Rangers end Pirates’ season at State
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BUTTE – The Polson Pirate basketball team came together at the perfect time to earn their third straight bid to the Class A State Tournament last week. The team advanced after edging Whitefish in overtime 40-35 in a Northwestern A Divisional challenge game at Columbia Falls Feb. 27.
The Pirates shot out to an 8-5 lead over the Bulldogs in the opening frame, and remained on top at the break, up 20-15. Polson kept the Bulldogs’ offense chained up in the third frame, holding Whitefish to seven points, but a 9-2 run in the fourth tied the game 31-31.
Polson junior Zack Camel paced Polson to a 40-35 win after scoring seven of his 18 points in the overtime period. The Pirates withstood Bulldog Gage Vasquez’s 23-point performance. Vasquez who scored four points in the fourth and all four points in overtime for Whitefish.
The win moved Polson to 10-12 overall, and earned the Pirates their third consecutive bid for the State Tournament, where they played Dillon in the opening round later in the week.
The Beavers proved to be a tough first-round opponent, as Dillon went on to win the Class A State Tournament after beating Columbia Falls on Saturday.
The game was tied 9-9 after the opening quarter, but Dillon pulled away in the second frame, going on a 15-9 run to lead by six at the break.
Dillon used a strong defensive presence in the second half, holding Polson to 2 for 17 shooting, scoring nine total points to win by 20, 47-27.
Camel and Cody Fischer each finished with seven points apiece, while Riley Sampson contributed six points and eight rebounds.
Dillon was led by Wes Knox’s 10-point performance, while Chevy Reed tacked on seven points and 12 rebounds.
The loss moved Polson to the loser’s bracket, where they took on Livingston Park High School Friday.
The Rangers set the tone early in the first half, going on a 24-12 run in the second frame to lead 37-20.
Livingston made it hard for the Pirates to fight their way back into the game, as the Rangers outscored Polson 23-14 in the third, eventually rolling to a 70-48 victory.
The loss ended the Pirates’ season with a 10-14 overall record.
Vince DiGiallonardo and Fischer each scored 11 points for Polson, which shot 28 percent from the floor. Sampson added six points and 12 rebounds.
For Livingston, Dallas Lussier led his team with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Braeden Greathouse tacked on 14 points.
The Pirates have a lot to hang their hats on. After battling in a tough Northwestern A conference the team found a way to rise above to make it into the Class A Tournament.
SUMMARY
Polson 40, Whitefish 35
Polson 8 12 9 2 9 - 40
Whitefish 5 10 7 9 4 – 35
POLSON – Vince DiGiallonardo 5, Will Davey 3, Zack Camel 18, Cody Fischer 6, Riley Sampson 4, Ian Laimbeer 3.
WHITEFISH – Christopher Forrest 4, Jake Slaybaugh 2, Gage Vasquez 23, Jace Kalbfleisch 2, Logan Harwood 4.
Livingston 70, Polson 48
Polson 8 12 14 14 – 48
Livingston 13 24 23 10 – 70
POLSON – Ian Laimbeer 3, Cody Fischer 11, Riley Sampson 6, Vince DiGiallonardo 11, Zack Camel 7, Will Davey 6, Cedrick Smith 4.
LIVINGSTON – Braeden Greathouse 14, Landon Willyerd 9, Marcus Payne 8, Decker Wilson 10, Dallas Lussier 16, Scott Wilson 1, Kevin Kokot 7, Jesse Darr 5.
3-point goals – Polson 3-16 (Camel 1-4, Fisher 1-4, Laimbeer 1-2, Hislop 0-1, Congdon 0-1), Livingston 4-9 (Wilson 2-4, Lussier 1-2, Greathouse 1-1, Willyerd 0-1, Payne 0-1).
Dillon 47, Polson 27
Dillon 9 15 13 10 – 47
Polson 9 9 6 3 – 27
DILLON – Chevy Reed 7, Wes Knox 10, Austin Williams 2, J.T. Linder 8, Ben Folsom 9, Troy Scott 7, Boyd Jenne 3, Austin Schurg 1.
POLSON –Cody Fisher 7, Riley Sampson 6, Vince DiGiallonardo 3, Zack Camel 7, Will Davey 2, Cedrick Smith 2.
3-point goals – Dillon 3-11 (Folsom 1-2, Scott 1-2, Jenne 1-3, Linder 0-3, Reed 0-1), Polson 2-10 (DiGiallonardo 1-3, Camel 1-4, Laimbeer 0-1, Hislop 0-1).
Rebounds – Dillon 33 (Reed 12), Polson 28 (Sampson 8).
