Scarlets hold off Trotters in early 14C showdown

PLAINS - It appeared as if the game could go either way but, in the end, it fell Arlee’s way.

The Plains Trotters and Arlee Scarlets faced off in an early season matchup of District 14C heavyweights Thursday and, after a close battle most of the way, the Scarlets managed to pull away and put away the game at the free throw line, finally winning 59-51.

Coach Jessica Nagy’s Trotters trailed only 39-38 heading into the fourth quarter but the Arlee girls made eight of 10 free throws after that to surge to the important conference win.

Lindsay Laws and Jessica Thompson led the Plains girls with 20 and 17 points each, respectively, Haley Josephson added four, Kara Altmiller and AnaLisa Loberg three apiece, and Natalee Deschamps and Rachel Huenink two each.

Alyssia Vanderburg led Arlee to the win with 33 points and Nellie Desjarlais added 11. Those two Scarlet players were the ones converting most of Arlee’s free throw chances in the fourth quarter.

In other action last week, the Trotters defeated Sanders County rival Thompson Falls 44-31 in Plains Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Laws led the Trotters in the non-conference win with 15 points, Thompson scored 11, Emma Morgan and Altmiller five apiece, and Josephson, Loberg, Deschamps and Huenink two each.

Please see other story for Thompson Falls scoring in the game.

The Trotters return to action after the holidays hosting St. Regis in Plains Jan. 4.