The slipper doesn't fit

GREAT FALLS — The clock had already struck midnight for Polson’s Cinderella dream by Friday.

When the Pirates took the court for the second time at the Four Seasons Arena, they were playing for pride.

They quickly fell behind Miles City, 8-2, and then Andrew Curley entered the game.

“When I got subbed in, I could feel it,” the junior said. “I felt it from the very first three I put up.”

Curley netted all six 3-pointers he shot in the first half and, adding a layup for good measure, went into intermission 7-7 from the field with 20 points.

“When I hit that last 3-pointer I could hear the place chanting my name,” Curley said. “I got the chills down my spine. I felt like I just wanted to jump out of the building.”

Curley said he was motivated by the family and friends who came to watch him play, especially his father, who lives in Laurel and hadn’t seen him play yet this season.

“I wanted to show him the real me,” Curley said.

Senior Andrew Weltz summed up the team’s reaction.

“He was just in a different zone,” Weltz said.

Curley said he felt good even before tipoff.

“I told Weltz that the basketball hoop was going to be a giant hula hoop,” he said.

Polson cruised to a 62-44 victory over the Cowboys. Curley finished with a career-high 22.

Pirates coach Brad Pluff said it was just a matter of time until Curley had a game like that.

“I knew that this was possible,” Pluff said. “I’ve seen him in practice. This kid can shoot the ball.”

Unfortunately for Polson, the magic came a game too late. The Pirates lost their shot at a state title in Thursday’s nightcap, falling 40-35 to Belgrade.

“That’s one of those games we let get away from us, but I thought we played well,” Pluff said.

Polson led 19-16 at halftime, but the Panthers switched to a 1-2-2 zone defense after halftime that Pluff and the Pirates weren’t expecting. The adjustment sent Belgrade on an 8-0 run from which Polson never did recover.

“That basically cost us the game,” Pluff said.

The Pirates had another test after the Miles City victory, taking on state powerhouse Laurel. The Locomotives were full steam ahead as they busted out to a 17-4 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

“We were hoping to catch them down a little bit coming off a [semifinal] loss [to Columbia Falls],” Pluff said. “Even if we had played really well, that would have been a tough game for us.”

Weltz, whose high school career ended when the Pirates were ousted by Laurel, couldn’t help wanting the magic to continue.

“I feel like we could have done better but am just glad for the opportunity,” he said.

Pluff and Curley will be back for another season, an opportunity both of them are jazzed about. Polson loses just two seniors: Weltz and all-conference guard Cedrick Smith.

The Pirates coach said Curley’s role might be a little different next season.

“The thing next year is that it’s not going to be a secret anymore, but that’s not going to be a problem,” Pluff said. “He’s going to find a way. … If they focus on him, that’s going to open things up for everybody else, and if they don’t then he’s going to get them. I’m glad he’s on our team rather than me coaching against him.”

Curley knows the Pirates have a solid core coming back next year.

“Now thay we have that feeling [of playing in a state tournament], we will be very hungry and play with nothing but heart next year,” he said.

His goal is another trip to state.

“I want that same feeling next year,” Curley said. “I want more. I’m hungry.”

at Four Seasons Arena, Great Falls

from Thursday, March 6

Belgrade 40, Polson 35

Bel 11 5 11 13 — 40

Polson 11 8 5 11 — 35

BELGRADE —- Trevor Mahn 4-7 1-2 10, Brayden Konkol 4-7 2-6 10, Brandon Subbs 0-1 0, Koby Ruff 4-5 0-0 9, Ethan Turner 0-1 2-2 2, Shiloh Christopher 3-8 0-0 7, Keldon Lamb 0-2 2-2 2, Morgan Eitel 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 15-32 7-12 40.

POLSON — Hudson Smith 1-2 0-0 2, Cedrick Smith 4-13 1-1 9, Chris McDonald 1-1 0-0 2, Andrew Weltz 3-11 3-5 10, Andrew Curley 1-7 0-0 3, Tanner Wilson 2-5 2-2 7, Matthew Rensvold 1-2 0-0 2. Totals: 13-41 6-8 35.

Total fouls — Bel 11, Pol 11. Fouled out — none. 3-point goals — Bel 3-8 (Mahn 1-2, Ruff 1-1, Turner 0-1, Christopher 1-3, Lamb 0-1), Pol 3-13 (C. Smith 0-2, Weltz 1-3, Curley 1-5, Wilson 1-3). Rebounds ?— Bel 21 (Konkol 4, Turner 4, Team 4), Pol 25 (H. Smith 5, Weltz 5, Team 5).

from Friday, March 7

Polson 62, Miles City 44

Polson 14 16 9 23 — 62

MC 10 10 14 10 — 44

POLSON — Hudson Smith 2-5 0-0 4, Cedrick Smith 2-7 9-9 13, Chris McDonald 0-1 0-0 0, Andrew Weltz 3-6 5-10 12, Jacob Harrod 0-0 2-2 2, Payton Lefthand 0-0 0-0 0, Andrew Curley 7-8 2-4 22, Tanner Wilson 2-5 2-3 7, Joe Gallatin 0-0 0-0 0, Matthew Rensvold 0-0 0-0 0, Wyatt DuCharme 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 17-33 20-28 62.

MILES CITY — Bryan Claypool 1-1 0-0 2, Gavin Gundlach 2-7 0-0 5, Timmy Regan 2-8 3-9 8, Austin Stradley 1-6 0-0 2, Brett Keith 3-9 0-0 6, Kyle Collins 0-0 0-0 0, Carson Barnosky 0-0 0-0 0, Brac Warren 5-14 1-4 13, Jaden Senger 0-0 0-0 0, Connor Torstenbo 2-2 0-0 5. Totals: 17-49 4-14 44.

3-point goals — Polson 8-15 (Curley 6-7, Weltz 1-1, Wilson 1-2), Miles City 6-24 (Warren 2-7, Torstenbo 1-1 Stradley 1-4, Regan 1-6, Gundlach 1-6). Rebounds - Polson 30 (Weltz 8), Miles City 20 (Warren 7). Fouls — Polson 17, Miles City 20. Fouled out — Stradley. Technicals - Polson 1 (book), Miles City 2 (Regan, coach). Assists — Polson 17 (Smith 8), Miles City 13 (Regan 5). Turnovers - Polson 17, Miles City 7.

from Saturday, March 8

Laurel 58, Polson 27

Polson 4 8 7 8 - 27

Laurel 17 15 14 12 - 58

POLSON (8-17) — Hudson Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Cedrick Smith 2-11 2-2 6, Chris McDonald 0-1 0-0 0, Andrew Weltz 2-8 3-4 7, Jacob Harrod 0-1 0-0 0, Payton Lefhand 0-2 0-0 0, Andrew Curley 3-7 0-0 8, Tanner Wilson 0-3 1-2 1, Joe Gallatin 0-0 1-2 1, Matthew Rensvold 0-0 2-6 2, Wyatt DuCharme 1-1 0-2 2. Totals: 8-35 9-18 27.

LAUREL — Dylan Meccage 0-2 0-0 0, Keegan Reilly 1-2 4-4 6, Tyler Thompson 0-1 1-2 1, Taylor Maida 1-7 0-0 3, Marcus Gunn 0-1 1-2 1, Forrest Crowl 0-2 2-4 2, Quinton Holmlund 3-3 4-4 10, Cooper Love 0-0 0-0 0, Caje Golden 0-0 0-0 0, Hunter Schumacher 1-2 1-2 3, Evan Jones 8-12 6-7 24, Zac Allen 4-9 0-0 8. Totals: 18-41 19-25 58.

3-point goals – Polson 2-15 (Curley 2-6), Laurel 3-10 (Jones 2-3, Maida 1-6). Totals fouls – Polson 22, Laurel 18. Fouled out – none. Rebounds – Polson 28 (Weltz 6), Laurel 26 (Meccage 5). Assists – Polson 4 (Rensvold 2), Laurel 11 (Meccage 3). Steals – Polson 5 (H. Smith 2), Laurel 12 (Meccage 4). Turnovers – Polson 21, Laurel 11.