The Glacier boys started hot but couldn’t contain No. 1 Helena Capital at home on Thursday in a Western AA basketball game, losing 66-47 to the top team in the state.

Wolfpack senior Kyler Harkins opened the game with back-to-back 3-pointers and Glacier (8-9 overall, 4-5 Western AA) led 8-3 just two minutes into the game but couldn’t keep up its frenetic pace. Capital (16-1, 9-0) answered with three 3s and a 15-2 run to close the frame, just the start of a 27-8 run over 11 minutes of the first half.

Capital’s strength on the boards and ability to force turnovers keyed the run, the Bruins outrebounding Glacier 15-3, including six offensive boards, over the stretch. They also forced four steals.

“Their rebounding was the difference in the game,” Glacier coach Mark Harkins said. “They got 15 offensive rebounds, they outrebounded us by 17. You give them that many more chances it’s going to make the difference.”

Glacier made a couple of attempts at a comeback, each attempt sparked by the Wolfpack driving the ball inside and getting buckets or going to the free-throw line. Senior guard Evan Epperly scored six straight in the third to lead a 9-2 run that cut the Bruins’ lead to 39-30. Epperly twice drove into the heart of the Capital zone only to spin towards the lane to get the aggressive defense falling away, pulling up each time for a short jumper.

“I though Evan did a great job penetrating, so did Bryan (Michaels) tonight,” Harkins said.

“Both of those guys got deep into their defense. They have the big (Carson) Dummer kid, he does a good job plugging up the middle. That’s what we have to do, is to continue to attack the middle and attack the rim, then kick it out for shooters outside.

“I thought we got inside quite a bit. We got some good shots, good looks inside. We missed some open shots that were tough for us. I wasn’t disappointed with us offensively.”

Dummer closed the game strong, ending each run the Wolfpack made. The 6-foot-8 senior center scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter to ice the contest for Capital. He also led the Bruins with 12 rebounds.

Epperly lead Glacier with 15 points.

The Wolfpack hosts Helena High today at 1:45 p.m.

Capital 18 12 15 21 — 66

Glacier 10 11 3 23 — 47

CAPITAL — Kyle Nickol 3-6 2-2 10, Kyle Harrington 4-9 0-0 11, Sean Mulcahy 1-8 0-2 2, Hunter Beto 5-8 2-2 14, Carson Dummer 6-14 6-6 18, Casey Ebelt 1-1 0-0 3, Jason Corne 3-4 0-0 6, Sam Bryggman 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 24-52 10-12 66.

GLACIER — Evan Epperly 6-16 2-4 15, Bryan Michaels 3-8 1-1 7, Kyler Harkins 2-9 0-0 6, Tanner Olsen 1-3 0-0 3, Kevin Malloy 1-2 0-0 2, Sam McCamley 2-4 0-0 6, Jaxen Hashley 4-4 0-1 8. Totals: 19-48 3-6 47.

3-pointers — Capital 8-16 (Harrington 3), Glacier 6-20 (Harkins, McCamley 2). Rebounds — Capital 38 (Dummer 12), Glacier 21 (Harkins 5). Assists — Capital 23 (Harrington, Mulcahy 5), Glacier 14 (Michaels, Olsen 4). Blocks — Capital 1 (Dummer), Glacier 2 (Michaels 2). Steals — Capital 9 (Beto 4), Glacier 6 (Epperly, Michaels 2). Fouls — Capital 7, Glacier 14. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — none.