Savage Heat girls are masters of their own hoop destiny

It must be nice, being in control of your own destiny. To have earned the ability, the right to call your own shots.

Ranked No. 7 in the most recent Montana Class C power poll and now an impressive 13-1 overall, the Hot Springs Savage Heat girls have put themselves in good position as the season winds down.

Now it is a matter of finishing the regular season strong and taking that impetus gained into the tournaments.

The Heat beat Valley Christian 66-29 in Missoula Friday in their only game last week. Coach Richard Jackson and several of his players then went to the Plains-Arlee game in Arlee Saturday and scouted that game.

“It was a good way to end the week, we went and watched Plains play Arlee,” Jackson said. “We are feeling good about how we are playing and knowing that we kind of control our own destiny right now. The key for us is to take things one game at a time.”

One game at a time, that is, until Feb. 15, when the Heat host No. 4 ranked, 14-0 Charlo. The Vikings edged the Heat 43-40 in Charlo earlier this season. The marquee matchup could determine the league champion, although Charlo does hold the head-to-head tiebreaker and could be declared the No. 1 seed for the tournament based on that, even if Hot Springs wins the rematch.

Before Feb. 15 however, there is this manner of games with upstarts Plains and Noxon this week. The Heat face the Trotters in Plains Thursday. The improving Trotters gave Charlo a scare last week in Plains, taking a lead into the fourth quarter before falling 39-30.

The young Lady Devils scored an impressive road win in St. Regis last week. Another improving commodity in District 14C, the Devils will visit Hot Springs for a potentially interesting conference game Saturday.

“Plains and Noxon are doing some good things,” Jackson said. “We are not about to overlook them, we look for good games with both.”

Jackson said Valley Christian stayed with the Heat for a little while last week before the Spa City girls finally overwhelmed the Eagles.

Sydney Jackson led the way with 17 points and five steals, the versatile Katelyn Christensen added 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, McKennzie Cannon 10 points and three steals, Lizzy Fisher eight points, Lily Winn seven, Brianna Gray five and Josie Uski and Irene Bravo two each. Gray also cleared seven rebounds.

Bella Roff led Valley with nine points and Ashlyn Kelly added eight.