TFalls topples Trotters
Junior guard Diamond LaDeaux stops on a dime during the Trotters home loss against St. Ignatius on Friday night.
Junior Ashley Thompson controls the ball for the Trotters during a 32-34 home loss against St. Ignatius on Thursday.
Trotter head coach Richard Griffin addresses his bench during Friday's loss against the visiting Mission Bulldogs as Ashley Holmes, Kelsey Beagley, Aspen Rude, Jessica Read, Kayla Revier and Jessica Hanson listen attentively.
It’s been said that records don’t mean matter in rivalry games and that was certainly the case as the Ladyhawks, who entered Tuesday’s game with a lackluster 2-6 overall record, upended the 6-2 Trotters 45-39 in a District 7-B contest.
Senior Makayla Becker hit three crucial free throws in the final minute and a half to hold off a surging Trotter team. Thompson Falls would shoot 6 of 9 as a team from the stripe in the final quarter.
“That night was a prime example of the girls playing with a lot determination and desire and heart and toughness,” Bluehawk head coach Jason Reimer said. “They played a good, solid game.”
Conversely, Trotter coach Richard Griffin felt his girls failed to live up to their potential surrendering their second highest point total of the season.
“We just weren’t ready to play,” Griffin said. “I think the girls realized it after they were done, they just didn’t’ show up that night.”
Griffin was, however, pleased with the effort his team showed down the stretch, battling back from a double-digit deficit to be in a position to win the game in the fourth quarter.
“We know the Trotters aren’t going to give up and that’s a good thing,” he said.
Reimer was especially pleased with the win considering that usual starter Allison Vaught sat out for the first of two games last week.
“I think we’ve had some players do some things that maybe they wouldn’t have done on the court and now I think we can be an even stronger team,” Reimer said. “They’re really coming along.”
After seeing limited minutes this season, reserve guard Leann Lantz hit two threes down the stretch and Shasta Wilson came up with several clutch rebounds for the Bluehawks as they improved to 2-2 conf., 3-6 ovr.
Sophomore Kelsey Fitchett led all scorers with 18 points and twelve rebounds as Becker scored 12 while dishing out four assists and snatching up four steals.
Both Diamond LaDeaux, 13, and Kayla Revier, 10, scored in double digits for the Trotters who slumped to 2-2, 6-3.
On Thursday, the Trotters lost their second straight game for the first time this season, falling at home, 32-34 to Mission.
“I was as happy as a coach could be after losing,” Griffin said. “They had some patience in their offense and their defense was really good.”
It was a tale of two halves as Plains shot out to a 19-12 lead after two quarters, before Mission rallied, outscoring the Trotters 14-8 in the third and 8-5 in the fourth quarter to seal the win and improve to 3-1, 7-2.
Griffin was pleased with his team’s composure on offense as his team looked to feed the ball into the post more consistently than they have all season and refused to buckle under the pressure of the Bulldog’s press.
Nikki Kunzer, Ashley Thompson and LaDeaux split time running the offense as starting point guard Beagley sat out with a sore knee. Despite the loss and the injury, Griffin feels the ability of his players to switch roles will pay dividends as the season progresses.
LaDeaux scored 16 to lead Plains in the loss. Kunzer scored six, Laurel Danhof and Revier four each and Thompson two for the Trotters (2-3, 6-4).
Kyla Mitchell led the Bulldogs, scoring 19 in the win.
Plains will host Charlo on Tuesday (results not available at press time), travel to Hot Springs on Friday and Darby on Saturday.
After a competitive first half and a two-point lead heading into the third quarter, the Ladyhawks fell to the Bulldogs, who claimed their second straight conference victory.
A 19-17 halftime edge quickly evaporated as Mission’s Mitchell scored nine of her season-high 23 points in the third period. Over that same span, the second place Bulldogs (4-1, 8-2) would go on an 18-5 run on their way to securing a win.
“I was a little disappointed at our effort in the second half, Reimer said. “These girls understand now that to compete with a Mission, you have to compete for 32 minutes. If we do that, I think we can play with any team in our division or district.”
Fitchett led Thompson Falls for the second straight game, tallying 12 points as her team dropped to 2-3, 3-7. Becker scored six points, Lantz five, Hope Reid four and Mara Hanks and Kaylie Cox two each.
“All in all, coming out of this week, I think that the team is starting to realize that we can beat the teams in our district,” said Reimer. “We know we can play with those teams so we’re heading in the right direction. We’re definitely getting better each week, and that’s what we like to see.”
The Ladyhawks have two more conference games this week. They host Troy on Thursday before traveling to Eureka on Saturday.