For the first eight minutes of their game Saturday night in Hot Springs, it looked like experience versus youth was maybe, in this case, overrated.

A quick first quarter featured back and forth athleticism by both teams and ended with the visiting Warriors from Arlee holding a narrow 12-10 lead.

Arlee won the game 76-36.

It was also an intriguing match-up between a Class C team (Hot Springs) and Arlee (Class B) would be a classic boys battle to the final buzzer.

Then experience, which was present throughout the senior-laden Arlee line-up was going to be not just a factor, but a major factor.

The Warriors, who came into the game with a 2-0 record after going unbeaten in the Hamilton Tip-off last week, feature nine seniors on the varsity roster with four starters among them. They have 140 students in grades 9-12, while Hot Springs, with just one senior on the roster, has 55 students in grades 9-12.

Not always a big factor, but usually plays a role, especially in matters of depth.

So, when experience kicked in, the quick Warriors exploded to a 40-19 halftime lead by running and gunning and outscoring Hot Springs 28-9 in the second quarter.

A total of nine players scored for Arlee during the second quarter surge.

The Warriors came out after the half and kept up the pressure, including a choking three-quarter court press that created havoc for the Hot Springs offense. By the end of the third quarter, Arlee had built an insurmountable 62-28 lead. They outscored the home team 14-8 over the final eight minutes of play to secure the final victory.

Arlee had three players score in double figures, led by the 12 points put up by senior post Kendall O’Neill. They also got 11 points from Darius Tewawina, a junior guard, and 10 from senior wing Ben Harlow-Old Person.

The Warriors hit 10 three-pointers during the game.

Hot Springs was led in scoring by freshman forward Daniel Slonaker, who had eight points, and his brother, junior Weston Slonaker, who scored seven.

The loss dropped the Savage Heat to 1-2 on the year.

Next up for Hot Springs is a game this Tuesday (Dec 12) versus the Plains Horsemen in Plains. They then travel to St. Regis this Thursday (Dec 14) for a game versus the Tigers. Hot Springs wraps up its busy week with a game in Troy this coming Saturday afternoon.

    Hot Springs guard Elijah Campbell checks Arlee guard Ethan Fiddler during the Warriors win over the Savage Heat Saturday night in Hot Springs. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)