Bulldogs stay perfect

ST. IGNATIUS — Experience won out for the Mission Bulldogs on Friday.

Mission’s boys team kept their unbeaten 2013-14 campaign alive, pulling out a 65-61 scare from upstart Charlo.

The Bulldogs trailed as late as 1:25 to play, but all-state senior Stuart Grant sank a pair of free throws, and point guard Jarred Brown converted a 10-foot leaner with 25 seconds remaning to break a 61-61 tie. Brown also made two critical steals in the waning minutes of the game.

“We’ve been through a lot,” Grant said, noting that Mission’s four seniors—Brown, Will Powell, Patrick Eichert and himself—are four-year varsity players. “We have a lot of experience in a lot of close games.”

The Vikings stormed out to an 18-11 lead after the first quarter behind strong defense and deadeye 3-point shooting.

“Seeing them previously and the team that came into this game were two different teams,” Mission coach Steve Pelletier said.

Much of the difference for Charlo was the return of senior Tristan Santee, who sat out the first weekend nursing a residual football injury. Santee scored 22 points in his return for the Vikings.

“Tristan helped, that’s for sure,” Mike Brown, the Vikings’ coach said. “Having him in the lineup made us able to use our rotations better.”

But a different team they were. Charlo seems to have found rhythm on offense geared around penetrating the paint.

“It’s something that we know we have to do after playing in the [season-opening loss] against Eureka,” Brown said. “We never took the ball into the paint and we got killed. We’re small but we still have to drive it in.”

The Vikings’ trap defense gave the Mission offense fits early as well, but Pelletier was happy with his team’s perseverance.

“To have 65 points and not play well offensively, we’ll take that as a silver lining,” he said.

Although unbeaten, the Bulldogs have played more close games than anyone else in the Mission Valley in the first two weeks of the season.

Grant said those games are helpful for down the road.

“It’s good preparation for tournament time,” he said.

Having an all-state guard doesn’t hurt, either.

Lake County Basketball Roundup

Girls

from Thursday, Dec. 19

Arlee 55, Hot Springs 21

ARLEE — Whitney Malatare’s 20 points nearly outscore the Savage Heat all alone as the Scarlets began district play with a win.

Freshman Alicia Camel tacked on 11 points in the game.

Score by Quarter

Hot Springs 7 8 4 2 – 21

Arlee 14 20 10 11 – 55

Individual Scoring

HOT SPRINGS – Amanda Woods 2, Meara Schmiedbauer 4, Rosa Dolson 2, Laurel Schmiedbauer 6, Alex Green 2, Josey Carr 5.

ARLEE – Whitney Malatare 20, Megan Tanner 3, Becca Whitesell 7, Autumn Moran 2, Morgan Malatare 6, Alexis Shick 4, Alicia Camel 11, Megan Shick 2.

from Friday, Dec. 20

Arlee 58, Superior 35

ARLEE — Whitney Malatare poured in 27 points to lead the Scarlets to victory.

Morgan Malatare added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Arlee.

Score by Quarter

Superior 5 7 13 10 – 35

Arlee 16 18 18 6 – 58

Individual Scoring

SUPERIOR – Geneva Plakke 4, Nadeia Ewoniuk 5, Danielle Ewoniuk 1, Jordan Mueller 14, Marissa Koke 8, Hannah Hollenback 1, Emma Dubois 2.

ARLEE – Whitney Malatare 27, Becca Whitesell 7, Morgan Malatare 14, Alexis Shick 2, Alicia Camel 8.

Boys

Mission 65, Charlo 61

Score by Quarter

Charlo 18 7 19 17 – 61

Mission 11 19 17 18 – 65

Individual Scoring

CHARLO – Dalton Delaney 7, Jesse Long 3, Kail Pope 22, Jade Smith 3, Tyler Delaney 4, Tristan Santee 22.

MISSION – Jarred Brown 10, Stuart Grant 21, Tate Weingart 5, Patrick Eichert 7, Raymond Matt 4, Aaron Fisher-Ahenakew 15, Will Powell 3.

from Saturday, Dec. 21

Charlo 78, St. Regis 28

CHARLO — Kail Pope had another big game for the Vikings, scoring 18 points, including 10 in a dominant first quarter.

Tristan Santee notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Tyler Delaney tacked on 12 points and eight boards in the blowout win.

Score by Quarter

St. Regis 6 8 4 10 – 28

Charlo 22 26 19 11 – 78

Individual Scoring

ST. REGIS – Trevor Lowry 7, Dallas Lewis 2, Gibson Lowry 6, Brandon Managhan 7, Dakota Wickman 4, Keenan Clute 2.

CHARLO – Dalton Delaney 9, Kobe Cox 8, Jesse Long 2, Kail Pope 18, Jade Smith 5, Tyler Delaney 12, Tristan Santee 13, Kane Shenyeer 3, Greg Montgomery 1, Dugan Runkel 3, Cody Couture 4.

Mission 83, Deer Lodge 73

ST. IGNATIUS — Stuart Grant had another big day, tallying 24 points and eight rebounds as Mission remained unbeaten.

The Bulldogs led 39-23 at half thanks to a 10-point second quarter from Grant.

The Bulldogs also got 16 points from Aaron Fisher-Ahenakew, 11 from Jarred Brown and 10 from Will Powell.

Score by Quarter

D. Lodge 14 9 17 33 – 73

Mission 18 21 18 26 – 83

Individual Scoring

DEER LODGE – Tristen Clark 7, Derek Walker 7, Crowe 6, Logan Doiron 17, Lowery 3, Jake Simpson 21, Andrew Pierson

7, Justin Marshall 5.

MISSION – Jarred Brown 12, Stuart Grant 24, Nick Durglo 2, Patrick Eichert 6, Raymond Matt 3, Aaron Fisher-Ahenakew 16, Gentry Brown 5, Will Powell 11, Bill Von Holtum 4.