Victor takes second in District 13-C
by STACEY LISHOK - Ravalli Republic
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Victor Pirate Eric Bissett goes up for a basket against Alberton in a challenge game of the District 13-C tournament Monday in Missoula. The Pirates will square off against Twin Bridges in the Western C divisional tournament starting Thursday in Butte.
STACEY LISHOK - Ravalli Republic |
MISSOULA - Ahoy, Victor.
The Pirates put down the Alberton Panthers 50-40 in a District 13-C tournament challenge game Monday in Missoula for the district’s runner-up spot and a slot in the Western C divisional tournament in Butte.
Victor fell to Drummond in the district championship game Saturday which allowed Alberton to challenge the Pirates for the second division slot.
“They pushed through some tough adversity the other night,” Victor head coach Jay Jagelski said. “These boys just wanted it really, really bad. That’s why we got it.”
Alberton got on the board first and held a short-lived 4-0 lead before Pirate senior Eric Taylor put the first points up on the board for Victor with a basket and a trip to the charity stripe.
Taylor drained two 3-pointers for a 9-6 Victor lead and Pirate Chris Mai knocked another shot from downtown for a 12-6 lead. Alberton fought back and the game was tied 12-12 after the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter, the Panthers pulled ahead before Mark Frye picked up teammate Tyler Swanson’s trash to tie the game back up. Frye stepped to the foul line and once again gave the Pirates the lead.
In back-and-forth action, the two teams traded the lead before the Pirates pulled ahead for a 23-18 game headed into the second half.
“We had the tempo where we wanted it,” Jagelski said. “We knew we were in the right place at halftime. They set the tempo from the beginning and carried it through the game.”
In the third quarter, the Panthers tried to chip away at the Pirates’ lead but strong play by Eric Bissett, Frye and Taylor kept Victor ahead and carried them to a 38-27 game headed into the final frame.
“I made a couple of adjustments at halftime and the boys responded and hung in there down the stretch,” Jagelski said.
Six-foot-five Frye found himself in early foul trouble but substitute Clay Sacks, also 6-foot-5, stepped in for a Pirate presence in the paint.
“That bench is what got us the victory,” Jagelski said. “Clay Sacks, Josh Hixon and Chris Mai came off the bench and played huge minutes. It’s the best they’ve played all season.”
In the fourth quarter, a Bissett layup gave the Pirates a 41-29 edge as Alberton struggled to catch up. The Panthers pulled within nine but couldn’t overcome the Pirates dominating advantage and Victor advanced to the divisional tournament.
Jagelski said the difference between the Saturday’s championship game and the challenge game was nerves.
“We were more relaxed,” Jagelski said. “The championship was a little too tense for us. We shot the ball better and we just played better basketball.”
Taylor finished with 18 points to lead the Pirates while Frye and Bissett added eight points apiece.
The win gives Victor the No. 2 seed out of District 13-C and pits them against District 11/12-C Twin Bridges early Thursday morning.
“They’re a very tough team,” Jagelski said. “But it’s 9 a.m., anything can happen.”
Alberton 12 6 9 13 - 40
Victor 12 11 15 12 - 50
ALBERTON - Phillip Brovold 5, Cody Hoose 7, Jerry Brovold 13, Jordan Johnson 8, Jaime Davenport 2, Gary Martin 2, Kyle Ishler 3. Totals 16 4-6 40.
VICTOR - Gatlin Lamb 3, Eric Bissett 8, Tyler Swanson 1, Eric Taylor 18, Mark Frye 8, Chris Mai 6, Clay Sacks 2, Josh Hixon 4.Totals 13 19-32 50.
“We had the tempo where we wanted it,” Jagelski said. “We knew we were in the right place at halftime. They set the tempo from the beginning and carried it through the game.”
In the third quarter, the Panthers tried to chip away at the Pirates’ lead but strong play by Eric Bissett, Frye and Taylor kept Victor ahead and carried them to a 38-27 game headed into the final frame.
“I made a couple of adjustments at halftime and the boys responded and hung in there down the stretch,” Jagelski said.
Six-foot-five Frye found himself in early foul trouble but substitute Clay Sacks, also 6-foot-5, stepped in for a Pirate presence in the paint.
“That bench is what got us the victory,” Jagelski said. “Clay Sacks, Josh Hixon and Chris Mai came off the bench and played huge minutes. It’s the best they’ve played all season.”
In the fourth quarter, a Bissett layup gave the Pirates a 41-29 edge as Alberton struggled to catch up. The Panthers pulled within nine but couldn’t overcome the Pirates dominating advantage and Victor advanced to the divisional tournament.
Jagelski said the difference between the Saturday’s championship game and the challenge game was nerves.
“We were more relaxed,” Jagelski said. “The championship was a little too tense for us. We shot the ball better and we just played better basketball.”
Taylor finished with 18 points to lead the Pirates while Frye and Bissett added eight points apiece.
The win gives Victor the No. 2 seed out of District 13-C and pits them against District 11/12-C Twin Bridges early Thursday morning.
“They’re a very tough team,” Jagelski said. “But it’s nine a.m., anything can happen.”
Alberton 12 6 9 13 - 40
Victor 12 11 15 12 - 50
ALBERTON - Phillip Brovold 5, Cody Hoose 7, Jerry Brovold 13, Jordan Johnson 8, Jaime Davenport 2, Gary Martin 2, Kyle Ishler 3. Totals 16 4-6 40.
VICTOR - Gatlin Lamb 3, Eric Bissett 8, Tyler Swanson 1, Eric Taylor 18, Mark Frye 8, Chris Mai 6, Clay Sacks 2, Josh Hixon 4.Totals 13 19-32 50.
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