It may be way too early to label a game so young into the new season as the “game of the year,” but the clash this past Tuesday between Hot Springs girls and Plains girls would get some votes.

The Lady Heat from Hot Springs came into the game before a sizable crowd at the Plains High gym with a 3-0 record, while Plains was 3-1.

When the dust settled and the fur quit flying, Plains had saddled Hot Springs with its first loss of the 2023-24 season, a non-conference, 40-36 overtime thriller that showcased two girls teams apparently heading for good seasons.

The two teams battled back in forth in an often early season raggedy style of play, completing regulation play deadlocked at 36-each, thanks to a two-pointer with 12 seconds remaining by Hot Springs sophomore standout Kara Christensen.

But the Trotters regrouped and turned to their choking defense to post a 4-0 shut out of the Lady Heat in the overtime period to secure the hard-fought win.

Christensen scored five points in the opening quarter Tuesday night to help counter a seven points outburst by Plains forward Ava Lawyer as the Lady Heat scratched and clawed their way to an 11-9 win after the first eight minutes of play.

Lawyer added two more points in a low-scoring second quarter, but Hot Springs junior forward Brooke Jackson tallied four points as Hot Springs extended its narrow lead to 17-13 at halftime.

Plains, which got balanced scoring from five different players in the third quarter, outscored the visitors 16-12 to erase the Hot Springs lead. Entering the fourth quarter of what would be regulation play, the score stood even at 29-29.

After a rough and tumble defensive performance by both teams, Christensen buried the 15-foot jumper to tie the game at 36-all as regulation play came to an end.

In the extra period of play, Trotters forward Katelyn Subatch had a free throw and a two-pointer, while Plains post Lexi Deming, an emerging force for the Trotters under the basket, added a solo free throw.

Meanwhile, the Trotters’ defense clamped down on Hot Springs, allowing the Lady Heat zero points in the five minute overtime as Plains grabbed the four-point win.

The victory boosted the Trotters to 4-1 on the year. They play at Noxon (girls only) this Saturday, then conclude the 2023 portion of their schedule Tuesday night (Dec 19) in Troy.

Hot Springs suffered its first loss of the year, the defeat coming on the heels of a one-point win by the Heat over Class B Arlee last week. Hot Springs played at St. Regis this past Thursday and got back on the winning track with a big victory over the Lady Tigers. The loss at Plains dropped the Heat to 3-1 on the season.

Lawyer paced the Trotters with 13 points, while Deming added 10 points in the win.

Jackson scored a game high 17 points for Hot Springs, which also got nine points from Christensen.

    Plains forward Aubrey Butcher goes in for a layup against Hot Springs senior post Lauryn Aldridge Tuesday night during the Trotters overtime win over Hot Springs in Plains. (Courtesy photo)
  

    Trotters junior post Lexi Deming (44) puts up a layup over Hot Springs's forward Brooke Jackson during their game last Tuesday in Plains. (Courtesy photo)