Girls: Granite edges Drummond in dramatic win
PHILIPSBURG – It was everything you could hope for in a game against your rival, especially if you were a member of the Lady Prospectors. Granite held on to edge Drummond 49-47 Saturday night to even the season series at 1-1 and avenge a six-point loss to the Lady Trojans from Jan. 4.
The Lady Trojans took an early lead after one quarter, 16-12, but the host Lady Prospectors came roaring back to hit intermission with a 27-26 advantage. The two squads played an even third period and entered the fourth with Granite still ahead by one, 36-35.
The Lady Prospectors were leading 42-40 with just under four minutes to play when Drummond’s Rylee Hilmo stepped to the line to shoot a pair of free throws. She hit the first and missed the second, only to have it scooped up by teammate Sydney Phillips and put back, giving the Lady Trojans a 43-42 lead.
When Granite went to the other end of the floor, Phillips blocked the shot of the Lady Prospectors Asha Comings and then found Jessie Struna on the fast break with a pass that she put in to give Drummond a 45-42 advantage.
But Granite was far from done.
Rachel Ward got the Lady Prospectors headed back in the right direction with a running jumper in the lane that found the bottom of the net and brought her team within a point 45-44. A Lady Trojan turnover and foul put Amelia Hill at the line, who missed the front end of a 1-and-1, only to have teammate Reece Pitcher collect the rebound and put it back in for a 46-45 Granite lead.
The Lady Trojans answered on their next possession when Phillips was sent to the charity stripe for a two-shot foul. She sank both and Drummond led again 47-46.
But the Lady Prospectors got the final word as time ticked down, with Hill making two of four free throws down the stretch and Ward going 1-for-2 to secure the win.
To see all of the action from Friday night's fourth quarter, view the video below exclusively from the Flint Creek Courier!
“It was a great effort,” said DHS Head Coach Nate Bignell. “There are a few things we’ve got to clean up. We got out-rebounded tonight. We’re kind of sick right now and we’ve just got to get healthy.
When coupled with their defeat the night before in Twin Bridges, Saturday marked the first time all season that the Lady Trojans have lost back-to-back games.
“We’ll get out of it,” remarked Bignell. “The girls always play hard so we’ll get out of it. I’d rather have these close games than blow outs. We always learn something from games like this.”
Comings was the leading scorer for Granite with 19 while Hill had 13.
Phillips led Drummond with 19 as well, while Hannah Bradshaw chipped in 11.
The two teams will part ways until the District Tournament in a few weeks. Granite will host Ennis Friday for its Senior Night before heading out on the road Saturday to play at Clark Fork. The Trojans will host Seeley Swan Friday and then head to Sheridan Saturday afternoon.
SCORING
DRUMMOND – 16/10/9/12 – 47
GRANITE – 12/15/9/13 – 49
Drummond – Hilmo 3, Phillips 19, Parke 6, Struna 2, Bradshaw 11, Hauptman 6
Granite – Hill 13, Struna 4, Ward 3, Pitcher 3, Comings 19, Radtke 7
