Savage Heat boys bow out

The Hot Springs Savage Heat boys advanced to the District 14C tournament semifinals last week before eventually being eliminated.

Coach Scott Fredrickson’s Savage Heat defeated Noxon 54-36 in Hot Springs the first round last Tuesday, February 16, lost 54-28 to St. Regis in the semis Thursday, defeated Plains 45-31 in loser-out play Friday and finally fell to Charlo 46-42 in the 14C consolation game.

“I am proud of the kids, they hung together all year,” Fredrickson said. “We hope to have a good off-season, to have a good year in the gym and to come back better next year.”

Ankle injuries to junior starters Kyle Lawson and Jack McAllister late in the regular season hampered both Savage Heat players.

Against Noxon, Lawson still managed to score 14 points to lead the Heat win, Mario Garcia and Nathan Lawhead scored 10 each, Lincoln Slonaker eight, McAllister five, Michael Marrinan four, Vania Afonin two and Benedict Waterbury one.

See other story for Noxon scoring.

St. Regis, which went on to defeat Clark Fork for the 14C title, raced out to a 26-14 lead by halftime against Hot Springs and blew the game wide open with an 18-6 win of the third to take a 44-20 advantage.

Caleb Ball scored 19 points and Andrew Stanford 15 for St. Regis.

Back on court against Plains Friday, the Heat stayed alive as Lawson led them to the win over their county rivals with 22 points. Marrinan added eight points, Slonaker and Lawhead four apiece, Afonin three, Garcia two and Marrinan and Waterbury one each.

See other story for Plains scoring.

Completing season play against Charlo Saturday, the Heat led 35-31 heading into the fourth quarter but the Vikings rallied to win.

McAllister scored 17 points to lead Hot Springs, Lawson added nine and Slonaker and Garcia eight each.

Phil Marquez led Charlo with 21 points and Roper Edwards added nine.