Imperfect timing: Crucial phantom timeout costs Polson in tourney
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RONAN - The season didn't quite end the way the Lady Pirates were hoping.
Polson came into the Northwestern A Divisional Tournament hoping to make a return trip to the state tournament, but the Lady Pirates had to settle for a consolation championship after dropping a semifinal matchup to Libby Friday evening.
Mental mistakes cost the Lady Pirates dearly Friday as Polson turned the ball over 22 times in a 29-27 loss to the Lady Loggers. Even with the mistakes, Polson saw two golden opportunities slip away in the game's closing moments.
Polson trailed by two with just over eight seconds to go when a missed free throw by the Loggers left the Lady Pirates with a chance to tie or take the lead. Point guard Mariah Hamel brought the ball to half-court and then turned on the speed heading unopposed to the basket. She would never get there, though, as the official blew his whistle to signal a timeout. The problem was, no one had called the timeout. Polson head coach Randy Kelley was furious as the teams made their way into their respective huddles for the timeout, but made the best of the situation by drawing up what he hoped would be a game-tying play.
The Pirates got the ball to Riley Kenney on the ensuing inbounds play and Kelley made a strong move to the basket to put in what looked to be the game-tying shot with a foul call as the clock stopped at just under two seconds to play. Once again, things were not as they seemed. The officials waved off the basket, claiming that the foul had been committed on the floor prior to the shot.
Kelley still had a chance to tie the contest but missed the first of a one-and-one opportunity.
As the teams battled for the rebound, time ran out on Polson's state tournament hopes as Libby escaped with the win.
The 27 points by Polson was the Lady Pirates' lowest point output of the season.
Breanne Kelley led Polson with nine points in the loss while Kenney added eight points and nine rebounds. Hamel had six points, Nina Orozco-Charlo scored three and Mackenzie Banner added one point.
Jaime Gilden led Libby with 13 points, nine rebounds and six steals.
Polson led throughout the game Saturday morning but pulled away in the fourth quarter as the Lady Pirates downed Ronan in a loser-out contest, 56-24.
Ronan was able to keep things close in the opening quarter as Polson led 8-4 after eight minutes of play, but Polson used a 12-6 run in the second frame to build a 20-10 halftime advantage. Polson added three more to its lead in the third quarter before using a 24-5 run over the final eight minutes of the contest to pull away for a 32-point win.
Kelley led the Lady Pirates with 18 points in the victory while Kenney added 11 points and seven rebounds and Jonna Grant also scored 11. Hamel chipped in with nine points, Heidi Rausch scored four and added a game-high eight rebounds, Anna DiGiallonardo scored two and Orozco-Charlo added one point.
Courtney Clairmont led Ronan with nine points.
Polson had little trouble with Whitefish in the consolation championship as the Lady Pirates downed the Bulldogs 56-32.
Polson jumped out to an 18-6 lead after one quarter and never looked back as the Lady Pirates cruised to a 24-point victory.
Kelley led the way in the win with 14 points while Hamel added 11. Kenney finished with nine points and eight rebounds, Banner scored seven, Orozco-Charlo scored six and added three assists, Rausch and DiGiallonardo each scored four and Grant finished with one point and six rebounds.
The Lady Pirates finish the season 13-8.
Summary
Consolation
Polson 56, Whitefish 32
Whitefish 6 8 11 7 - 32
Polson 18 10 13 15 - 56
WHITEFISH - Olivia Curtiss 6, Jessica Poe 6, Simone Craft 5, Shannon Craft 5, Heather Bailey 2, Brooke Silliker 2, Taylor Havens 2, Olivia Nagler 2, Ashlee Brewer 2.
POLSON - Breanne Kelley 14, Mariah Hamel 11, Riley Kenney 9, Mackenzie Banner 7, Nina Orozco-Charlo 6, Heidi Rausch 4, Anna DiGiallonardo 4, Jonna Grant 1.
Loser out
Polson 56, Ronan 24
Ronan 4 6 9 5 - 24
Polson 8 12 12 24 - 56
RONAN - Courtney Clairmont 9, Alice VanGunten 4, Ashleigh Lynch 3, Tailyr Irvine 3, Mariah Cheff 2, Trinity Rosenbaum 2, Ashley Grandchamp 1.
POLSON - Breanne Kelley 18, Riley Kenney 11, Jonna Grant 11, Mariah Hamel 9, Heidi Rausch 4, Anna DiGiallonardo 2, Nina Orozco-Charlo 1.
Semifinal
Libby 29, Polson 27
Libby 6 10 6 7 - 29
Polson 6 7 10 4 - 27
LIBBY - Jaime Gilden 13, Alysha Martin 4, Kim Tangen 3, Sheena Good 3, Logan Best 2, Ashley Shaw 2, Taylor Barton 2.
POLSON - Breanne Kelley 9, Riley Kenney 8, Mariah Hamel 6, Nina Orozco-Charlo 3, Mackenzie Banner 1.
