Pirates have good showing at Hamilton tip-off

The Polson Pirates showed good offense and defense at the Hamilton tip-off tourney last weekend, going 1-1 with a win over Anaconda but a loss to Browning.

The Pirates led Browning for most of the game, but had some turnovers in the fourth and couldn't score, giving the Indians the game.

But offense paved the way for Friday night's 48-42 win over Anaconda, as Spencer Sias and John Rausch combined for 14 of the team's 19 points in the final frame to come from behind.

"We got some crucial points in the fourth quarter from Sias and John Rausch. It was a close game all the way, but we didn't turn the ball over a lot," said head coach Karl Tait.

"Anaconda is a pretty good squad, but we contained them well, and we did a nice job with our zone," he added.

Sias led all Pirates with 14, followed by Rausch with 11, Craig Bagnell with eight, Tyler Gordon with six, Aaron Clairmont with two and Ryan Kelley and Zach Langston with one each.

On Saturday, the team played well against Browning but couldn't hold onto the lead in the fourth.

The team moved the ball well though for most of the game, with Chris Ogle driving the lane and giving a nice dish to Rausch, followed by a layup by Langston off a dish from Bagnell.

Polson worked the clock down to five seconds in the first before Sias drove for the inside and dished to Rausch running down the lane to make it 12-8 after the first.

Bagnell had a 3-pointer in the second, and good foul shooting by Sias and Tim Rausch kept the team in the game. Kelley had a nice layup underneath to give them the 23-17 lead shortly before the half.

But Browning went to a man-to-man in the third, and that helped contain the Polson offense. Despite a nice reverse layup by Gordon and another trey by Bagnell, Browning was able to get within four points at the end of three.

Turnovers killed the Pirates in the fourth after Browning mixed up its press, and Polson didn't score at all.

"They were so active, changing the defense on us. They got into their half-court, 2-3 trap, and we just weren't ready for that," Tait said. "We turned the ball over and just couldn't hit a shot."

Bagnell led the team with nine, followed by Rausch with eight, Ogle, Sias and Gordon with four, and Kelley and Tim Rausch with two.

All in all, though, Tait was pleased with what he saw. He noted the defense was solid all weekend, holding Browning to 40 points - "an accomplishment" he said.

"I liked the way we played. We found out some things about our personnel, what we can do and what we can't do. We've got to shoot a little better, but I'd give us a seven or eight out of 10 for the weekend," Tait said.

The team will open up home play against Whitefish tonight (Thursday).