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Polson boys down Whitefish, head to State

Issue Date: 2/29/2012
Last Updated: 2/29/2012 12:00:00 AM | Mike Moore

COLUMBIA FALLS – After an exciting overtime finish against Whitefish Monday, the Polson Pirate boys’ basketball team is headed to State for the third year in a row. In the challenge game against the Bulldogs, Zack Camel scored seven of the Pirates’ nine overtime points to secure a 40-35 win for Polson. The Pirates are slated to play Dillon at 2 p.m. Thursday in the first round of the State A Tournament. At the Northwestern A Divisional Tournament in Columbia Falls last weekend, Polson beat Libby in the opening round but fell to powerhouse Columbia Falls the following day in the semifinals. The Pirates bounced back in the consolation game by beating Libby a second time, and then were given another chance to secure their berth at State in Monday’s challenge game. In the consolation game against Libby, Polson jumped out to a convincing 12-2 lead at the end of the first frame and outscored the Loggers 7-6 in the second to lead 19-8 at the break. It was all Pirates throughout the second half, as Polson went on a 10-6 run in the fourth to secure a 42-23 victory, which moved them to the challenge game against Whitefish on Monday. Camel led Polson with 10 points, all of which came in the second half, while Riley Sampson tacked on another eight. Libby was led by Kraig Nelson, who paced the Loggers with eight points. In the semifinal game, Polson took on Class A powerhouse Columbia Falls. The Wildcats led early and often, cruising to a 52-36 victory that moved them to the championship game against Whitefish. The Wildcats led 11-2 at the beginning of the second frame, 23-11 at the half. Columbia Falls continued to roll in the second half, despite a fourth-quarter push from Polson, but the Pirates couldn’t contain the hot 3-point shooting from the Wildcats, who hit six 3-pointers in the win. Sampson led Polson with 10 points, while DiGiallonardo and Brady Hislop tacked on seven apiece. Luke Kazlauskas paced the Wildcats with 12 points, while Brian Marcille added 11. In the opening round against Libby, the Pirates jumped out to an 8-4 lead after the first quarter, but Libby bounced back to outscore Polson 13-8 in the second half to lead 17-16. Polson held Libby to seven points in the third frame to take back the lead by one, 25-24. Polson was down 31-32 with only four seconds remaining in the final frame when Zack Camel hit his only field goal of the game to give the Pirates the 33-32 win. Riley Sampson led Polson with eight points, while Vince DiGiallonardo tacked on eight. For Libby, Jared Winslow led his team with 14 points, with six of his points coming from beyond the arc. SUMMARY Challenge game Polson 40, Whitefish 35, OT 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. 3-point goals – Polson 3 (Camel 2, DiGiallonardo), Whitefish 1 (Vasquez). Total fouls – Polson 13, Whitefish 15. Fouled out – Kalbfleisch. Consolation Polson 42, Libby 23 Polson 12 7 13 10 – 42 Libby 2 6 9 6 – 23 POLSON – Vince DiGiallonardo 4, Will Davey 4, Zack Camel 10, Cody Fischer 5, Riley Sampson 8, Ian Laimbeer 4, Brady Hislop 4, Cedrick Smith 3. LIBBY –Elias Lapka 6, Jared Winslow 5, Nolan Broden 2, Josh Foote 2, Kraig Nelson 8. 3-point goals – Polson 2 (Camel, Fischer), Libby 1 (Broden). Semifinal Columbia Falls 52, Polson 36 Polson 2 9 7 18 – 36 C. Falls 11 12 9 20 – 52 POLSON – Vince DiGiallonardo 7, Will Davey 3, Ian Laimbeer 2, Cody Fischer 5, Brady Hislop 7, Cedrick Smith 2, Riley Sampson 10. COLUMBIA FALLS – Alex Presnell 3, Ronny Gallegos 5, Luke Kazlauskas 12, Anthony Correa 3, Parker Johnson 8, Brian Marcille 11, Austin Barth 8, Jared Trinastich 2. 3-point goals – Polson 3 (DiGiallonardo, Fischer, Hislop), C. Falls 6 (Marcille 3, Johnson 2, Gallegos). Opening Round Polson 33, Libby 32 Libby 4 13 7 8 – 32 Polson 8 8 9 8 – 33 LIBBY – Micah Germany 5, Elias Lapka 3, Jared Winslow 14, Josh Foote 4, Kraig Nelson 4, Barak Lapka 2. POLSON – Vince DiGiallonardo 8, Will Davey 2, Ian Laimbeer 5, Zack Camel 2, Cody Fischer 5, Brady Hislop 2, Riley Sampson 9. 3-point goals – Libby 4 (Winslow 2, Germany 1, E. Lapka 1), Polson 2 (DiGiallonardo, Fischer). Total fouls – Libby 15, Polson 15. Fouled out – none.