Basketball Roundup: Pirates remain unbeaten

The Pirates basketball team embarked on a key road swing in their schedule Thursday and came away with big wins at Stevensville and Whitefish.

But it’s that third piece of the three-game road trip that has everyone’s attention.

Next up is a showdown with Dillon on the road Tuesday night (tipoff was just hours after the Leader went to press). Both teams are 6-0 and they are the last remaining unbeatens in class A. The most recent rankings at 406 MT Sports list Dillon at No. 1 and Polson at No. 3.

Thursday at Stevensville Trevor Lake just missed a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds in a 78-26 blowout win over the Yellowjackets (0-6). Jarrett Wilson led all scorers with 18 points, dished out seven assists and snagged five steals.

The Pirates led 25-10 after the first period and held Stevensville to four points in the second to take a 51-14 lead into the half.

Darian Williams led Polson with eight rebounds, while Colton Graham added 12 points and 6 rebounds. JC Steele contributed six steals and six points.

Polson finished with a field goal percentage of 49%.

At Whitefish on Saturday, the Pirates built a 49-21 lead by half and held steady for a 72-52 win to improve to 6-0.

Graham went 4 for 8 from 3-point range and finished with 28 points to lead the Pirates. Lake added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Wilson scored 12 points to go with three assists and three steals.

The Bulldogs (1-5) got 16 points from Jayce Cripe 16, while Talon Holmquist added 15.

Busy Maidens win two of three

The Ronan girls began last week with a 20-point loss at Columbia Falls, 58-38, on Tuesday, but bounced back with wins over Browning and Libby to improve to 5-3.

Jaylea Lunceford shot 8 for 12 and scored 19 points to go with nine rebounds in a 60-24 victory at Libby on Saturday.

The Lady Loggers kept it close until midway through the second period, but managed just eight points in the second half.

Olivia Heinger scored 10 points for the Maidens, while LaReina Cordova added six. Ronan also got five points each from Liena Ulutoa, Jaeleigh Gatch and Danielle Coffman. Madeline McCrea had a team-high four assists.

Saturday at Browning the Maidens battled to take a 54-51 overtime win in a seesaw battle. Ronan started strong and led 10-5 after the first period, but the Maidens were outscored 18-6 in the second and trailed by seven at the half.

Lunceford recorded a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds in the win. Areanna Burke had five steals to go with 13 points, while Gatch added 10 points, five rebounds and three steals.

Tuesday at Columbia Falls the Maidens managed just one point in the opening period and trailed 26-10 at half. Ronan shot just 27% from the field, while Columbia Falls shot 46%.

Gatch scored a team-high eight points, while Burke and Cordova contributed seven each.

The Maidens host Polson on Friday night before kicking off a four-game road swing at Arlee on Tuesday.

Lady Vikings trample Tigers

The Charlo girls’ impressive undefeated run continued last week with a convincing 62-20 home win against St. Regis on Saturday.

The Lady Vikings (5-0) have scored at least 60 points in each of their last three games, and no opponent has scored more than 25 against them this season.

Charlo got off to a slow start, leading 6-5 after one period, but turned up the heat with an 18-5 run in the second.

Hayleigh Smith scored a team-high 12 points, while Connor and Carlee Fryberger each finished with 11. Kassidi Cox scored 10 for Charlo.

Vikings fall to St. Regis

The Charlo boys stumbled out of the gate at home against St. Regis on Saturday and couldn’t make up the difference despite holding their own late in an 85-62 loss.

The Tigers led 25-9 after the first period and 42-21 at half. The Vikings (2-3) kept things even in the second half.

Keaton Piedalue scored a team-high 24 points for Charlo, followed by Stetson Reum (13 points) and Roper Edwards (11). Piedalue hit four 3-pointers on the night.

Bulldogs stay hot

The Mission boys avenged an earlier home loss to Thompson Falls with a 58-49 road win on Thursday and won big, 69-25, Saturday at Troy to extend their win streak to five games.

The Bulldogs improved to 6-2 on the season, and their only other loss was at Ronan on Jan. 2.

Mission’s John Komotios led all scorers with 11 points Saturday, when the Bulldogs pounced early and built a 21-4 lead after one period.

Kellen McClure added 10 and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs, who also got nine points each from Ross McPherson and Jadence Peone.

Zoran LaFrombois scored seven for Mission. Komotios went 3 for 5 from 3-point range.

Thursday at Thompson Falls, the Bulldogs led by two points at half. Their 17-10 edge in the third was the difference.

Komotios scored a team-high 12 points, McClure contributed 11 and LaFrombois added 10 points, six rebounds, five assists and six steals in the win. Ross McPherson pulled down eight rebounds.

Mission girls win a pair

The Lady Bulldogs (5-4) suffered their second defeat against Thompson Falls this season on Thursday, but sandwiched the loss with wins at Bigfork and Troy.

The Mission girls have six games left on their regular season schedule, but all six are on the road. That includes a Feb. 6 clash at Arlee.

The 12-point, 55-43 loss to Thompson Falls was slightly better than a 17-point loss to the Bluehawks on Jan. 8.

Madyson Currie scored 15 points and snagged five steals in the loss, while Kooper Page contributed 12 points and six rebounds.

At home Tuesday (Jan. 19) against Bigfork, the Lady Bulldogs pulled away late with a 20-9 run in the final period for a 52-44 win.

Sydney Brander scored a game-high 22 points and added eight rebounds. Page added 11 points, while Currie had seven points and seven rebounds to go with six steals. Gabby Smith added six points in the win.

Saturday at Troy, Mission dominated early, held the Trojans scoreless in the first period, and headed into the half with a 32-6 lead.

Brander scored 19 points and added seven rebounds, while Page finished with nine points and seven rebounds. Smith added nine points. Currie contributed six points and eight rebounds.

Warriors fade late at Loyola

The Arlee Warriors visited Missoula Loyola on Saturday, and their first win of the season was within their grasp before a late collapse led to a 7-49 road loss.

The Rams (3-5) outscored Arlee (0-5) 20-8 down the stretch.

Trey Malatare scored 14 points to lead Arlee. Levi Fullerton added 10 points, while Jake Knoll scored eight and Micah Johnson contributed five. Jace Arca and Ethan Fiddler each scored three.

Scarlets hang tough with Deer Lodge

The Arlee girls nearly grabbed their first win of the season Friday at Deer Lodge, but ultimately lost 50-41.

The Scarlets got 10 points and six rebounds from Princess Bolen. McKirah Fisher shot 4 for 5 to score eight points and added five rebounds. Titanya Lapahie pulled down a dozen rebounds and scored six points. Xaria Jacobson and McKaryss Fisher each scored five.

Saturday at Missoula Loyola the Scarlet scored seven points in the first half en route to a 65-25 loss.

Jacobson led Arlee (0-6) with six points. She also had 11 rebounds and three assists. Raven Parson and Leiloni Butler each scored five for Arlee.

Two of Arlee’s key returning players — senior Halle Adams and junior Cheyenne Pablo — still have not played after joining the team late, though they are expected to take the court soon for the Scarlets.