Pack boys falter in fourth
JOSH AMICK | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 3 weeks AGO
Glacier's Cooper Pelc shoots in the second quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Easton Kauffman (5) drives to the basket in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Asher Knopik (11) shoots in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Slate Burrington (21) goes to the basket in the second quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Liam Ells (2) shoots in the paint in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Ethan Kastelitz (4) shoots a three in the second quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Easton Kauffman (5) shoots a three in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cooper Pelc shoots in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Hudson Luedtke outscored the Glacier Wolfpack 15-4 in the fourth quarter to complete the Butte Bulldogs’ comeback for a 57-54 road win at the Wolf Den Friday night.
Luedtke led all scorers with 24 points, including a game-high four 3-pointers, three of them coming in the fourth. The Wolfpack (1-7 overall, 0-4 conference) were held without a field goal in the final quarter, scoring only four free throws.
“They were playing 2-3 zone, and they really packed it in,” Coach Evan Epperly said. “We had some good looks that didn’t go down, but I loved our kids fight and we will be ready to battle for the next one.”
Butte only had four players score the ball, but all of them reached double figures. Torre Tempel had 13 points, nine of them coming from beyond the arc. Braylon Hanson and Dylan Bache each added 10 points apiece.
It was a much more balanced offense for the Wolfpack, as everyone who played registered a bucket on their way to matching a season-high offensive output.
Cooper Pelc led the team with 12 points, all of them coming from three. Easton Kauffman scored eight, including two from distance as the Wolfpack matched Butte with eight 3-pointers.
“We challenged our kids to have fun, play free offensively and that’s when we are at our best,” Epperly said. “Our kids shot the ball with confidence and as a result we had our best offensive game of the season.”
The Wolfpack led 50-41 heading into the final quarter and looked poised to pick up their second win before Luedtke’s heroics. He was fouled twice while shooting a three, completing one of them for a four-point play.
Luke Nikunen had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds but his corner three just missed. Slate Burrington forced a jump ball and with the Wolfpack having control of possession, they had a final chance to tie it but never got a shot off.
“Our kids are great competitors, bring intensity every day and fight like heck all the way to the end,” Epperly said. “We have improved some things offensively but the energy and effort is always there.”
The offense did take a step forward, after being held to 26 points in their matchup with Big Sky on Tuesday. Asher Knopik, Ben Winters and Nikunen each scored seven points.
Glacier will look to end their 5-game losing streak when they host crosstown rival Flathead next Friday at 6 p.m.
Butte 13 21 7 16 - 57
Glacier 19 21 10 4 - 54
BUTTE — Kylar Kjersten 0 0-0 0, Spencer Callaghan 0 0-0 0, Dylan Bache 4 1-4 10, Torre Tempel 5 0-0 13, Hudson Luedtke 6 8-10 24, Raeder Grey 0 0-0 0, Brady Hanson 0 0-0 0, Kende Noctor 0 0-0 0, Braylon Larson 5 0-0 10. Totals 15 9-14 57.
GLACIER — Cooper Pelc 4 0-0 12, Liam Ells 1 0-0 3, Ethan Kastelitz 1 0-0 2, Easton Kauffman 3 0-0 8, Asher Knopik 2 3-3 7, Luke Nikunen 3 0-0 7, Slate Burrington 1 4-8 6, Dylan Banzet 1 0-0 2, Ben Winters 3 1-2 7. Totals 19 8-13 54.
3-point field goals — Butte 8 (Luedtke 4, Tempel 3, Bache) Glacier 8 (Pelc 4, Kauffman 2, Ells, Nikunen) Fouls — Butte 13, Glacier 18. Fouled out — Larson, Banzet.
Glacier's Easton Kauffman (5) drives to the basket in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Asher Knopik (11) shoots in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Slate Burrington (21) goes to the basket in the second quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Liam Ells (2) shoots in the paint in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Ethan Kastelitz (4) shoots a three in the second quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Easton Kauffman (5) shoots a three in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cooper Pelc shoots in the first quarter against Butte at Glacier High School on Friday, Jan. 17. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
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