Lady Bulldogs notch Trotters, surge to next round
Photo by Trent Makela<br>Lady Bulldog Mattea Grant focuses on the basket as she rises for two points against Thompson Falls last Friday.
By Trent Makela / Leader Staff
St. Ignatius (5-14) lost a nip-and-tuck battle with Thompson Falls Friday night, but bounced back to top Plains (7-14) on Saturday for District 8-B's third-place seed going into divisionals. Only the tournament's play-in game between Troy and Plains eliminated a team from divisionals, but the Lady Bulldogs helped their placement with the win.
The Western B Divisional Tournament will feature boys' competitions this week in Hamilton. The girls' games will be played Feb. 28 - March 1, also in Hamilton. St. Ignatius will take on Missoula-Loyola in their opening-round match Feb. 28. The Lady Bulldogs have lost to Loyola twice this season, but coach Les Rice thinks his team will fare better next week.
"We've decided that what we need to prepare for all tournaments the same way," he said. "If we don't win our first game there won't be a next one, so we are preparing for Loyola. We don't want to take time off at this point in the season, but every team needs to make the best use of it. Loyola's big - they have a 6-foot-2-inch center, big guards and another 6-foot post. If we let them get an offensive board against us they can put it back in over the top."
St. Ignatius 61, Plains 47
The Lady Bulldogs beat Plains for the third time this season and used their best offensive night of the year to do it.
Sandra Curley hit four 3-pointers over a stretch between the first and second quarters to ignite the Lady Bulldogs, and a 22-point fourth quarter pushed them over 60 for the first time this season.
"These back to back games were our two great performances of the year," Rice said. "Everybody wants to be playing their best right now and that's what we're doing."
Plains 9 13 11 14 - 47
St. Ignatius 18 10 11 22 - 61
PLAINS - Emma Ehert 6 7-10 20, B. Catalanello 1 0-0 2, Brittany Mount 2 1-2 5, Ashton Vulles 2 1-1 5, Heather Earhart 4 0-0 8, Lacey Hermiston 2 0-0 5, Alexis Kunzer 1 0-0 2. Totals 18 9-13 47.
ST. IGNATIUS - Kim Christensen 4 3-6 11, Katie McDonald 1 0-0 2, Mattea Grant 7 4-5 19, Rachel Jensen 0 0-0 0, Kyla Mitchell 1 7-8 9, Kelsey Cable 0 1-2 1, Jonna Grant 2 0-0 4, Lisa Larsson 0 0-0 0, Sandra Curley 4 0-2 12, Bella Dally 0 1-2 1. Totals 20 16-25 61.
Thompson Falls 47,
St. Ignatius 45
The Lady Bluehawks ripped off a 16-8 fourth quarter to come back from a six-point deficit and knock St. Ignatius out of the championship game.
"We played really well and led for the majority of the game," Rice said. "They hit some really big shots and tough shots."
Two deep 3-pointers got Thompson Falls heated up to start the fourth quarter and the Lady Bulldogs were unable to cool them down.
"We really focused on keeping the threes away and they made us pay for some small mistakes," Rice said
T. Falls 10 8 13 16 — 47
St. Ignatius 8 17 12 8 — 45
THOMPSON FALLS — Nicole Hagedorn 3 0-0 6, Rheanna Padden 6 2-5 17, Katie Petteys 6 0-1 12, Karli Cavill 4 2-5 10, Hannah Peters 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 4-6 47.
ST. IGNATIUS — Kim Christensen 4 0-4 8, Kyla Mitchell 2 0-0 4, Jonna Grant 1 0-0 2, Rachel Jensen 2 0-0 4, Mattea Grant 5 4-4 14, Saundra Curley 1 0-0 2, Katie McDonald 4 0-0 9, Jordan Adams 1 0-0 2. Totals 20 4-8 45.