Red Devils rise and then fall

From the best to the worst, all in the matter of about 24 hours.

The Noxon Red Devil boys split home basketball games in the West End last week, upending Troy 61-53 Thursday during the best of times, and falling 59-18 to Plains during the worst of times.

Currently sporting a respectable record of 5-5, the Devils play at Clark Fork, Idaho, Thursday and in Pablo versus Two Eagle River Saturday. The Devils were to have played at Thompson Falls Tuesday but results of that game were not available

Red Devil coach Ryan Weltz was left scratching his head afterwards.

“It was kind of a strange week for us, we went from our best to our worst in the matter of one day,” he said. “I am not too disappointed, Plains is a very good team, but we are going to have to develop a little more consistency at some point.”

During the best of times against Troy, Weltz’s star son Rylan Weltz, one of the top point scorers in 14C, was definitely on the top of his game, scoring a game-high 32 points while pulling down an amazing total of 19 rebounds.

“I was encouraged by our game with Troy,” coach Weltz said. “They have some pretty decent talent and we were able to play our game and win.”

Michael Antonich added 11 points for the Devils, Brody Hill eight, Nate Cano and Aiden Galloway four apiece and Derreck Christensen two.

Terran Winebark led Troy with 14 points and Rick Fisher scored 11.

Against Plains, the Horsemen’s focus was to smother Rylan Weltz with defense, and the strategy worked to perfection. “They really took us our of our game,” coach Weltz said.

Weltz still counted 10 points to lead Noxon, and Hill, Galloway, Christensen and Wyatt Lackner two apiece.

See other story for Plains scoring.