Warriors turn back Horsemen again

It wasn’t pretty but, in the end Plains’ 80-39 loss in Arlee Thursday was one of the closest games the unbeaten Warriors have been in this season.

Horsemen coach Mike Cole was not very impressed with the level of play in the District 14C marquee matchup, which featured the 11-1 Plains boys and the 12-0 Warriors coming in.

“It seemed like there was no rhythm to the game, it just wasn’t well-played by either team,” he said. “Arlee ended up getting it done but I look forward to some better basketball if we eventually play again.”

It would seem that the Horsemen and Warriors are headed to at least one more meeting – perhaps in the District 14C tournament championship later this month in Pablo – but Cole knows there are no guarantees in basketball.

“We have to continue to take things one game at a time,” he said. “There’s only two weeks of the regular season left and then we are into the tournament.”

The Horsemen will host Hot Springs Thursday and travel to St. Regis Friday.

Cole said Arlee’s All-State C guard Philip Malatare was the big difference in last week’s game with Arlee. “He did exactly what his team needed him to do,” Cole said. “He stayed out of foul trouble, ran their offense well and made big plays.”

Malatare scored 30 points to pace Arlee, Lane Johnson added 13 and Will Mesteth nine.

Jay VonHeeder led Plains with 12 points, Kyle Weeks and Treydon Broullette added six apiece, Sinjin LaDeaux five, and Matt McCracken and Derick Curry four each. McCracken also tracked down a lifetime-best 13 rebounds.

In other action last week, the Horsemen fought off Seeley-Swan 58-49 in Plains Saturday. The Blackhawks led 30-27 at halftime before the Plains boys finally took control in the second half.

“Seeley had a good game plan,” Cole said. “They did a great job of using their size and controlled the flow of the game at times.”

Ovitt and Curry turned in career-best scoring efforts to lead Plains to the win, as Ovitt torched the nets for 23 points and Curry for 18, VonHeeder added nine, Weeks four and Wyatt Weyers and McCracken two apiece.

Cameron Haines led Seeley-Swan with 16 points and Keaton Johnson scored 12.