County conference battle for Noxon, Hot Springs

Basketball fans from the west end made the trek to the prairie last Friday as Noxon visited Hot Springs for a rematch of early-season cross-country action.

The Noxon boys had one loss for the season as they traveled to Hot Springs on Saturday to take on the Savage Heat.

It was a defensive battle early for the county rivals as Noxon had the only basket for much of the first quarter. Finally in the final two minutes of the first, both teams were able to find the basket and they were tied at 14. Hot Springs went on a run in the second and was up 22-14 when Noxon kicked it into high gear, scoring 11 unanswered points to take back the lead.

"I think we were just a little tired in the first half," said Noxon senior Shane Murray.

In the second half, Noxon played like the winning team they have been this season, with Hot Springs struggling to keep up on defense as Noxon stole the ball and made continuous fast breaks to the basket. Hot Springs would attempt to keep up but the Red Devils had a commanding 63-45 lead going into the final eight minutes.

Noxon continued to steal the show - literally - in the final quarter and kept their distance from the Savage Heat on the scoreboard to take the win 80-66.

"We played with intensity in the second half. We were thirsty for the win and got moving, playing really good team ball," said Murray, who added that several of the players have been playing basketball for several years and as the season progresses, they realize it will be their last games together. Murray said the team has a goal of making it to state, and is looking forward to additional games with Lincoln and Seeley this season.

Murray scored 26 in the Noxon win, followed by Justice Kayser with 17 points, Cameron Blair with 15, Shane Hatchel with 12 and Ricky Williams with 10 points. Ben Aldridge led in scoring for Hot Springs with 18 points, while Wesley Adams and Daniel Slonaker added 12 each, Nick McAllister scored nine, Weston Slonaker seven, Chase DePoe six and Pedro Vidotti two.

The Savage Heat girls easily won their matchup against Noxon on Friday, 62-30. As the teams took the court and got warmed up, Noxon kept up with the Savage Heat until Kara Christensen kicked up the momentum with a three-pointer to take the lead. The Savage Heat defense eventually overtook Noxon, as Hot Springs senior Brooke Jackson pulled down several rebounds in the first half that turned into additional points on the scoreboard.

The Red Devils were down 38-15 at the half, but they didn't give up and continued to challenge the Savage Heat on the court.

Mackenzie Johnson of Hot Springs was aggressive against the Noxon offense and scored eight points for the Savage Heat in their win. Coach Richard Jackson noted that Jackson, Kora Hensrude and Lilia Sapanel each had eight rebounds against Noxon. "We practice rebounds every day," he said. Lilia Sapanel led in scoring for Hot Springs with 21 points, Jackson added 14, Johnson eight, Christensen and Kora Hensrude four each, Callie Cano and Lanet Jakabosky each had three points and Elenor Massey scored two. "Elenor handles pressure like I've neer seen a kid handle it. She's a workhorse," Coach Jackson said of the eighth-grader.

For the Red Devils, Abby Yoder led in scoring with 14 points and Seanna Richter added 11.

ST. REGIS 59,

NOXON 52

The Noxon boys went into Saturday's home game against St. Regis with determination and nearly handed the Tigers their first loss of the season. The Noxon loss was only their second of the season.

"We need to make sure we play good straight up defense," senior Murray said ahead of the St Regis game. The defense stepped up, holding the tough Tigers as the Red Devils kept scoring and had a slight lead going into the second half, 28-24. St. Regis would gear up in the second half, though, and hold on to their undefeated record.

Murray again led Noxon in scoring with 21, Blair scored 13 points, Hatchel 10 and Williams added four points.

ST. REGIS 42, NOXON 18

The Lady Tigers made quick work of the Noxon Lady Devils, coming out hot and dominating the first quarter, keeping the young Devils to only six points while gaining 15. Both teams brought the heat in the second quarter and were able to balance out the score with just five points each but the Tigers had a comfortable lead at the half.

St. Regis kept their intensely competitive nature in the third quarter and kept Noxon to just one basket while gaining 11 points themselves. Keeping that momentum the Tigers kept their lead and the Devils to just five points in the final quarter while securing their home court win.

"The girls didn't ever give up and played through the whole game. I'm proud of them for that. Gearing up for Troy we are just going to get back to post play work and transitioning the ball," said head coach Cory Brodmerkle.

CHARLO 50, HOT SPRINGS 48

Saturday's game for the Lady Savage Heat against the Charlo Vikings was a little like a NASCAR race. The excitement came in the final lap, or three minutes in the case of the basketball game.

It was a nail biter and a close game from the first seconds and the teams traded baskets. Charlo converted a steal to points at the end of the first quarter to hold a two-point lead. The teams then traded leads in the second eight minutes until Charlo pulled ahead for a four-point lead at halftime as Hot Springs struggled to find the basket.

The Hot Springs defense made Charlo work for every point in the second half, as the Savage Heat worked to drive to the basket and Lilia Sapanel was able to add points to the scoreboard from down low. Hot Springs took the lead and was up 34-31 as the final quarter started. Callie Cano hit a three to put the Savage Heat up 45-39 with three minutes left.

Charlo didn't miss a basket and Hot Springs fouls allowed the Vikings to score much-needed points in the final two minutes. Charlo worked to tie the game at 45 with less than two minutes to go. With 25 seconds left, Charlo held a one-point lead and both teams were hungry for the win.

It would be free throws that would win the game as both teams fouled to try and get the ball back, adding the final points to the scoreboard in the final seconds. Hot Springs got the ball back with just over two seconds remaining, but it would be the Vikings that would hold on to the lead and go home with the win.

"I'm proud of their effort," Coach Jackson said of his team. "Our success is coming because we're playing team ball."

Christensen led the Savage Heat in scoring with 15, Sapanel had 13, Cano 11, Massey 4, and Cannon and Jackson two apiece. Christensen and Jackson led the team with eight rebounds each.

"Our team is getting better each and every week. We're winning as a team and it shows," Jackson said. "The girls are playing wonderful."

HOT SPRINGS 75, CHARLO 48

On Saturday, the Hot Springs boys made quick work of the Charlo Vikings in a 75-48 win at home.

"Everything went well. We only had five free throws so it was a pretty clean game," Coach Mike Benson said.

DePoe led the Saturday scoring with 16 points. "Chase just comes in and takes care of business. He controlled the game well on Saturday. He just does his job and makes everybody better," Coach Benson noted.

McAllister and Weston Slonaker scored 14 each, Adams added nine, Daniel Slonaker eight, Vidotti, Aldridge and Bill Detienne four each and Calvin Timmer had a basket for the Savage Heat. Benson said he has a resilient team this year. "They were charged up for Saturday."