Comeback fuels Lady Savage Heat win at Pablo

For most of the game, it looked like the Two Eagle River girls basketball team was more energetic and better overall than the Hot Springs girls.

Then, on a Tuesday night with one quarter to play, the Lady Savage Heat turned up the thermostat and roared back from a 31-20 deficit entering the fourth quarter in Pablo and erased the game-long deficit on their way to a thrilling come-from-behind win over the host team, 47-40.

The Two Eagle boys, meanwhile, closed out the night with a 58-44 win over the Hot Springs boys.

Two Eagle River opened the game by taking advantage of careless passing and cold shooting by the visiting Lady Savage Heat on their way to a 13-2 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Both teams continued having turnover problems in the second quarter, with Two Eagle River holding onto its early lead and taking a 23-12 lead at the halftime intermission.

The score remained the same in the third quarter, with each team scoring eight points.

Then came the fourth quarter.

Hot Springs freshman guard Kara Christensen got things rolling for the Heat with a quick two points in the opening minutes of the final period. A few ticks of the clock later she added another two to bring Hot Springs within five, 32-27 with just under six minutes to play.

Christensen then snared a rebound and turned it into two points as Hot Springs moved to within two points of the lead, 32-20. At that point, senior Lily DeTienne and junior Lauryn Aldridge took control after Two Eagle River had moved the lead back to six points at 38-32. With less than two minutes to play, with Aldridge and DeTienne controlling the backboards and tempo, Chrisensen stole a Lady Eagles pass and layed it in for two more points and a 40-40 tie with 58 seconds to go.

Aldridge and DeTienne each hit a free throw as Hot Springs moved ahead 43-40 just a few seconds later. DeTienne added two more free throws and Christensen added one after that to secure the Hot Springs win.

DeTienne was the game’s leading scorer with 22 points, while Christensen finished with 10. Aldridge added nine points for the victors.

Sarah Gardpipe paced Two Eagle with 18 points.

The boys game was almost the opposite of the girls.

Hot Springs opened a 14-10 first quarter lead, only to go cold as Two Eagle’s boys outscored them 23-15 in the second quarter to give the host team a 33-29 halftime advantage.

The Eagles came out after the halftime break and, after Garth Parker had pulled Hot Springs within two, 33-31 in the opening minute of the third quarter, outscored the Heat 13-0 over the next several minutes. By the end of the third quarter, Two Eagle River had a hard-fought 48-35 lead.

The teams traded baskets throughout the final period, with Two Eagle holding off Hot Springs to the final whistle.

Hot Springs next games are this Thursday at home against the Noxon Red Devils.