Spa City was not so nice a place to visit for the Alberton boys’ and girls’ basketball teams this past Friday night.

The Alberton girls ran into a surging Hot Springs team and were lit up by the Lady Heat, 59-11. 

The Hot Springs boys, meanwhile, also proved to be less-than-cordial hosts as they beat Alberton’s boys 72-32. 

In the girls’ game, Hot Springs’ active defense held the Lady Panthers to one point in the first quarter while exploding for 26 of their own.  They added to their lead in the second quarter when the outscored the visitors 14-2, giving the Heat a 40-3 lead at the half. 

Eight different Hot Springs players scored during the game, led by junior Kara Christensen’s 15 points. 

With reserves getting valuable playing time in the second half, the Heat were able to add 11 points to their halftime lead as they coasted to the overwhelming conference win. 

Mackenzie Johnson added 10 to the Hot Springs total, while Arya Ray topped Alberton with five points. 

The loss dropped the Lady Panthers to 0-8 on the year, while Hot Springs won the seventh of their last eight games to boost their season record to 8-3, including 4-1 in Western 13C conference play. 

In the boys’ game, the home team also jumped out to a solid first quarter lead, outscoring Alberton 18-2.  The home team added eight points to its lead in the second quarter to build a 40-16 halftime advantage. 

Hot Springs went on to outscore the Panthers 32-16 in the second half as reserves played most of the final two quarters.  In the end, the Savage Heat secured their fourth win of the season and snapped a four-game losing streak in the process. 

Junior standout Shea Fredette led Alberton with 13 points, while teammate Tam Dao added 10 for the Panthers. 

Brazilian foreign exchange student Pedro Vidotti had his highest score game of the season to lead all scorers with 18 points. Chase Depoe pitched in nine for the Heat. 

Next on the schedule for the Hot Springs boys’ and girls’ teams is a pair of home games Friday night against Noxon.  They remain at home Saturday (Jan 25) where they will take on Charlo.  All four games are 13C conference games.