Heat fall to Vikings in 14C battle

It’s hard to believe he said it right after the game, but he is saying it now.

“That loss is the best thing that has ever happened to us,” Hot Springs coach Richard Jackson said Monday evening. “I predict it will help us get our heads right for the rest of the season.”

The Charlo Lady Vikings scored a key District 14C win over Hot Springs in Charlo Friday, staving off the Savage Heat 43-40.

Although he would not directly criticize the officiating in the game, Jackson did point to the fact that Hot Springs was awarded only nine free throws for the night (making five), while the Vikings toed the line for 30 attempts and made 16.

“That kind of speaks for itself,” he said. “We played hard and gave ourselves a chance but, in the end, it was a little too much to overcome.”

Katelyn Christensen led the Savage Heat in Charlo, scoring a game-high 16 points and pulling down five rebounds, McKennzie Cannon added 10 points, Irene Bravo six, Lizzy Fisher four and Brianna Gray and Lily Winn two apiece.

Although she didn’t score, floor general Sydney Jackson orchestrated the Heat’s attack with four assists, in addition to coming up with six steals.

Connor Fryberger led Charlo with 10 points, Destiny Manuel and Live Smith added eight each, Carli Fryberger seven and Kayli Cox five.

The win over St. Regis was much more typical of the way things have gone for the powerful Savage Heat this season. Hot Springs improved to 10-1 on the season last week.

Christensen turned in yet another outstanding effort in leading the Heat, scoring 26 points and collecting eight rebounds, Cannon went off for 21 points and 16 rebounds, and Jackson had six points, five steals and five assists.

Bravo, Gray, Winn, Fisher, Danielle Graham and Emma Rae Rassmussen scored two points apiece.

Macy Hill scored 11 points and Kylee Thompson seven for St. Regis.

The Heat play Two Eagle River in Pablo Thursday of this week, and host Troy Friday.