Crosstown: Defense fuels Pack boys; Bravettes romp
LUKE SCHMIT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 days, 6 hours AGO
Glacier's Carter Knopik (42) dunks in the first half against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Reese Rosenberg (0) knocks down a three in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Ben Reichard (11) drives to the basket in the third quarter agianst Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Olivia Warriner (23) shoots guarded by Flathead's Caitlin Converse (13) in the second quarter at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cooper Pelc (1) drives to the basket in the fourth quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Lexi Herion (33) goes to the basket in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Nika Wangerin (3) drives to the basket in the second quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Eli Coopman (4) celebrates with Leum Saisbury (0) in the first half against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Grace Gall (23) knocks down a jumper in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cooper Pelc (1) blocks a shot by Flathead's Eli Coopman (4) in the third quarter at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Nika Wangerin (3) drives to the basket in the second quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Eli Coopman (4) goes to the basket in the third quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Lucy Holloway (12) drives to the basket in the second quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Asher Knopik (41) goes to the basket in the first half against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Caitlin Converse (13) knocks down a three in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cadence Daniels (32) shoots in the second quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Hudson Kastelitz (5) shoots in the fourth quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Tayler Greene (12) shoots a three in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Dylan Banzet (40) drives to the basket in the first half against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Teagan Flint (5) drives to the basket in the third quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cooper Pelc (1) drives to the basket in the fourth quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Nika Wangerin (3) blocks a shot by Flathead's Caitlin Converse (13) in the third quarter at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Flathead's Grace Gall (23) knocks down a jumper in the third quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
The Braves intensity was impressive to start, but the Wolfpack’s athleticism and defensive effort was dominant against Flathead in a 57-42 Crosstown boys’ basketball win Thursday.
In the nightcap of the doubleheader, the Bravettes never trailed in a 66-42 win over their rival at the Wolf Den.
Glacier boys 57, Flathead 42
Glacier used a 16-2 run in the third period to separate themselves.
“We challenged our guys this week to defend like we’re capable of, and I thought that was our best defensive game of the year,” Glacier coach Evan Epperly said.
Ethan Kastelitz splashed three 3-pointers on his way to scoring 13 points to lead Glacier. Those were the only triples from the Wolfpack, as they shot 10-for-14 from the free-throw line.
Both teams traded runs in a physical first half filled with intense defense and momentum swings.
Carter Knopik set the tone for Glacier (5-12 overall, 2-10 in Western AA games) with a layup and later brought the crowd to its feet with a powerful first-quarter dunk. Asher Knopik added six early points as Glacier built a 12-7 lead. The Knopik brothers combined for 21 points.
Flathead (1-17, 0-12) answered in the second behind Ben Reichner’s steal-and-score and steady play, while Lance Schneller knocked down a three and finished inside to spark an 8-3 run to tie the game at 15 apiece.
Dylan Banzet responded before half for the Wolfpack by adding two putback layups to take a 26-23 lead. He contributed nine points and multiple defensive deflections.
Glacier blew the game open in the third quarter, highlighted by a Banzet dunk. Kasteliz started it with two triples and Cooper Pelc added a block and a coast-to-coast layup to push the lead to 42-23.
“We wanted to win the first three minutes of the third quarter; our guys accepted the challenge and got off to a really good start — that was key for us,” Epperly said.
Schneller attacked the rim with intensity, Reece Brotherton made a 3-pointer and two free throws to cut the Braves’ deficit to 48-38. Schneller finished with 10 points.
But steady free throws and inside finishes from the Knopik brothers sealed the game late.
“It would’ve been easy for our kids to pack it in knowing we don’t have a playoff game, but they’re resilient. They’re going to fight — and I thought they did that tonight,” Flathead coach Dan Trageser said.
Trageser had been absent from the previous four Braves basketball games. When asked, Trageser said only: “Coach Baker did a heck of a job with our kids, he’s been passed up for some head coach opportunities the last couple years and that guy deserves to be a head coach. He did a heck of a good job. Our kids are resilient so credit to them and our Flathead coaching staff for the job they did the last couple weeks.”
Flathead 9 14 3 16 - 42
Glacier 12 14 16 15 - 57
FLATHEAD — Eli Coopman 0 1-2 1, Ben Reichner 2 0-0 4, Lance Schneller 4 1-4 10, Hunter Fann 3 0-0 7, Boston Case 2 0-0 4, Reece Brotherton 2 1-2 6, Sam McConnell 4 0-0 10, Liam Rech 0 0-0 0, Max Shostak 0 0-0 0, Kyler Kossman 0 0-0 0, Leum Saisbury 0 0-0 0, Benny Forman 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 3-8 42.
GLACIER — Cooper Pelc 1 2-3 4, Asher Knopik 5 3-4 13, Carter Knopik 3 2-4 8, Ethan Kastelitz 4 2-2 13, Dylan Banzet 3 1-1 7. Tate Kahler 1 0-0 2, Hudson Kastelitz 2 0-0 4, Talis Pitts 2 0-0 4, Blake Pittman 0 0-0 0, Chase Sliter 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 10-14 57.
3-point goals — Flathead 5 (McConnell 2, Brotherton, Schneller, Fann), Glacier 3 (E.Kastelitz 3). Fouls — Flathead 15, Glacier 12.
Flathead girls 66, Glacier 42
Lexi Herion scored 22 points and Reese Rosenberg added 15 as Flathead jumped on Glacier from the opening tip and never trailed.
The Wolfpack’s Karley Allen scored 11 of her 15 points in the second half.
Flathead (3-14, 2-10) wasted no time taking control by racing out to dominant first quarter.
Grace Gall and Rosenberg made back-to-back shots to stretch the lead to 15-5. Gall had 11 points.
Brynn Kossman went 5-for-5 from the free-throw line in the first half, leading to 13 total points.
Rosenberg made two more triples and Herion’s two putback layups extended the Bravettes lead to twenty in the third, 43-23.
The Wolfpack showed fight behind Allen and Cassidy Daniels, who found multiple scoring opportunities in transition. But Herion scored 10 in the final period to turn the lights off at the Wolf Den.
Flathead 19 13 19 15 - 66
Glacier 7 7 17 11 - 42
FLATHEAD — Reese Rosenberg 6 0-1 15, Layla Loselben 0 0-0 0, Teagen Flint 1 0-0 2, Gracie Mae Kilmer 0 0-0 0, Tayler Greene 0 0-0 0, Caitlin Converse 1 0-0 3, Cheyenne Heino 0 0-0 0, Brynn Kossman 4 5-5 13, Grace Gall 5 0-1 11, Makenna Korf 0 0-0 0, Lexi Herion 11 0-0 22. Totals 28 5-7 66.
GLACIER — Nika Wangerin 2 2-4 6, Addison Brisendine 0 0-0 0, Lucy Holloway 0 2-2 2, Karley Allen 5 3-4 15, Miley Fritz 0 0-0 0, Olivia Warriner 1 2-4 5, Cassidy Daniels 2 1-2 5, Cadence Daniels 1 0-0 2, Remi Osler 1 0-0 2, Clara Ahner 0 0-0 0, Alauna Hagen 1 0-0 2, Ava Grady 1 0-0 3. Totals 14 10-18 42.
3-point goals — Flathead 5 (Rosenberg 3, Converse, Gall), Glacier 4 (Allen 2, Warriner, Grady). Fouls — Flathead 19, Glacier 13 . Fouled out — none.
Flathead's Reese Rosenberg (0) knocks down a three in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Ben Reichard (11) drives to the basket in the third quarter agianst Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Olivia Warriner (23) shoots guarded by Flathead's Caitlin Converse (13) in the second quarter at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cooper Pelc (1) drives to the basket in the fourth quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Lexi Herion (33) goes to the basket in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Nika Wangerin (3) drives to the basket in the second quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Eli Coopman (4) celebrates with Leum Saisbury (0) in the first half against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Grace Gall (23) knocks down a jumper in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cooper Pelc (1) blocks a shot by Flathead's Eli Coopman (4) in the third quarter at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Nika Wangerin (3) drives to the basket in the second quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Eli Coopman (4) goes to the basket in the third quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Lucy Holloway (12) drives to the basket in the second quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Asher Knopik (41) goes to the basket in the first half against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Caitlin Converse (13) knocks down a three in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cadence Daniels (32) shoots in the second quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Hudson Kastelitz (5) shoots in the fourth quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Tayler Greene (12) shoots a three in the first quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Dylan Banzet (40) drives to the basket in the first half against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Teagan Flint (5) drives to the basket in the third quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Cooper Pelc (1) drives to the basket in the fourth quarter against Flathead at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Nika Wangerin (3) blocks a shot by Flathead's Caitlin Converse (13) in the third quarter at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Flathead's Grace Gall (23) knocks down a jumper in the third quarter against Glacier at Glacier High School on Thursday, Feb. 19. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
ARTICLES BY LUKE SCHMIT
Crosstown: Defense fuels Pack boys; Bravettes romp
The Braves intensity was impressive to start, but the Wolfpack’s athleticism and defensive effort was dominant against Flathead in a 57-42 Crosstown boys’ basketball win Thursday. In the nightcap of the doubleheader, the Bravettes never trailed in a 66-42 win over their rival.
Cat-Dog: Whitefish girls notch landmark victory
COLUMBIA FALLS — 1,810 days.
Gunlock, Vals outscore Ronan Maidens 68-44
BIGFORK — The Maidens fought hard on both ends Tuesday night, but Paeten Gunlock was simply spectacular for the Valkyries.