CHARLO GB RECAP: The Big D

CHARLO - A slow start didn't deter the Charlo Lady Vikings from

doing the things they've been doing throughout the season's first

two months.

The Lady Vikings bounced back from a rocky first quarter in

their opening game of the weekend to rally past the visiting Arlee

Scarlets 55-44 on Friday, Jan. 13.

CHARLO - A slow start didn't deter the Charlo Lady Vikings from doing the things they've been doing throughout the season's first two months.

The Lady Vikings bounced back from a rocky first quarter in their opening game of the weekend to rally past the visiting Arlee Scarlets 55-44 on Friday, Jan. 13.

"We missed a couple easy shots and forced a few early," Charlo head coach Bret Thompson said. "In the second, the girls came out more poised, settled down and hit a couple from outside. The girls really responded well."

That was evident when, after falling behind 14-5, Charlo used a 21-4 run to turn a nine-point deficit into an eight-point edge by the middle of the second period.

A big key in that run was Kinley Pope, who scored 13 of her 19 points in the first half.

"She picked up a lot of points around the bucket, scored on second shots and that's why we have her on the floor," Thompson said. "She did really well inside. She had a double-double with 12 or 13 rebounds as well."

Charlo pulled away a bit in the third, outscoring the Scarlets 15-9 to build a 44-32 lead after three quarters. Arlee would get within nine points on three occasions in the fourth, but couldn't get any closer as the Lady Vikings moved to 7-1 on the season.

Charlo got contributions from five other scorers, as Jordan Ludeman scored 11, Deondra Brown and Rachel Hoyt eight apiece, Aspen Runkel six and Dawn Blevins two in the win.

The following night, defense reigned supreme for the Lady Vikings in a 46-16 home victory over Hot Springs.

Charlo buried the guests early, leading 17-3 after the opening stanza and 34-11 after three quarters, as they improved to 8-1 on the year.

"It was one of our best defensive games," Thompson said. "We didn't give up easy shots and only allowed six field goals for the game."

It was Brown's turn to lead the way for the Lady Vikings on Saturday, scoring a team-high 15 points, with Pope adding 10 and Blevins seven. Hoyt notched six, Ludeman four and both Runkel and Hayley Berkram two in victory.

This week, Charlo prepares for rematches with the Mission Lady Bulldogs and St. Regis Lady Tigers.

"We're going to keep trying to improve at practice and if we do that, we'll see improvement on the weekends," Thompson said. "We have a tough game against Mission. They've been playing better

since our first game against them."

CHARLO 46, HOT SPRINGS 16

HS - 3 - 7 - 1 - 5 - 16

Charlo - 17 - 9 - 8 - 12 - 46

Lady Vikings scoring - Rachel Hoyt 6, Jordan Ludeman 4, Dawn Blevins 7, Deondra Brown 15, Kinley Pope 10, Hayley Berkram 2, Aspen Runkel 2

CHARLO 55, ARLEE 44

Arlee - 14 - 9 - 9 - 12 - 44

Charlo - 9 - 20 - 15 - 11 - 55

Lady Vikings scoring - Rachel Hoyt 8, Jordan Ludeman 11, Dawn Blevins 2, Deondra Brown 8, Kinley Pope 19, Sienna Brown 1, Aspen Runkel 6