Class C clash
<p>Savage Heat Tanner Hoff looks for an opening during the game against Plains last week. </p>
HOT SPRINGS – Bruised and battered, the Savage Heat boys battled through a weekend of Sanders County rivals. They played a non-conference game against the Plains Horsemen on Saturday night and also played Noxon, a team they will meet again soon at the district tournament.
The Savage Heat came out hot in the game against the Noxon Red Devils scoring 19 points in the first quarter. At halftime they led by 11 points and they kept the momentum going with an explosive fourth quarter. The final score was 60-38 and the victory might be a sign of good things to come during tournament play.
Sam Hoff led his team with 13 points. Jarrod White followed close behind with 12 points and Trevor Paro contributed 10 points.
Head Coach Ricky DePoe felt he could not have asked for more from his team.
“The boys played the best I have seen them play on the road,” he said. “They made their shots and 17 out of 21 free throws which is extraordinary. That makes the difference in keeping the lead.”
Coach DePoe is pleased with how his team is working together as a whole but he singled out White and Tanner Hoff for playing particularly well.
“They played two solid games – Jarod on offense and Tanner on defense. He played really well defensively against Oliver Grupenhoff. That was a game changer because we could control their offense,” Coach DePoe said.
Powerhouse Grupenhoff was the lead scorer for Noxon with 14 points. Corey Tessier brought in nine, while Tanner Tammaro had five points. Grant Fitchett, Riley Fisher and Trace Tammaro split the remainder of the team’s points.
The Savage Heat traveled to Plains Saturday night for a non-conference county rival showdown. It was a rough game with several hits and tumbles. The Horsemen were unrelenting in their pursuit for redemption but in the end the Savage Heat came out on top. The final score was 66-52.
Noxon went on to compete against Arlee, where they fell 50-65. In the first quarter Arlee outscored Noxon by five points. The trend continued into the second quarter. Once the Red Devils created a deficit they were unable to claw their way back to a win.
Grupenhoff once again led the team with 22 points, while Grant Fitchett brought in nine. The Tammaro brothers, Tessier and Osborne all contributed to the team’s final total.
The Savage Heat went on to compete against St. Regis on Tuesday but scores were unavailable at the time of press. The team will meet Charlo on Friday, February 14 and will then head into the district tournament.
Coach DePoe said the main thing on the agenda to prepare for the tournament is to try and rest up his injured players.
“We need to get healthy. Jarod in banged up, Lane is still nursing a bad ankle and Jimmy Holland is battling knee problems,” he said.
No matter what happens, it is safe to say that the Savage Heat boys will play with heart and give it all they have got.
The same goes for Noxon as they go on to compete against Superior on Friday and then Thompson Falls on Saturday. The games will also wrap up the regular season for the boys as they begin preparing for tournament play.