Lady Pirates experience late-season struggles

The Polson Lady Pirates basketball team has regressed in their recent matchups from the progression they experienced after midseason.

The Lady Pirates lost a battle earlier in the week falling 38-33 to Stevensville at Stevensville. Then they lost to Frenchtown 57-17 Thursday night at Frenchtown.

Lady Pirates basketball coach Joe Quinn said Frenchtown just came out with “a lot of energy.”

“They came out, put a lot of defensive pressure on us and we turned the ball over,” Quinn said. “Anytime we go up against those guys, they put it to us. They are the second-ranked team in the state and we aren’t at their level right now. Our points are down and we are a little too impatient with our shots. They just aren’t falling and we’ve been in a little bit of a slump when it comes to scoring and getting more transition baskets.”

The Lady Pirates won’t have it any easier down the stretch as they prepare to play the No. 1 ranked team in Class-A Columbia Falls Saturday at Columbia Falls High School.

“When we play against C-Falls, that is the ultimate test,” Quinn said. “Hopefully, we will try to limit our mistakes against those guys and keep the ball in our possession. We want to slow the game down and prevent them from getting a lot of easy transition buckets.”

Quinn said one of the major problems plaguing his Lady Pirates is their struggle in transition defense.

The Lady Pirates will play Eureka Thursday at Linderman Gymnasium. Then they will play Columbia Falls Saturday at Columbia Falls High School.