Arlee boys headed for state, girls done
Linda Sappington
Arlee point guard Zack Camel drives to the bucket during the District 14-C tournament two weeks ago. During the Western C divisional tourney last weekend, Camel set a new state record for assists in a season with 248 assists. The old record, set in 1994-95, was 230.
Linda Sappington
Head coach Richard Bachmeier instructs the Arlee Scarlets during the District 14-C tournament two weeks ago. The Scarlets were undefeated until their meeting with Gardiner in the first round of divisionals last weekend.
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PHILIPSBURG — The Arlee Warriors are returning to state after beating Ennis 68-60 in a challenge game Monday night in Philipsburg.
Ranked fifth in the state before the Western C divisional tournament, the Warriors lost their first tournament game to Manhattan Christian by a score of 65-57. According to head coach JR Camel, that loss was a wakeup call.
“We got beat the first game and then came right back and won three games,” he said Monday morning. “The first day, we didn’t hit a couple shots, but those last three games we played like we were supposed to, and we’re on a roll. All our starters played well; they came through and we won our last two games by 20, so I think we’re ready to go tonight.”
After falling to Manhattan Christian, Arlee pulled out a narrow victory Friday over Gardiner, 59-57, to stay in the tournament. Saturday morning, the Warriors shut down Superior 61-42 before hammering the Drummond Trojans 64-44 in the consolation game.
“I think (the boys) played really well on Saturday,” Arlee athletic director Jim Taylor said. “They started a little slow, but come Saturday, they played really well. That showed we came to play, we just hope we can keep it going (Monday night).”
Senior Zachary Camel set a new state record for total assists in a season with 248, shattering the old record of 230 set by Shane Gamradt from Fairfield High School during the 1994-95 season.
“That’s the main (record) right now (for Arlee),” Taylor said. “We have some track records right now, but nothing in basketball.”
Coach Camel said he still believes the Warriors have a shot at the state title.
“I hope so; that’s the plan,” he said. “We worked hard for this and it should be a good match-up. We’re going to give it all we can and that’s all I can ask of my boys. As long as they give 100 percent, they should do well.”
No matter the outcome, it’s already been a good year for Arlee basketball, noted senior Rocky Lewis, who’s only had one year to play for the Warriors.
“I think we have a pretty good chance (of beating Ennis),” Lewis said Monday afternoon. “I’m just trying to mentally prepare myself.”
Both the Arlee boys and girls teams won districts for the first time in school history, according to Taylor. The Scarlets went into the divisional tourney undefeated, but a tough Gardiner squad was able to stop the Arlee girls, 48-42, sending the Scarlets to a loser-out contest against Harrison-Willow Creek on Friday. Arlee bounced back with a 56-45 victory over the Lady Wildcats, led by junior Whitney Malatare’s 23 points. Senior Mahalia Hendren added 15 points, and the Scarlets were able to pull away in strong second and third periods, outscoring the Lady Wildcats 28-11 in the two middle frames.
Arlee’s luck wouldn’t hold, as the Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks ended the Scarlets’ postseason run on Saturday. Behind 11 points from Violet Pablo and nine from Hendren, Arlee was neck-and-neck with Seeley in all but the third frame, when the Lady Blackhawks came back from the break with a vengeance, outscoring Arlee 23-6. It was a lead Arlee couldn’t make up, and the Scarlets fell 56-39.
The Scarlets will lose four seniors to graduation: Tiffany O’Neill, Tayla Desjarlais, Skyla Perry and Hendren.
Western C Divisional Tournament
Girls
Loser out
Seeley-Swan 56, Arlee 39
Seeley6142313 — 56
Arlee 912 612 — 39
SEELEY — Hope Crowell, Paige Holmes 11; KeAnna Conley 10; Hailey Towe 9; Shelby Holmes 5; Tyffany Wendel, Kelsey Linford 4; Mariah Cooper-Nies 2.
ARLEE — Violet Pablo 11; Mahalia Hendren 9; Alexis Shick 6; Skyla Perry 5; Whitney Malatare 4; Tayla Desjarlais 3; Rebecca Whitesell 1.
Loser out
Arlee 56, Harrison-Willow Creek 45
Arlee 10181018 —56
Harrison14 8 320 —45
ARLEE — Whitney Malatare 23; Mahalia Hendren 15; Rebecca Whitesell, Tayla Desjarlais 5; Violet Pablo 3; Skyla Perry, Alexis Shick 2; Tiffany O’Neill 1.
Round 1
Gardiner 48, Arlee 42
Gardiner 8151411 —48
Arlee 7 91610 —42
ARLEE — Mahalia Hendren 17; Whitney Malatare 11; Violet Pablo 7; Alexis Shick 5; Tayla Desjarlais 2.
Boys
Consolation
Arlee 66, Drummond 46
Arlee 22151019 —66
Drummond 71515 9 —46
ARLEE — Josh Reed 22; Rocky Lewis 16; Christian Haynes 9; Aaron Fisher 6; Dominic Burland 5; Zack Camel 4; Pancho Torres, Patrick Bigsam 2.
DRUMMOND — Mac Bignell 21; Joseph Parke 9; Kevin Oberweiser, Danny Mannix 7; John Manley 2.
Loser out
Arlee 61, Superior 42
Arlee 12181714 —61
Superior1312 8 9 —42
ARLEE — Josh Reed 19; Rocky Lewis 14; Justin Adams 9; Zack Camel, Isaac Camel 6; Christian Haynes 4; Aaron Fisher 3.
Loser out
Arlee 59, Gardiner 57
Arlee 19131710 —59
Gardiner121918 8 —57
ARLEE — Rocky Lewis, Zack Camel 14; Josh Reed 13; Christian Haynes 10; Justin Adams, Isaac Camel 3; Dominic Burland 2.
Round 1
Manhattan Christian 65, Arlee 57
Manhattan 15151718 —65
Arlee 11101422 —57
ARLEE — Rocky Lewis 16; Zack Camel 12; Christian Haynes 11; Josh Reed 10; Justin Adams 6; Dominic Burland 2.
