Viking hoopsters split conference games

The Charlo High School boys basketball team experienced mixed results against Victor and Plains in this week’s contests.

“We have played pretty darn well against Victor and haven’t had many games this year where we have had a chance to relax and play some younger kids,” Vikings’ Coach Gayle Decker said. “We played a lot of zone, had a good crowd on throw back and were able to get some kids in the game.”

The Vikings boys squad got an opportunity to shore up some things in their 62-34 victory against Victor Friday night at Charlo High School.

“We were able to get to the free throw line, and that is one of those things that you have to be able to keep working on is getting some dribble penetration and-1 opportunities at the free throw line,” Decker said. “Our free throw percentage was up to 65 percent as a team. That is one of the big improvements that we’ve had because we were shooting under 50 percent in the first five or six games.”

Decker said he attributed the free throw accuracy to his team’s improved concentration.

“They have shown improvements and more confidence in shooting free throws,” Decker said. “It’s always important to try to convert your free throw and try to get to the free throw line.”

The Vikings then fell to Class C’s top-ranked state team Plains 80-38 at Plains High School.

“The final score was not indicative of the game because the game was tied at the end of the first half at 16,” Decker said. “We started coming out and playing well early at their place. They are really good and we felt like we had a chance at them.”

Decker said he felt what made Plains a “challenge” was their ability to press.

“They pressed us the whole game,” Decker said. “We shot 10 free throws, and went to the free throw line 10 times and made seven. We didn’t try to put pressure on them.”

Decker said he felt his team has really improved in rebounding in the last couple of contests.

“What we have done on our defense and our rebounding has really been solid,” Decker said. “They have had four or five games defending well and rebounding on both ends. We have had offensive lapses and scoring droughts that run for three or four minutes against better teams like Plains and Arlee. That is usually a killer against a team that can put points on the board during those scoring droughts.”

Decker credits Plains’ ability for the loss.

“There were a couple of threes that hit the back of the rim that went six or eight feet up in the air,” Decker said. “We were defending well and rebounding well. Plains just got on one of those streaks and started shooting it up. They showed that there is a good reason why they are ranked No. 1 in the state.”