Arlee advances to state, beats Ennis
<p>Arlee's Zack Camel works his way down the court during Monday's Western C divisional tournament challenge game against Ennis, played in Phillipsburg. The Warriors won the game 68-60. During the tournament, Camel would go on to break the state of Montana's all-time assists record in a season with 256. </p>
HAMILTON – Following a 65-57 loss to Manhattan Christian Thursday night in the second round of the Western C divisional tournament, the Arlee Warriors faced their biggest test of the year. Another loss would eliminate the Warriors from the tournament and their chance at advancing to state. A win would only ensure them another game and with that, the Warriors dug deep, reeled off four straight wins and advanced to the state tournament.
“We didn’t play well at all against [Manhattan Christian],” said Arlee’s head coach J.R. Camel. “I wasn’t happy with our effort.”
The early loss plunged the Warriors to the losers bracket where they faced a tough road to the state tournament.
“I knew we still had a slight chance after the loss,” said Coach Camel. “I told our kids as long as we give 100 percent effort, we still had a chance.”
In Arlee’s first loser out game, they played a tough Gardiner team that hung with the Warriors all game. Knotted up at 49 apiece, Arlee buckled down defensively and outscored the Burins 10-8 in the final quarter and won 59-57. The Warriors were led by guard Zack Camel’s solid all-around performance, 14 points, eight rebounds, nine assists and seven steals. A stat line which flirted with the improbable quadruple double. Rocky Lewis also scored 14 for the Warriors and Josh Reed put in 13. Arlee pressured the Bruins all game and forced 26 turnovers, resulting in 33 points.
The next day Arlee would face a familiar foe, district rival Superior Bobcats. The two teams split a pair of regular season match-ups, but Arlee defeated Superior in their district title game and was riding a wave of momentum. After trailing by one after one, the Warriors started forcing the issue and had Superior on the ropes, outscoring the Bobcats 49-29 after the first quarter. Arlee continued to struggle from the field shooting just 36 percent for the game, but their defense was too strong and the Warriors won going away 61-42. Reed continued his hot play and scored a game high 19 points and Lewis scored 14. Zack Camel had difficulties getting his shot to drop, but rectified any misses by compiling 14 assists.
The Warriors would cruise to a third straight victory against Drummond in the consolation game 66-46. Unsung hero Josh Reed – who was battling an illness all week - again dominated, scoring 22 points on 8 for 13 shooting and grabbed 14 rebounds. Zack Camel contributed his usual 14 assists. Arlee seemed to find their range against Drummond, shooting respected 44 percent from the field and an outstanding 14 for 16 from the line. The stage was now set for a challenge game against Ennis with a state tournament berth on the line.
A win Monday would propel the Warriors into the state tournament. An opportunity the more hungry, senior led Warriors team and their coach weren’t going to miss.
“I told all my seniors and just explained to them [Ennis] doesn’t have the same urgency as we do,” said Coach Camel. “Ennis has a lot of underclassmen on their team and the urgency of not playing [another high school game] wasn’t there for them. Our seniors kept coming up to me during the game saying, ‘this isn’t our last game, coach!’”
The back-and-fourth battle brought a 32-31 Ennis lead heading into the second half. But behind Zack Camel’s incredible 18-second half points, the Warriors controlled the rest of the game and won 68-60, advancing them to the state tournament.
Camel finished with 32 points and eight assists and solid as a Rocky Lewis had 12 points for the Warriors. During the divisional tournament, Zack Camel set a Montana state record for most assists in a season with 256, surpassing the previous record of 220. Camel’s pass first mentality has been instrumental in his team’s success and his leadership has the Warriors marching on to the state tournament.
Next week Arlee takes on undefeated Fairview Warriors in the first round of the state tournament. But the record or team doesn’t intimidate Arlee, who has had a confidence about them all season long.
“We have seven days off before state and we’re ready to rock,” said Camel. “We think we’re the best team in the state and [our mentality] is every team needs to get through us.”