Trotters win by close margin
<p>Jade Ladeaux drives toward the hoop during Thursday's game against the Bigfork Valkryies.</p>
Thursday night’s game between the Plains Trotters and the Bigfork Valkyries was an intense game that was a roller coaster for the girls of Plains High School. At certain points in the game, emotions ran so high that the it was hard to hear yourself think over the cheers and yells from the bleachers. The Trotters themselves yelled, frustration, joy, exhaustion and strain could be seen on their faces as they played the very strong Valkyries from Bigfork.
The first quarter was a close match, with the Valkyries taking a small lead. Then the Trotters started picking up momentum and eventually tied the Valkyries near the end of the quarter. With seconds on the clock in the first quarter, Plains made a three pointer and then the buzzer went off. The score was Plains with 20, Bigfork 17.
By the four minute mark of the second quarter, Plains had gained 11 points, two of the points from free throws, and two of the points off of a rebound from a free throw. The Valkyries could only gain 7 points.
The Trotters continued to dominate the second quarter, ever increasing the gap. The Trotters climbed to 36 points quickly and then leveled off for a minute or two as the Valkyries came within five points of tying Plains, but then a three pointer by the Trotters ended the stall. Plains eventually reached a total of 44 points by the end of the second quarter and Bigfork was at 35.
The Trotters had a nine point lead over the Valkyries, but the girls from Bigfork were not down for the count, as the Trotters would learn.
The Trotters made only 11 points in the third quarter, and missed many shots. The team leveled off at 55 points around the four minute mark and did not gain another point during the quarter. The team looked very frustrated and emotions were high as the team tried to get out of the slump, but couldn’t. Sets were made, but no shots. Soon mistakes were being made. The Valkyries made their way to 47 points and there was still a point gap, but it looked like Plains was possibly crumbling.
In the beginning of the fourth it looked like Plains had lost it all. With five minutes left on the clock, the Valkyries tied the Trotters, who had not gained a point. It was now 55 - 55. The Trotters started making shots, but the two teams continued to trade leads. By this time the crowd went wild. Tensions were high and both coaches yelled from the sidelines at the top of their lungs.
With less than a minute on the clock, Sami Kinzie made two free throws. Just as the buzzer sounded Bigfork scored a three pointer wich took the score from 64 to 59 to a finishing 64 to 62.
Hailey Phillips and Leah Thompson were the top scorers of the night, with Phillips scoring 13 points and Leah Thompson scoring 15 points.
Coach Griffin was pleased with the win, but the third and fourth quarter bothered him. “They missed some key points.” This summed up the fact that sets were made in the third, but shots were missed and soon frustration got the best of players. He also said the team fouled too much.