Seeley Swan topples Hot Springs

Seeley Swan’s Blackhawks boys’ and girls' basketball teams were not cordial visitors to Hot Springs this past Saturday evening in a pair of Western 13C conference games.

The Blackhawks girls downed Hot Springs 46-36 in a game that pitted two early season conference unbeaten teams against each other.  And for the Hot Springs boys their search for an on-court rhythm continued as Seeley’s boys won their encounter 64-45. 

The girls' game was close throughout with the exception of the third quarter when Seeley was able to pull ahead, build a lead and hold onto it through the final quarter. 

The two teams were separated by two points after one quarter of play, with Seeley holding a slim 14-12 lead.  Hot Springs fought back in the also tight second quarter, outscoring the Blackhawks 10-9, producing a slim 23-22 Seeley lead at the half. 

In the opening quarter, French foreign exchange student Lilia Sapanel continued her impressive season with five points for the Lady Heat, who also got a pair of threes from senior Brooke Jackson. 

Jackson added a pair of two-pointers to her total in the second quarter as the two teams fought to a near draw. 

The third quarter would prove to be the pivotal eight minutes of play as the Seeley defense held the Hot Springs to a single two-pointer by Sapanel as they outscored the home team 9-2 to expand their slim lead to 32-24 heading into the final quarter. 

Seeley added two points to their lead by outscoring the Lady Heat 14-12 in the final eight minutes of play, despite six points from Sapanel and five from junior guard Kara Christensen who had a long three and a two-pointer in the fourth quarter. 

But the third quarter lead held up for the Lady Blackhawks, who improved to 3-0 in 13C play and 7-2 overall.  The loss dropped the Lady Heat to 6-3 on the year and 3-1 in the conference.   

Sapanel finished with 16 points, while Jackson contributed 10 to the Hot Springs effort.  Seely was led by Lillian Bond who had 14 points, and teammate Rylan Richardson who added 13. 

In the boys' game, Seeley jumped out to a 21-6 lead after one quarter of play behind six points from Seth Dunster.  Hot Springs fought back in the second quarter, outscoring the visitors 12-7 thanks to six points from Wesley Adams.  That set up a 28-18 Seeley halftime lead. 

In the third quarter, Seeley got three pointers from three different players as they outpointed Hot Springs 20-12 to increase their lead to 48-30 heading into the final quarter.   

Hot Springs sophomore guard Chase Depoe erupted for eight points, including a pair of treys, but it was not enough to overcome the Seeley lead. 

Depoe was one of three Savage Heat players who scored in double figures as the rapidly developing sharpshoot had 12 points.  Sophomore forward led Hot Springs with 13 points, while Adams finished with 10. 

Blake Irwin was the game’s leading scorer, totaling 14 for Seeley, which also got 13 from Dunster. 

The loss dropped Hot Springs to 2-6 on the year. 

Next up for the Hot Springs teams is a road game tonight (Jan 14) against Stillwater Christian in Kalispell, followed by a game Saturday evening against Alberton in Hot Springs.