Lady Pirates have comeback of the year - almost
Caption: Ethan Smith/Leader<br>Polson's Sarah Newton, right, goes up for the offensive rebound against Bigfork's Alyssa Fiero. Fiero was called for the foul after Newton came down with the ball.
Down by 17 with six minutes left in the game, a Polson fan wouldn't have been faulted for ducking out of last Saturday's game a little early.
But none of them did, and they watched as their Lady Pirates battled back, only to lose by a bucket, 41-39, after putting up an incredible effort in the fourth quarter against Bigfork.
Jessica Buckless, Nicole Davey and Sarah Newton had a fantastic second half on defense, causing numerous turnovers and getting some steals, while Cali Hislop hit some key, quick turnaround jumpers to spark her team late in the game.
Down 39-30 with four minutes left, Polson turned it up a notch, with Newton fighting in the lane to draw several fouls off offensive rebounds. Hislop, too, grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the turnaround jumper to close the game to six, and the Lady Vals could only watch in disbelief as their double-digit lead was whittled down to almost nothing.
Davey came up with a big steal, and on an ensuing inbound play, the team found Hislop again for the turnaround jumper, making it 39-35 with just over a minute left.
Hisloptook the team on her shoulders, hitting a big jumper at the top of the key, making it, and drawing the foul. Davey then capitalized on a Bigfork turnover, racing down the court for the shot to make it 41-39 with 7.4 seconds left.
Bigfork did themselves no favors, constantly turning the ball over in the last few minutes when all they had to do was run the clock down. Buckless was her usual good defensive self, this time with more help from Newton and Davey, both of whom caused several turnovers and had a couple steals each.
Hislop led the team with 12, followed by Buckless with 11, Davey with eight, Newton with three, and Merilee Mowbray with five.
Polson had a chance to tie it when Bigfork missed their last shot, and an outlet pass by Newton found Davey just beyond half court, but she was unable to get the shot off in time. It would have been a tough one from well outside three-point land, but the girls held their heads high filing off the court, after giving Bigfork the scare of the season.
It was one of the most dramatic almost-comebacks in recent memory, after the girls dug themselves into a 13-2 hole in the first quarter when they couldn't buy a bucket. After that, they came back, outscoring Bigfork 19-8 in the final frame, aided by several 3-pointers from Buckless on the night.
The Lady Pirates will host Columbia Falls on Saturday, Jan. 5, for another conference game before traveling to Ronan on Tuesday, Jan. 8.