Pirates finish adventure at State Tournament
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The Pirates season ended with a loss in a semi-final game in the consolation bracket at the Montana Class A State Tournament in Great Falls, but not without a fight and a win.
After earning the right to play in the State A Basketball tournament by knocking off Whitefish in the Monday, March 3, challenge game, the Pirates opened up State play Thursday against Belgrade. While going into half time with a slight lead, Belgrade took advantage of Pirate mistakes in the third quarter, ending in a close 35-40 loss for Polson. Pirate Andrew Weltz put up 10 points and Cedrick Smith came in right behind with nine.
Coach Brad Pluff said the kids played tough, though not their best. “It was a good game, we should have won,” Pluff said. “I would have liked to say we can play a little bit better, but they kept up.”
The loss knocked the Pirates into the consolation bracket in an uphill race for third place.
Friday boasted a big win against Miles City for the Pirates behind Andrew Curley’s stand out performance. Curley netted 22 points, 20 of those logged in the first two quarters. Curley hit all seven of his attempts in the first half, with six of those on three-pointers, helping his team jumpstart the 63-44 win.
“They came back and played good against Miles City,” Pluff said. “Curley had a great game.”
Broken hearts filled the Pirate club on Saturday as they fell to Laurel 27-58, ending the Pirates’ season. Curley led the Pirates in points with eight. “They really stuck it to us,” Pluff said.
With only four regular season wins going into postseason, the Pirates came alive and added four more when it counted most. They will finish the season at 8-17.
“They really never gave up,” Pluff said. “It says a lot about them. I am really proud of them.”
Though the Pirates had their ups and downs, Pluff is looking to the future of Pirate basketball and foresees great things. With promising talent coming up from the freshman and JV squads and the return of varsity sophomores and juniors, Pluff is optimistic the experience the younger crew gained throughout postseason will help them to excel next season.
“They got a taste of it,” he said. “Hopefully it will continue on in the future.”
Results
Polson 11 8 5 11 – 35
Belgrade 11 5 11 13 – 40
Andrew Weltz 10, Cedrick Smith 9, Tanner Wilson 7, Andrew Curley 3, Hudson Smith 2, Chris McDonald 2, Mathew Rensvold 2.
Polson 14 16 9 23 – 63
Miles City 10 10 14 10 – 44
Andrew Curley 22, Cedrick Smith 13, Andrew Weltz 12, Tanner Wilson 7, Hudson Smith 4, Jacob Harrod 2, Wyatt Ducharme 2.
Polson 4 8 7 8 – 27
Laurel 17 15 14 12 – 58
Andrew Curley 8, Andrew Weltz 7, Cedrick Smith 6, Mathew Rensvold 2, Wyatt Ducharme 2, Tanner Wilson 1, Joe Gallatin 1.
