Trotters, Lions battle to the end

Plains hosted the top team in the District, Bigfork, last Tuesday. The Valkyries won 69-8 against the Trotters and the Vikings beat the Horsemen 75-19.

For the Horsemen, Zayden Allen and Anaya Loberg were the top scorers with five points each.

On Saturday, Plains hosted the Eureka Lions.The stands were packed with fans in Plains as Loberg launched a three-pointer to get the game rolling. Loberg also sank the last shot to end the first quarter, 14-7 and the Eureka Lions sprang a three-pointer to seal the half at 29-13.

The Lions kept up their stronghold to lead at the end of the third 56-20. Wyatt Butcher scored the first three points of the fourth quarter for Plains and Keenan McDole was quick on his feet and nailed in the shots for Eureka to end the game at 72-28.

Coach Tyrel Allen said the team did good on their free throws with a 65% success rate. Standeford and Loberg were the top scorers for the team with seven points each.

For the Trotters and the Lady Lions it was an epic battle to the end. Eureka started off the game with a three-pointer while Kassidy O'Keefe landed the first basket for the Trotters. Carlie Wagoner swooped in a shot at the buzzer to end the quarter at 23-8. Plains was just getting warmed up.

The Trotters dominated the court in the second quarter making free throws and pouncing in the shots while keeping the Lions from scoring. At 4:00 minutes on the clock, Eureka was up 25-16 and then the back and forth battle began. Lexie Deming made a free throw before landing a shot from the floor. She then slammed another screaming shot and another. The fans exploded and the gym was on fire. The half ended at 32-27, Eureka.

Jaelyn Carr fired a three-pointer to start the third quarter off with a bang. The Trotters were then rocketed to the lead by a shot by Wagoner with three minutes on the clock. The Lions made a couple of hard shots, Carr made a three-pointer and Deming made two-points at the free-throw line to end the third at 47-41, Eureka up by six.

Deming made the first points to start the fourth but the win was slipping away with 1:50 left on the clock and Eureka with a 10 point lead 54-44. The baskets were well defended on both sides and the Lions triumphed at 56-45. Eureka drove home with 56 on their license plates and the girls boasting 56 points. Plains will have a chance at redemption on Valentine's Day, as they travel to Eureka for a play-in game to see who moves on to the District tournament.

Plains will be traveling to play Mission on Thursday and is scheduled for a good match-up game with Superior on Friday for senior night in Plains.