The scoreboard said 50-40 in favor of Helena Capital, but it didn’t look or sound like that inside the Wolf Den Saturday afternoon.

Karley Allen scored 12 points in the first half and Cassidy Daniels added her eight in the second to keep the Wolfpack competitive, but Ali Miller’s late three triples lifted the Bruins to victory in Western AA girls basketball.  

“By far this was our best game, we played hard and there was never a minute that we doubted we could stay in it or win it,” Glacier coach Amanda Cram said. 

Avery Mergenthaler scored 14 of her game-high 18 points in the first half for Helena Capital (10-8 overall, 9-5 in Western AA games). Madi Emmert added 13 and Miller contributed 11. 

Allen swished two triples and four free-throws in the first half for Glacier (1-18, 0-14), giving the Wolfpack a 19-18 lead midway through the second quarter.  

“Karley was our leader all season. We looked for her to score all year, and she did so willingly, not selfishly,” said Cram. 

Seeley Schwenk sunk a buzzer-beater from deep to give the Bruins a 24-22 advantage at the break. 

Out of halftime, Emmert took control for the Bruins, scoring four straight layups to extend Capital’s lead to eight, 32-24. 

Olivia Warriner followed with a triple, and Cassidy Daniels made two mid-range jumpers after that, cutting into the Capital lead 36-32 before the final frame. Warriner finished with eight points. 

Cassidy Daniels scored four more points early in fourth for the Wolfpack, but Miller caught fire from the top of the arc to put the game away for the Bruins. 

Even though the Glacier girls' season didn't go to plan, not one player held their head low after the game.  

“We had so much fun (today), and as seniors, we just wanted to go out playing a really good game and leave on a good note for the girls coming back next year,” said Allen. “A losing record doesn’t really mean anything to us. You can’t just look at the scoreboard — you’re never going to get anywhere in life if you only look at that.” 

“The season record doesn’t reflect our effort this year. Sometimes the scoreboard is a liar,” Cram said.  

While the Wolfpack’s season ends, Capital moves into a Western AA play-in game against crosstown rival Helena next week. 

Glacier    9    13    10    8    -    40 

Helena    13    11    14    12    -     50 

GLACIER — Nika Wangerin 0 3-6 3, Lucy Holloway 2 0-2 4, Karley Allen 3 4-4 12, Olivia Warriner 3 1-2 8, Cassidy Daniels 4 0-0 8, Cadence Daniels 1 1-1 3, Remi Osler 1 0-0 2, Clara Ahner 0 0-0 0, Alauna Hagen 0 1-4 1, Ava Grady 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 9-14 40.    

HELENA CAPITAL — Brynn Lawler 0 0-0 0, Chloe LaFramboise 0 0-0 0, Ali Miller 4 0-0 11, Madi Emmert 6 1-2 13, Avery Mergenthaler 6 3-9 18, Tatum Campbell 0 0-0 0, Calin Mohar 1 0-0 2, Seeley Schwenk 2 0-0 6. Totals 19 4-11 50.   

3-point goals — Glacier 3 (Allen 2, Warriner), Helena 8 (Miller 3, Mergenthaler 3, Schwenk 2). Fouls — Glacier 12, Helena 12. Fouled out — none.