled up with a Eureka defender on Saturday.
The Plains Trotters ended a two game skid with a come from behind victory over Eureka, 37-29, on Saturday. The win came after a 23-58 pounding from the Bigfork the previous day. The Trotters now sit at 2-1 conf., 6-2 ovr.
On Friday, the visiting District 7-B Vals came out red hot in the first quarter and jumped to a 25-6 lead that they would never relinquish.
Bigfork would enjoy a decisive advantage from the free throw line where they connected on 9-of-10 attempts, while Plains struggled, hitting just 4-of-14.
“Bigfork is a really good team and you can tell that those girls have played a lot of basketball together,” Plains head coach Richard Griffin said. “I firmly believe that they’re in the top four in the state”
Caitlin Charlebois led Bigfork with 19 points. Melissa Vanderveer added 14 points for the 4-0, 6-1 Vals.
Kelsey Beagley, Diamond LaDeaux and Kayla Revier each scored six points for the Trotters.
Despite losing, Griffin was pleased with the way his team controlled the ball, committing only 15 turnovers, and with their effort. He noted that his Trotters best quarter was the fourth, where they managed to go toe to toe with Bigfork as each team scored 13 points.
“It’s a process for us to go from where the Trotters have been to get to the level of a Bigork,” Griffin said. “It’s going to take a couple stair steps. Their heart was there.”
Before hosting Eureka on Saturday, the Trotters gathered as a team at the request on senior starter Malena Sweet to put the past behind them and refocus on the upcoming game.
“That says a lot about those girls,” Griffin said. “That helped brought the team together a little bit”
It turned out to be just what the Trotters needed as they came out smothering Eureka, forcing 34 turnovers while stealing the ball and the victory despite shooting a tepid 23 percent.
Griffin mixed things up on defense more than he has all season switching from man, to a 1-3-1 zone, which served as a half-court press. The win marked the fourth time this season, that Plains has held a team under 30 points in a contest. They have gone on to win each game.
Nikki Kunzer’s 10 points would lead the Trotters. Freshman Felicia Earhart added five points in her first varsity game, and Revier had a team-high nine rebouinds for Plains.
“She came in and gave us positive minutes and that’s exactly what we’re looking for from her,” Griffin said of Earhart. “She will be able to come in and give some of my guard and wings a break,” That’s going to be key for us down the stretch.”
Cassidy Morgan led the 1-3, 1-6 Lions with 14 points.
Overall, Griffin was happy with his teams play, noting the improved performances of Laurel Danhof who scored a key fourth quarter bucket in the win over Eureka, and Ashley Holmes who’s defense stood out in the loss against Bigfork.
Griffin was also pleased with Revier’s intensity on both ends of the floor.
The Trotters have a pair of district matchups this week. First, they travel to Thompson Falls on Tuesday (results were not available at press time) before hosting Mission on Thursday.