Tallon’s career mark leads Granite; Lady Prospectors topple top-ranked 'Cats
SUPERIOR – It was a big night all around for Granite High School Basketball – from Andrew Tallon’s career milestone to the Lady Prospectors besting District 14C’s number one squad.
Boys Varsity Basketball
Granite 50, Superior 40
The Granite boys led wire to wire, but it was a basket midway into the second period that was the highlight of the game.
Eric Pitcher picked off a Bobcats pass on the left side of the court and fed Tallon streaking up the middle to score an easy lay in that put the Prospectors up 16-9. But just as importantly, it was the senior’s seventh point of the game and gave him 1,000 for his career.
"Going into the game the scoring was on my mind,” said Tallon postgame, “but once I hit the 1,000 I was just trying to win the game and was glad we were able to get a ‘W’."
Tallon finished with a game-high 22, leaving him with 1,015 points going into the District 13C Tournament Thursday. Tallon was 13-for-14 from the free throw line and dished out three assists on the night.
Video courtesy of the NFHS Network & Jeff Laslovich
Pitcher and Cavan Babbitt each had 10 points and eight rebounds.
“We played well,” remarked GHS Head Coach Mindy Avila after the win, “Defensively we were focused and we worked on things that we needed to work on for districts. Offensively we tried to have a little fun with it.
“Ultimately the goal was to get Andrew to his 1,000th point. He only needed seven points tonight but he ended up with 22. Words can’t express how proud I am to have been part of his journey and this momentous mark in his high school career. I'm proud of you Drew!”
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
Granite – 12/11/12/15 – 50
Superior – 9/10/8/13 – 40
Granite – Pitcher 10, Tallon 22, Babbitt 10, White 7, Dauenhauer 1
Superior – Avila 12, Donald 5, Richald 6, Plakke 10, Quin 6, Haworth 1
Varsity Girls Basketball
Granite 55, Superior 43
If a team was piquing at the right time headed into the postseason, it is the Lady Prospectors.
Granite (14-4) has reeled off four straight victories, including big wins over Seeley Swan (No. 2 in D13C) and Saturday at Superior. The Lady Bobcats had been 16-1 (according to 406Sports) headed into Saturday’s contest and were the No. 1 team by four games in District 12C.
The two squads paced each other through three quarters, with the Lady Prospectors holding a 31-27 lead. The Lady Bobcats tried to rally in the final stanza, but Granite was more than up to the task outscoring them 24-16 and hitting four of their six three point shots in the final eight minutes.
Senior Gretchen Hill led the way with 18 points, eight rebounds and nine steals. Rachel Ward scored 13, with Lucia Lee and Montannah Piar each chipping in nine.
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
Granite 6/12/13/24 – 55
Superior – 3/14/10/16 – 43
Granite – Ward 13, Smith 3, Piar 9, Lee 9, Hill 18, Tallon 3
Superior – Haskins 3, Pereria 3, Patko 5, Azure 2, Crabb 20, Millender 10
