Noxon and Hot Springs split games

Noxon’s boys continued their winning ways in advance of their crucial Western 13C showdown with St. Regis the next night as they chalked up an 80-66 victory over Hot Springs on the Savage Heat’s home court this past Friday.

The surging Hot Springs girls avenged that loss with a Friday home win over Noxon’s girls, 62-30. 

In the boys' game, the two teams traded buckets in the first quarter, which ended with the score knotted at 14-14. 

Noxon, which came into the game averaging just under 80 points per game this year, outscored the home team 24-18 in the second quarter to take a 38-32 win at the half. 

Then, in the third quarter, the Noxon offense erupted for 27 points while holding Hot Springs to 13 to stretch their lead to 65-45 heading into the final eight minutes of regulation. 

Hot Springs fought back in the final frame, outscoring Noxon 21-15, but it was not enough to overcome the 20-point deficit. 

Noxon’s 6-5 force in the paint, senior Shane Murray, led all scorers with 26 points to lead the quintet of Red Devils players who scored in double figures.  In addition to Murray’s 26 points, Noxon got 17 from guard Justice Kayser, 15 from Cameron Blair, 12 from Shane Hatchel and 10 points from forward Ricky Williams. 

Sophomore forward Ben Aldridge paced Hot Springs with 18 points, while teammates Wesley Adams and Daniel Slonaker scored 12 each.  Hot Springs also got nine points from senior post Nick McAllister. 

In the girls' game, Hot Springs, which is 8-2 over the past 10 games, jumped out to an 18-11 first quarter lead, then outscored Noxon 20-4 in the second quarter to grab a 38-15 halftime advantage. 

Junior forward Lilia Sapanel, a French foreign exchange student, was instrumental throughout the game, scoring a game-high 21 points for the Lady Heat, who increased their season record to 9-3 and lifted their 13C mark to 5-1 with the win.  Senior forward Brooke Jackson contributed 14 points to the Hot Springs cause. 

Hot Springs outscored Noxon 24-15 in the second half to cement the win.  Abby Yoder led Noxon with 14 points, while standout guard/forward Seanna Richter tossed in 11 for the Lady Devils, who dropped to 2-7 on the year with the loss. 

Next up for Hot Springs is a pair of games (boys and girls) versus Flathead Valley Home School this Tuesday (Jan 28) in Hot Springs.  They then travel to Victor for Saturday games against the Pirates and Lady Pirates.