Lady Prospectors roll, Granite guys fall in home finale

PHILIPSBURG – Gifts were exchanged, tears were shed, and players were honored as Granite hosted Arlee for Senior Night in its home finale of the regular season. The girls stayed on a roll while the boys had to rally after a slow first quarter.

Girls Varsity Basketball

Granite 67, Arlee 27

The Lady Prospectors started fast and kept their foot on the pedal Thursday night in their win over the Scarlets of Arlee. Granite took a 31-15 halftime lead and blew it wide open in the third with a 27-2 run the started the running clock and banked the victory.

Rachel Ward scored 23 points in her home finale as a Lady Prospector, with fellow senior Gretchen Hill adding 10 and five steals. Montannah Piar had 13 points and Ramsey Smith added 14 points and six steals. Senior Lucia Lee also scored seven and had a team-high nine rebounds.

“(The) girls played together tonight; an amazing team win,” said GHS Head Cash Laslovich. “We are right where we need to be heading into Districts.”

Once the Lady Prospectors finish the regular season Saturday at Superior, Granite (3rd seed) will head into the District 13C tournament Feb. 16 against Victor (6th seed). That game will be played at 4:30 p.m. at Hamilton High School. The winner will advance to play the winner of the Seeley Swan-Lincoln game at 6:30 p.m. Friday, while the loser plays at 12:30 p.m.

SCORING

Arlee – 9/6/2/10 – 27

Granite – 17/14/27/9 – 67

Arlee – Jacobson 2, Mesteth 8, Pier 11, Bolen 2, Fisher 4

Granite – Ward 23, Hill 10, Lee 7, Piar 13, Smith 14

Girls Junior Varsity

Arlee 22, Granite 9

Ella Tallon led the Lady Prospectors in scoring with three, while Emily White, Allison Benson and Addi Lilyquist each chipped in two.

Boys Varsity

Arlee 66, Granite 49

The Prospectors paced visiting Arlee in the game’s final three stanzas, but it was the opening period that cost the home team a chance at pulling off the win in the end. The Warriors opened the game with a 14-3 first period that set Granite on its heels and gave them a lead they would never relinquish.

Andrew Tallon poured in 25 points in final home game as a Prospector. Eric Pitcher added three but cleaned the glass with 14 rebounds, 13 on defense.

Granite finished fourth in District 13C play and will open the postseason tournament Feb. 16 in Hamilton against No. 5 seed Valley Christian. The winner gets to face Darby in the second round Friday at 2 p.m. The Tigers finished first and received a bye in their opener.

SCORING

Arlee – 14/20/16/16 – 66

Granite – 3/16/15/15 – 49

Arlee – Swaney 3, Ostby 11, Fiddler 8, O’Neil 6, Tewawina 5, Arca 12, Harlow-Oldperson 15, Knoll 6

Granite – Pitcher 3, Tallon 25, Babbit 6, White 9, Dauenhauer 5, Grizwold 1