Prep Sports Roundup: Pirates and Lady Pirates soccer win at home

POLSON – On Tuesday, Sept. 27, the Polson Pirates and Lady Pirates swept the visiting Libby Loggers and Lady Loggers in Northwestern A soccer action.

Braydon Lukart and Pietro Durando both scored two scores apiece to help push the Pirates past the Loggers 4-2, while in the girls’ match Tia Mercer netted two goals and Addyson Gallatin added a goal in a 3-1 victory over the Lady Loggers.

In Bigfork on Thursday, Madyson Luikart scored two goals and Mercer added a goal in a close 4-3 loss to the hosting Valkyries, while the Vikings shutout the Pirates 1-0.

Football

Polson Pirates 32, Columbia Falls Wildcats 31

In a battle of Northwestern A conference unbeatens on Friday night, the Polson Pirates narrowly slipped past the hosting Columbia Falls Wildcats 32-31.

Down by 10 points headed into the fourth quarter, the Pirates scored two touchdowns 33 seconds apart to finish the game and pick up their fifth consecutive win of the season.

With 5:34 left in the game, Jarrett Wilson threw a nine-yard scoring pass to his brother Trent Wilson to cut the Wildcat lead to 31-26.

Two snaps after Polson recovered an onside kick perfectly orchestrated by Pirate kicker Tia Mercer, Brock Henriksen pulled in a 37-yard Wilson pass to push the Pirates past the Wildcats 32-31.

Wilson paced the Pirates with 257 yards passing, 83 yards rushing and five total touchdowns.

Henriksen hauled in six receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns, while Trent Wilson led all rushers with 99-yards on 23 carries. He also had five receptions for 31 yards and a touchdown. Tommy Sherry also had a touchdown catch for the Pirates.

Whitefish Bulldogs 43, Ronan Chiefs 13

In Western A football action Friday night, the visiting Whitefish Bulldogs outpaced the Ronan Chiefs 43-13.

Ronan quarterback Caleb Cheff put the first points on the scoreboard on a first quarter one yard jaunt into the endzone.

Rounding out the Chiefs’ scoring highlights on the night, Cheff connected with Robbie McCrae in the fourth quarter on a nine-yard touchdown pass.

Arlee Warriors 44, Plains Horsemen 8

The Arlee Warriors moved to a 3-3 overall record with a 44-8 home win over the Plains Horsemen on Friday evening.

Warrior running Jake Knoll snagged a Kendall O’Neill five-yard pass for a touchdown and rushed for three touchdowns of 25-, 5-, and 20-yards.

Volleyball

Florence-Carlton Lady Falcons 3, Arlee Scarlets 1

After taking the first set 25-15 over the Florence-Carlton Lady Falcons, the Arlee Scarlets fell in consecutive sets 14-25, 16-25, 22-25 to the Lady Falcons in a 3-1 home conference loss on Wednesday evening.

Anaconda Copperheads 3, Mission Lady Bulldogs 0

Missoula Loyola Breakers 3, Mission Lady Bulldogs 0

The visiting Anaconda Lady Copperheads swept the Mission Lady Bulldogs 25-21, 25-21, 25-20 on Tuesday evening, Sep. 27.

Gabby Smith led the Lady Bulldogs with 13 assists and 10 digs. Rowan McElderry and Izzy Evans each booked six kills on the night.

On the road in Missoula on Thursday, the Missoula Loyola Breakers defeated the visiting Lady Bulldogs 3-0.

Ronan Maidens 3, Libby Lady Loggers 0

Havre Lady Blue Ponies 3, Ronan Maidens 0

Margaret Cordova paced Ronan with four aces and 17 digs as the Maidens defeated the visiting Libby Lady Loggers in three straight sets 25-23, 25-12, 25-21 on Tuesday, Sep. 27.

Leina Ulutoa added a game high 24 assists and four blocks, while Lauryn Buhr pitched in with 13 kills.

On Saturday, the Havre Lady Blue Ponies defeated the visiting Maidens 25-6, 25-22, 25-17.

Charlo Lady Vikings 3, Superior Lady Bobcats 1

In a 14C conference match on Friday evening in Superior, the Charlo Lady Vikings came away with a 25-15, 22-25, 25-18, 25-16 four set victory over the hosting Lady Bobcats.

Polson Lady Pirates 3, Columbia Falls Wildkats 2

Avery Starr booked two kills, an ace, a block, and a game high 16 digs and 34 assists helping the Polson Lady Pirates to a five set 22-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-8, 15-9 victory over the visiting Columbia Falls Wildkats on Thursday evening.

Lady Pirates Lucy Violett and Sam Rensvold each posted 12 kills followed by Hannah Simpson with 11 kills. Violett also chipped in with 10 digs.

On Saturday, the Lady Pirates posted another win on the season with a 25-11, 25-15, 25-13 road victory over the Libby Lady Loggers.

Starr had 22 assists, while Julia Barnard added 10 digs.

Cross Country

Runners from around the Mission Valley found top ten success during prep cross country action last week.

On Tuesday, Lady Pirate Ashtyn Wagner placed fourth with aa time of 20:55.06 and with a time of 21:24.68 Ronan Maiden Olivia Heiner finished sixth during the Whitefish Cross Country Invitational hosted at the Whitefish Lake Golf Course.

Also on Tuesday, Arlee Scarlet freshman Bailey Smith finished seventh with a time of 27:20.56 and Two Eagle River Eagle Malacye Piapot placed tenth with a time 20:50.62 during the Arlee Hatchery Run hosted by Arlee High School.

In Hamilton at the Daly Mansion on Thursday, Andrew Rush crossed the finish line first with a time of 15:59.99 during the Hamilton Invitational. Rush was followed by Robbie Nuila in second with a time of 16:41.51 and Zoran LaFrombois in fourth place with a posted time of 16:56.59.

Bulldog Harlon Leishman (18:06.30) placed tenth as the Bulldogs won the boys’ team competition with a total of 39 team points.

Running at the Flower Creek Cross Country Ski Area in Libby on Saturday, Polson Lady Pirate Ashtyn Wagner finished runner up with a time of 19:36.49 during the Libby Wilderness Run.

In the boy’s race, Colter Wilson placed sixth with a time of 17:55.71 followed by Noah Roberts (18:12.86) in ninth and Drifter Skillicorn (18:16.85) in tenth.