Polson BB: FINDING THE RIGHT SHOT

POLSON - The Polson Pirates have seen their share of adversity

this year, but again and again, they have battled through it. This

weekend's Northwestern A divisional tournament will be the biggest

test this year and Pirates' head coach Brad Pluff knows that his

team needs to work for high-percentage shots in its first-round

game against Libby this Thursday.

POLSON - The Polson Pirates have seen their share of adversity this year, but again and again, they have battled through it. This weekend's Northwestern A divisional tournament will be the biggest test this year and Pirates' head coach Brad Pluff knows that his team needs to work for high-percentage shots in its first-round game against Libby this Thursday.

"Our percentage goes up so much inside the three-point line," Pluff said. "We've been hitting about 10 to 15 percent from behind the line and about 50 percent when we get inside that range. It's pretty simple math, we can't settle for the three-point shots."

While Pluff has implemented a slower offense where the Pirates work on each possession to get the highest-quality shot possible, the recent season-ending injury to star post Tyler Krell and a tough Northwestern A conference schedule has handed Polson five straight losses. But there have been flashes in that stretch that show the Pirates will still be a force to be reckoned with at divisionals.

On Feb. 4, Polson lost to the top NWA team, Columbia Falls, by just one point at home after they fell by 40 points earlier in the season. Then they gave a very good Corvallis team a run, falling by just four points on the road on Feb. 9. However, the Pirates are going to have to right the ship after losses to Libby, Frenchtown and Whitefish.

After they defeated Libby 69-46 on Jan. 14, the Pirates fell on the road to them 70-58 on Feb. 11 thanks to a 32-point fourth quarter by the Loggers. It should be a different environment at the divisional tournament, since the Pirates will be traveling to relatively-close Columbia Falls as opposed to far-off Libby.

"We're not having to take the long trip up to Libby and that will help," Pluff said.

Polson will have to shake off last week's two losses, all games that they were capable of winning. In Frenchtown last Tuesday, the Pirates got off to a slow start against the Broncs and couldn't make a breakthrough in the second half in a 66-59 loss.

Frenchtown grabbed the five-point lead after the first quarter, 18-13, and Polson scored only seven points in the second quarter en route to a 28-20 halftime deficit. The Broncs pushed their advantage to 10 points in the third quarter before the Pirates exploded for 28 in the fourth but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback.

Frenchtown had to fend off Polson in that final stanza, with their star Daniel Lebsock needing to score 10 of his 23 points in the period for the win. That was largely because Polson's Zack Camel and Cody Fischer went highlight reel on the Broncs. Both scored eight points apiece in the fourth and the Pirates were able to pull within seven.

Fischer, along with Riley Sampson, will be instrumental in helping shore up the loss of Krell at the divisional tournament. Fischer's scoring offense has increased since Krell's injury and Sampson continues to play sound, solid and effective basketball in the post position for the Pirates.

"Riley is very capable of playing inside and Cody has been playing well for us too," Pluff said.

In the Frenchtown game, Fischer finished the game with a team-high 17 points, while Camel added 15.

Polson fans got the chance to see Krell in a Pirates jersey one more time last Saturday against conference opponent Whitefish, as he took a symbolic tip-off on senior night despite his knee injury. Pluff had talked with the referees and Whitefish head coach Mark Casazza before the game and they were more than accepting to allow the three-time all-conference player on the floor, much to the delight and applause of the Pirate crowd.

"It was a classy thing to do and it was good for Tyler," Pluff said. "It was good for the Polson fans to see Tyler out there for one more time."

Both teams would play evenly for two and a half quarters before Whitefish slowly started to pull away and finished off the Pirates in the fourth quarter for the 64-46 Northwestern A win.

Polson and Whitefish traded blows in the first quarter. Camel provided the bulk of the Pirates' offense in the first quarter, scoring 12 of Polson's 14 points, but Whitefish hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to go ahead 17-14. The Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run in the second quarter for the 26-16 lead with 3:02 to go in the half. Ian Laimbeer was able to finish off the first half with a pair of buckets and the Pirates trailed 30-22 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Polson made its move and pulled to within 31-33 with 5:22 to go in the period thanks to a Camel three-pointer. Sampson and Camel hit buckets and Polson trailed 38-35 midway through the quarter but that's as close as they would get.

"I think we kind of got impatient on offense," Pluff said. "I think our team started pressing a little bit."

Turnovers and missed shots snowballed and Whitefish was able to take a 47-38 advantage in the fourth. Halfway into the period, the Bulldogs went on a 13-0 run that sealed the victory for them. The Pirates finished the regular season with a 7-11 record overall and a 2-6 conference mark. Camel scored 21 points while Fischer added 10.

Polson's divisional tournament game on Thursday against Libby might hinge on which team can get the most from its offense. The Loggers, who are 4-13, averaged just over 40 points per game during the season, while the Pirates scored nearly 56 points a game. Polson has struggled in that department as of late, but they have a serious weapon in Zack Camel who has scored in double-digits for eight straight games.

If Polson can work for those high-percentage shots and pick up a victory, then it's a rematch against Northwestern A regular season champion Columbia Falls on Friday in front of the Wildcats' crowd.

"That place will be rocking," Pluff said.

POLSON @ F-TOWN

Polson - 13 - 7 - 11 - 28 - 59

F-town - 18 - 10 - 13 - 25 - 66

Pirates scoring - Vince DiGiallonardo 13, Will Davey 2, Ian Laimbeer 5, Zack Camel 15, Cody Fischer 17, Brady Hislop 2, Riley Sampson 5

W-FISH @ POLSON

Whitefish - 17 - 13 - 17 - 17 - 64

Polson - 14 - 8 - 16 - 12 - 46

Pirates scoring - Zach Camel 21, Cody Fischer 10, Will Davey 5, Vince DiGiallonardo 4, Ian Laimbeer 4, Riley Sampson 2