Charlo Girls Basketball: Bringing the D

ST. IGNATIUS - Both were unbeaten and it was a classic

Charlo-Mission matchup that featured physical play when the two

teams met last Thursday night. Even without one of their top

weapons, Kinley Pope out because of sickness, the Lady Vikings

trailed Mission just 20-17 after three quarters before falling

30-23.

ST. IGNATIUS - Both were unbeaten and it was a classic Charlo-Mission matchup that featured physical play when the two teams met last Thursday night. Even without one of their top weapons, Kinley Pope out because of sickness, the Lady Vikings trailed Mission just 20-17 after three quarters before falling 30-23.

"Defensively, I thought we played really well," Charlo head coach Bret Thompson said, adding that Mission had previously scored 63 against Superior.

Charlo sophomore Rachel Hoyt was the game's leading scorer with 15 and was pretty much unstoppable at the post for the Lady Vikings.

"It was her defense that was the big part of her game and the offense fell into place there," Thompson said.

Mission jumped out to an early 11-5 lead, largely thanks to a 8-1 run to finish out the first period. A low-scoring second quarter ended with the Lady Bulldogs walking into the locker room at halftime with a 14-8 lead.

However, turnovers ultimately hurt Charlo and proved to be the difference in the game.

Then Hoyt came alive.

She scored six straight points to pull the Lady Vikings within three at the end of the third quarter, and ultimately scored 10 of Charlo's last 12 points in the game.

Thompson said he would like to see more diversity in scoring, though.

"Offensively, we have to find other scorers on the team," Thompson said. "We can't depend on just a couple."

Thompson said that usually by tournament time, if they're depending on a couple scorers, it can hurt them.

He hopes that this season the team will be able to work in some more offensive threats so the Lady Vikings will be a multi-edged weapon heading into the postseason.

Hoyt continued her prolific weekend by scoring 13 points in Charlo's 30-26 victory over Noxon on Saturday.

It was the district-opener for both teams and Pope returned from illness to score 15 points.

It wasn't without dramatics either, as Noxon was leading the game 22-21 in the fourth quarter before Charlo went on a 9-4 run to finish the game. Charlo's defense again came through for them in a tight contest.

"When you're not scoring it's the only chance you have of winning," Thompson said. "The girls do well on defense working well together."

Last Monday night, the Lady Vikings knocked off Hot Springs with a 36-11 victory behind 12 points by Pope. Brown also had nine points in the district matchup.

Charlo's defense once again proved devestating as they blanked the Savage Heat in the first and third quarters.

It was a nice cap off for the Lady Vikings as they head into Christmas Break, where they'll make some changes and be ready for the bulk of their district slate.