Savage Heat drop decisions to Mission and Valley Christian

Mission just had too much firepower for Hot Springs in a boys’ basketball contest Tuesday, Dec. 18 as the Bulldogs coasted to an 88-57 victory.

Neither team in the Hot Springs-Valley Christian game last Friday showed much offensive production, but the Missoula school came away with a 40-31 win at home.

Four Bulldogs finished with double-figure scoring and 10 players scored in Mission’s win over Hot Springs.

“We did play a lot better than we have been,” Savage Heat head coach Cameron Barber said. “Mission is tough, one of the best teams in the West in Class B … They really move the ball.”

Hot Springs again played without leading scorer Brandon Knudsen, who missed last week’s games while going through concussion protocol.

Mission opened the game with a 27-point first quarter and led by 18 after one. It was 43-22 at intermission. Hot Springs did finish with a 21-point fourth period.

“They came out in a press. Our press-breaker wasn’t working at all,” Barber said. “We switched, and that helped us a lot.”

The Heat’s freshman guards had a tough time handling Mission’s pressure defense. “It’s a learning process,” Barber said.

Tyler Knudsen had a huge game for Hot Springs, netting 28 points, and he grabbed nine rebounds. “He stepped up big in that game,” his coach said.

Freshman Jack McAllister was solid with nine points, nine rebounds and four steals. Luke Waterbury had eight points.

Neither Hot Springs nor Valley Christian played well in last Friday’s game.

“It was pretty sloppy on both sides,” Barber said. “There were pretty low shooting percentages.” Both teams struggled with converting shots to field goals in the paint and outside the 3-point arc.

Carr led the Heat with 11 points.

Following the holiday break, Hot Springs hosts Noxon on Thursday, Jan. 3 then plays Friday, Jan. 4 at Plains. Both are conference games.