BigSam picks up first divisional win as Scarlets' coach

The loss of Skyla Perry’s leadership abilities will be hard for the Scarlets to replace next year.

Violet Pablo’s solid spikes and serves will go a long way toward getting Arlee back to divisionals.

by Jaren Haser
| November 9, 2012 10:00 AM

Violet Pablos solid spikes and serves will go a long way toward getting Arlee back to divisionals.

BUTTE — It was a bittersweet end of the season for the Scarlets, who picked up the team’s first Western C divisional tournament win under coach Brian BigSam, but were eliminated after three matches.

Aside from the top-notch competition, BigSam said what makes the divisional tournament so hard to prepare for is the unknown,

“It’s always hard going into a divisional tournament, because you never know how any of the girls are playing on the other side of the mountains,” BigSam said.

Taking this into account, BigSam said he was impressed with what the team was able to accomplish.

“The girls handled what was thrown at them, but they couldn’t get over that little hump of going any further,” BigSam said. “But, they handled the teams very well I thought.”

Arlee opened the tournament by facing the eventual runner-up Manhattan Christian, which swept the Scarlets 25-13, 25-14, 25-23.

The Eagles were overpowering with a 30-to-10 kill advantage and a 17-to-3 ace advantage over Arlee.

Mahalia Hendren dropped four kills for the Scarlets to lead the team, while Alexis Shick led in blocks with two and Whitney Malatare topped Arlee in digs with 13.

Bailey Rice notched five of the team’s six assists on the day.

The Eagles would go on to be swept later in the tournament title game against Gardiner. Both teams move on to the Class C State Tournament in Bozeman.

The Scarlets found themselves facing a familiar foe on Friday in Superior, who came in with the second seed from the District 10C tournament.

This time it was Arlee that would come out ahead, as the Scarlets toppled the Lady Bobcats in four games 22-25, 26-24, 25-16, 25-21.

Violet Pablo led the Scarlets’ attack against Superior, dropping 10 kills in the match while also picking up two blocks.

Hendren kept up her impressive play, leading the team in both digs (21) and aces (4).

“She’s a great mental and physical force and she stepped it up at both districts and divisionals,” BigSam said.

Morgan Malatare, meanwhile, turned in a team-high 13 assists against Superior.

The team’s first divisional win under BigSam had things looking up for Arlee going into its match against Shields Valley later that day.

However, the Lady Rebels would put an end to the Scarlets’ state hopes and their season with a 3-0 victory, 25-14, 25-18, 25-16.

Pablo again led the team with nine kills, while Hendren posted three of the team’s five aces.

Shick ended the year with a strong performance and will be a major building block for the team next season. She tallied 11 digs and two blocks against Shields Valley.

“She had some really good blocks and hits at divisionals,” BigSam said.

Skyla Perry equaled Shick with 11 digs of her own, while Rice finished the match with seven assists.

Despite the relatively early exit from the tournament, BigSam was still proud of the team’s body of work this season.

“I couldn’t be happier,” BigSam said. “I’m so pleased with how the season went and how it ended.”

Hendren and Perry move on and leave quite the legacy behind them.

“They’re going to be missed so much just for their attitudes and their mental and physical play,” BigSam said. “They’re both go-getters. They both keep the girls alive on and off the court.”

Though neither will be easy to replace, BigSam is confident that those returning, which will include seven seniors, will be ready for the challenge.

“They’re all ready for what’s going to be thrown at them and what they need to do,” BigSam said. “I’m excited for next year.”