Mission sweeps through Charlo

CHARLO — The Mission boys and girls kicked off basketball season with impressive wins at Lake County rival Charlo on Friday night.

Both Charlo teams had already played two games at the Class C Tip-off tournament the previous weekend in Ronan.

In the late game, junior Zoran LaFrombois, fresh off an all-state selection as a sophomore, scored 33 points in his 2021 debut to lead the Class B Bulldogs (2-0) to an 87-42 victory. The speedy guard also had nine steals and four rebounds.

The Bulldogs made seven 3-pointers, with four coming from LaFrombois, two from senior Michael Wheller and one from Senior Jadence Peone.

Along with an effective outside attack, Mission dominated in the paint. The Bulldogs’ twin towers, senior Ross McPherson and junior Cedrick McDonald each scored 13 points and had three blocks. The duo combined for 20 of their team’s 36 rebounds.

Mission led by 15 at halftime, then outscored the Vikings 35-14 in the second half.

Junior Keaton Piedalue notched a double-double for the Vikings (1-3) with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Tucker Love and sophomore Wes Anderson scored seven points each, and Anderson pulled down a dozen rebounds.

Coyle Nagy, one of two seniors for Charlo, along with Colt Hovet, scored six points and had three steals.

In the early game, junior guard Kooper Page hit three 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 17 points and eight rebounds as the Lady Bulldogs (1-1) cruised to a 78-42 win.

Mission also got a pair of 3-pointers from the team’s lone senior, Mady Currie, who finished with 11 points and four rebounds.

The Lady Bulldogs made six of 10 shots from outside the arc, while Charlo made just one of 13 attempts.

Charlo Junior Hayleigh Smith matched Page’s 17 points and pulled down six rebounds, while junior Mila Hawk scored 15 points to go with seven rebounds.

Senior Kassidy Cox had six rebounds for the Lady Vikings, who were playing their first home game under first-year head coach Hayley Voegele. The Charlo grad took over this season for Montana Hall of Fame coach Brett Thompson, who retired with more than 600 career victories.

Both Mission teams will be on the road Thursday night for games against the Missoula Hellgate JV squads. The Charlo teams travel to St. Regis on Friday for a doubleheader.

Boys: Mission 78, Charlo 42

Mission - 18 - 25 - 15 - 20 – 78

Charlo - 13 - 15 - 7 - 7 – 42

MISSION – LaFrombois, 13 field goals, 3-4 free throws, 33 points (4 rebounds, 3 assists, 9 steals); McPherson, 6, 1-6, 13 (8r, 3a, 2s, 3 blocks); McDonald, 6, 1-2, 13 (12r, 5a, 3b); Wheeler, 2, 0-0, 6 (2r, 3a); Peone, 2, 0-0, 5 (1r, 3a, 1s); McClure, 2, 0-2, 4 (7r, 5a, 3s); Brown, 2, 0-0, 4 (2r, 2a, 1b). Team: 33, 5-14, 78 (36r, 24a, 15s, 7b).

CHARLO – Piedalue, 3, 5-8, 12 (10r, 3s, 1b); Love, 2, 3-6, 7; Anderson, 1, 5-9, 7 (12r, 1b); Nagy, 3, 0-0, 6 (1r, 3s); Hollow, 2, 0-0, 5 (1r, 1a); Reum, 1, 1-6, 3 (7r, 3s); Tomlin, 1, 0-0, 2. Team: 13, 14-29, 42 (31r, 1a, 9s, 2b).

3FGs – MSI: 7-24 (LaFrombois 4-9, Wheeler 2-2, Peone 1-6); CHA: 2-19 (Piedalue, Hollow).

Girls: Mission 55, Charlo 40

Mission - 13 - 12 - 18 - 12 – 55

Charlo - 4 - 6 - 13 - 17 – 40

MISSION – Kooper Page, 7 field goals, 0-0 free throws, 17 points (8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals); Currie, 3, 3-4, 11 (4r, 2a,1s); Kason Page, 4, 1-2, 10 (4r, 2a, 1s); Smith, 2, 3-4, 7 (3r, 1a, 1s); Evans, 3, 0-0, 6 (6r, 2a, 2s); Adams, 2, 0-0, 4 (1r); McElderry, 0 (1r). Team: 21, 7-10, 55 (31r, 11a, 9s).

CHARLO – H. Smith, 6, 4-5, 17 (6r, 1a, 4s); Hawk, 6, 3-4, 15 (7r, 3s); Bauer, 2, 0-2, 4 (4r, 1a, 3s); McDonald, 2 (3r, 1a); Cox, 2 (6r, 1a, 1s); Colemen 0 (2a, 1s); Young, 0 (2r, 1a); Team: 16, 7-11, 40 (29r, 7a, 14s).

3FGs – MSI 6-10 (Ko. Page 3-5, Currie 2-2, Ka. Page 1-1); Charlo 1-13 (H. Smith).