Pirates rise to the occasion
Nikolai Figaro comes up with a loose ball during a scramble on the floor that included teammates Colton Graham (32) and Trent Wilson. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Polson's Dawson DuMont looks for a pass as Browning's Jamerson Lazy Boy defends. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Pirates senior Alex Muzquiz makes a pass in front of Ty Shay Bear Medicine. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Polson senior Ethan McCauley posts up against Browning's Delbert Blackman. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Polson senior Robert Perez drives toward Browning's Delbert Blackman. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Polson's Jarrett Wilson puts up a shot in front of Browning's Maurice Redhorn III (24) and Jamerson Lazy Boy, and fellow Pirate Trent Wilson. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Jarrett Wilson drives the baseline against Browning's Joe Bull Shoe. (Scot Heisel/Lake County Leader)
Spectators packed Linderman Gym on Saturday night for a boys basketball game between the top teams in the Northwest A conference, most expecting a thrilling shootout for the conference title.
The Polson Pirates had other plans against visiting Browning in both teams’ regular season finale.
Polson (8-2, 12-6) scored the game’s first nine points against the Indians (7-3, 13-4) and led 25-9 after the first period on their way to a decisive 67-37 victory.
Jarrett Wilson sparked the win with a hot start and a game-high 28 points for Polson, while Colton Graham scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in his final home game. Graham was among seven seniors honored during a ceremony before the game.
The Pirates didn’t let up to start the second period. Polson went on a 17-4 run that included 3-pointers from Wilson and Xavier Fisher and put the Pirates up 42-13 with 3 minutes remaining in the first half.
Fisher finished with seven points and four steals. Trent Wilson pulled down seven rebounds and scored five points, and senior Nikolai Figaro had six rebounds for Polson.
The Pirates lost 70-65 at Browning on Jan. 15. Their only other conference loss was 67-60 at home against Columbia Falls in December.
Browning finished with three conference losses, including a 75-70 loss at home to Ronan in December, so in the end Polson got an assist from their county rivals.
The Pirates and Indians will receive a bye during district play this week. They’ll be the top two seeds from the Northwest during the divisional tournament Feb. 24-26 at Hamilton.
The win over Browning followed a 73-69 win at home against class B Bigfork on Feb. 8.
Graham scored 31 points and snagged six steals in the win. Jarrett Wilson scored 22. Fisher added eight points, and Trent Wilson contributed six.
Polson 67, Browning 37
Browning 9 - 10 - 13 - 5 – 37
Polson 25 - 17 - 13 - 12 – 67
BROWNING – Tommy RunningRabbit 11, Justice Johnson 8, Brayds Vielle 6, Joe BullShoe 4, Maurice Redhorn 3, Preston IronHeart 3, Tayron Bordeau 2. 15 5-7 37
POLSON – Jarrett Wilson 12 3-6 28, Colton Graham 7 9-11 23(10r,4a,3s), Xavier Fisher 3 0-0 7(2r,2a,4s), Trent Wilson 0 5-6 5(7r,1a,3s,1b), Dawson Dumont 2(2r,3s), Nik Figaro 2(6r,1b), Robert Perez (1r), Alex Muzquiz (1r), Ethan McCauley 0(2r,1s)., Cymian Kauley 0(2r), Brock Henriksen (1r). 24 17-23 67
3FGs – B2 (MauriceRH, Preston IH), P2 (X.Fisher, J.Wilson).
Polson 73, Bigfork 69
Bigfork 13 - 13 - 17 - 26 – 69
Polson 16 - 15 - 20 - 22 – 73
BIGFORK – Colin Wade 7 3-5 23(3r,6a), Bryce Gilliard 7 2-2 20(2r,1a,2s), Isak Epperly 3 1-2 8(6a), Wyatt Johnson 2 2-6 6(1r,2a), Levi Taylor 1 2-2 4(1r,1s), Nick Walker 2 0-2 4(3r,1a,2b), George Brown 2 0-0 4(3r), Cole Knopik (3r), Ian McMann (1r,1s), Eli Thorness (1a). 24 10-19 69(25r,17a,6s,2b)
POLSON – Colton Graham 13 4-5 31(4r,3a,6s,1b), Jarrett Wilson 8 6-10 22(3r,7a,1s), Xavier Fisher 3 0-0 8(1r,3a,1s), Trent Wilson 2 2-2 6(1r,1s), Dawson DuMont 1 1-4 4(4r,1s), Alex Muzquiz 1(1r,2a,1s), Nikolai Figaro 1(2r,1s), Robert Perez (1r,1s), noID (1a). 27 15-26(18r,16a,13s,2b)
3FGs – B11-18 (Wade 6-7, Gilliard 4-8, Epperly 1-3), P4-10 (X.Fisher 2-4, DuMont 1-1, Graham 1-3).
