HELENA - Glacier got off on the right foot, but stumbled after that in losing a Western AA girls basketball play-in game to Helena High 52-43 on Friday night.

Glacier (11-10) jumped out to a 13-4 opening-quarter lead, and still held on for a 21-20 edge at the half.

Helena High (11-10) then used a pair of 16-point quarters in the second half to rally for the victory.

"It was unreal, we were ready to roll," Glacier coach Kris Salonen said of the first half.

"They did a good job of adjusting to our pressure. They took us out of the game offensively. They had a good game plan. We struggled. We could not execute."

Glacier held Helena High standout Monica Grimsrud to nine points, but Sydne Simanton picked up the slack with an 11-point performance.

Paige Latimer and Cami Mathison paced Glacier with 10 points each.

The victory sends Helena High on to the state tournament, which begins Thursday in Butte.

"It was a great season," Salonen said.

"I'm proud of the girls

"It was not one of our best nights of basketball," she added.

"All the credit goes to Helena. They played a good game."

Glacier 13 8 10 12 - 43

Helena High 4 16 16 16 - 52

Glacier - Nicole Heavirland 3 2-4 8, Paige Latimer 4 0-2 10, Cami Mathison 4 0-0 10, Cassidy Hashley 4 0-0 8, Baylee Quay 0 1-2 1, Patty Hughes 2 0-0 4, Ashlee Waggener 0 2-2 2. Team 17-37 5-10 43.

Helena High - Monica Grimsrud 4 1-7 9, Taylor Kanthack 3 3-6 9, Sydney Carpenter 0-0 8-8 8, Sydne Simanton 4 3-3 11, Mykaylee Verworn 1 2-2 4, Meghan Upham 0 2-2 2, Jenny Waddell 4 0-0 8, Callie Kanthack 0 1-2 1. Team 16-36 20-30 52.

3-pointers-Glacier 4 (Latimer 2, Mathison 2), Helena 0; Rebounds - Glacier 20 (Hashley 7), Helena 27 (T. Kanthack 7); Assists-Glacier 13 (Quay 4, Waggener 4), Helena 10 (Carpenter 4); Steals-Glacier 5 (Heavirland 2), Helena 11 (Grimsrud 3); Turnovers-Glacier 21, Helena 14; Fouls-Glacier 22, Helena 10. Fouled out-none.