Trojans survive Seeley ‘Hail Mary’, advance to Divisional
FRENCHTOWN – It can never be truly said that one player, action or bucket can be the sole reason for the outcome of game. But there are times when the cosmic tumblers of fate put someone in just such a position.
Enter Drummond’s Scott Parke.
With two Trojans playing sick, Drummond was in need of a hand to keep their postseason train on track. And it was mid-game when the lanky sophomore took to the floor to give teammate Colt Parsons a break.
But in the scant few minutes that he played he registered three rebounds, two blocked shots and one basket – which proved to be the difference in the game.
Stats aside, it was Parke who found himself guarding Seeley’s Owen Hoag with 1.6 seconds on the clock and his Trojans leading by one, 38-37.
In a timeout just prior to the play, Blackhawk Head Coach Michael Haines drew up a play where Hoag was the third option. The first two would have created jumpers on the right side from about 15 feet, but when those didn’t develop Chase Haines sent a high lob toward Hoag. Parke tried to defend the pass, but smartly put his arms straight up as the Seeley forward caught the ball and shot it before landing.
“(He’s got) Long arms and he’s so smart,” said DHS Head Coach Levi Parsons. “We figured that lob pass was gonna come so that’s where we wanted to put him to defend that. They certainly got a look at it.”
The attempt rattled around the hole before popping out, only to be rebounded by Parke as time ran out.
“I just had to breathe and compose myself and do what we’ve been doing all year,” explained Parke after the victory.
“We probably don’t use him as much as we should,” said Parsons of Parke. “He’s a smart, smart player. He has an incredible IQ for basketball and he did his job today.”
The victory sends the Trojans to the Class C Western Divisional Thursday night where they will play West Yellowstone in an 8 p.m. game. The tournament is being held at Frenchtown High School, the same venue as the District 13C event.
The two teams played dead even through halftime, tied 17-17. Drummond edged out to a 30-27 lead at the end of three and extended its advantage to as much as seven into the fourth. But the Blackhawks would not give in, fighting back to take a lead into final minute of the game.
With Seeley leading 37-36, Trojan senior Chase Goldade was fouled and sent to the free throw line for a 1-and-1. He sank both shots, giving him eight points (all on free throws) and Drummond what turned out to be the one-point winning margin.
“It feels great because I knew this was gonna be a dog fight,” said a relieved Parsons after the game. “I figured it was going to be a low-scoring game, more of a brawl than a basketball game, and it was. I was glad to come out on top of it.”
SCORING
Seeley Swan – 7/10/10/10 – 37
Drummond – 10/7/13/8 – 38
Seeley Swan – Mercado 12, Morphy 1, Hoag 6, Haines 10, James 2, McDonald 6
Drummond –SParke 2, CParke 15, Bryant 5, Phillips 2, Goldade 8, Parsons 2
