Horsemen strive for success after weekend

PLAINS – The Horsemen met Bigfork and Troy on the courts away from home this past week. The Plains boys struggled to compete with the undefeated Vikings but matched up well against the Trojans.

Head Coach Russ Baker was pleased overall with how the boys did against the undefeated Vikings.

“Bigfork is a good team but we played along with them pretty well until they had those two 6’7’’ kids in there,” he said.

Bigfork’s unrelenting defense was also a difficult obstacle to overcome.

“[Bigfork] came out with a lot of intensity,” he said. “That aggressive man to man defense pushed [the Horsemen] out of what they wanted to do.”

In the second half the Horsemen made adjustments and fought back.

“They settled down and did a lot better in the second half,” Coach Baker said.

The Plains boys scored 30 points in the second half, just three points less than Bigfork. The final score was 41-69.

Aaron Baker was two for two from the foul line which Coach Baker was pleased to see. Aaron was also the leading scorer with ten points and Kyle Revier followed with seven points.

The following game against Troy was a close one for the Horsemen.

“It was nip and tuck the whole way,” Coach Baker said. “Both teams were evenly matched.”

The Horsemen had a good first half leading by three points going into the third quarter. Then Troy really started making their shots and the score was 36-45 going into the fourth quarter. The Horsemen outscored Troy by one point in the fourth quarter but it was not enough win.

The final score was 52-60 but Coach Baker felt it could have easily gone the other way.

“We lost by eight points and we had three baskets taken away from us because of traveling calls. There was also an offensive charge call that was questionable,” he said. “All of the breaks went Troy’s way but that is why they call it home court advantage.”

The Horsemen will meet Deer Lodge at home Friday along with the Trotters in a double-header. Then both teams will travel to Eureka on Saturday.

The last time the Horsemen faced off against Deer Lodge they lost by a single point when a basket was made one second too late. Coach Baker is hopeful the Horsemen will come out on the winning side this time.