Red Devils edge Savage Heat

The Noxon Red Devil boys endured a close call in Hot Springs, escaping the Spa City and its charged-up Savage Heat 47-46 in District 14C action Saturday.

Coach Bart Haflich was happy to get out of town with the win. The Savage Heat were bolstered by the addition of a few junior high players which just became eligible after getting their required 10 practices in (please see other story).

“Hot Springs played pretty well, you have to give them credit,” Haflich said, “we really struggled with them. Fortunately we put a run together in the fourth quarter and managed to get out of there with the win.”

Brandon Knudsen was the Devils’ biggest defensive challenge, throwing down a career-high 31 points to lead Hot Springs.

Noxon answered Knudsen’s heroics with a balanced scoring attack. Logan Wood scored 16 points (reportedly including the two clinching free throws in the closing seconds), Levi Brubaker added 12, Rylan Weltz 10, Braedon Marshall and Ethan Hinrichsen four apiece and Owen Fisher one.

Please see other story for complete Hot Springs scoring.

In action earlier last week, the Devils hosted the No. 1 ranked, unbeaten Arlee Warriors Thursday, and Arlee triumphed 73-36.

Weltz scored 11 points to lead Noxon, Alex Currie added 10, Wood four, Aiden Galloway, Fisher and Marshall three each, and Brubaker two.

Phillip Malatare scored 22 points to lead the Warriors, who have not lost a game since falling to Plains back in December of 2016, and Will Mesteth and Greg Whitesell added 12 apiece.

With only one game on tap, the Devils will complete the regular season visiting Plains Saturday.