Polson, Mission teams compete on court for first time in 15 years
Rob Zolman
Mission Lady Bulldog Sydney Brander drives to the hoop for a score
Rob Zolman
Polson Pirate Colton Graham looks for an open teammate.
Rob Zolman
Mission Lady Bulldog Madyson Currie and Lady Pirate Julia Barnard fight for a loose ball.
Rob Zolman
Bulldog and Pirate players prepare to battle for a rebound.
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By Rob Zolman
Valley Journal
PABLO — For the first time since the 2005-2006 season, the Class A Polson High School and Class B St. Ignatius High School basketball teams battled against each other on the hardwood court.
The boys game was held on Tuesday, Feb. 9, at the Salish Kootenai College event center while the girls game was held at the St. Ignatius High School gym.
In the rekindled intra-county matchup, the Polson Pirates, playing on their home court, claimed a 75-38 win over the Mission Bulldogs.
The Lady Bulldogs prevailed over the visiting Lady Pirates 55-38. In the girls game, Sydney Brander posted a game-high 16 points, Kooper Page had 11 points and Gabby Smith chipped in 10 as the Lady Bulldogs improved to an 8-6 overall season record with their second win in three games.
Jazlyn Dalbey and Mossy Kauley had seven points each to lead a young, scrappy Polson squad who is playing in a rebuilding season under first-season Lady Pirates head coach Ryan Antos.
Although the final margin was 37 points in the boys game, the first half was very competitive.
After falling behind 14-8 in the first quarter, the Bulldogs outscored the Pirates 19-14 in the second quarter to pull within one point of the Pirates’ lead, 28-27, before each team headed into the locker room at the half.
In the third quarter, the Pirates went on a blistering 29-7 scoring run to finish the period up 57-34. The Pirates stingy fourth-quarter defense controlled the action the rest of the way, allowing only four total points by the Bulldogs’ offense.
Colton Graham scored a game-high 24 points, and it was his third consecutive game for scoring 20 points or more to lead the Pirates.
Also for the Pirates, Jarrett Wilson dropped in 19 points while JC Steele had 11.
Leading the pack for the Bulldogs, Zoran LaFrombois netted 21 points for his fourth consecutive 20-plus point game of the season.
