Glacier girls pick up 2nd straight league win

After a less than stellar first half of the conference season, the Glacier Wolfpack girls basketball team is off to a flying finish.

Noah Fincher and Bethany Sorenson scored 13 points each, and the Wolfpack surged past Butte 42-37 Saturday for its second straight Western AA win.

A trio of close losses contributed to the Pack’s 0-7 start in league play; now they’re 2-7 (5-8 overall), having scored a home sweep of the Bulldogs and Missoula Sentinel.

“We just had a super good week of practice leading up to it,” said Sorenson, one of two seniors on the team. “I felt like the team got a lot better in terms of — togetherness, I guess.”

Many contributed: Sarah Downs’ offensive rebound and two free throws put Glacier up 11-4 late in the first quarter; Sidney Gulick stopped an 11-0 Butte run with a basket at 4:55 of the second quarter; Downs hit two more free throws to knot the game at 20-all with 1:36 left in the first half.

But Sorenson was key. After Kodie Hoagland hit a three to put Butte up 26-23 — the Bulldogs’ last lead — Sorenson hit a trey of her own to spark a 9-0 third quarter Wolfpack run. Reese Ramey’s basket off a Sorenson pass gave Glacier a 32-26 lead going into the final 8:00.

With 6:19 left in the game Emmarie Richards hit a trey for Butte, but 15 seconds later Sorenson hit her third to push the Pack’s lead back to 35-29.

Sorenson shrugged off her heroics, which included a steal and long pass to Fincher for a layup and a 40-33 lead with 1:25 left. “We just came out and ran our stuff, got everybody their touches,” she said.

Glacier coach Amanda Cram was more outspoken about the guard, who also hit two clinching free throws with 8 seconds left.

“We just talked in our team huddle about how Beth just had the answer, multiple times,” Cram said. “I think she would compliment her teammates on that, but also that’s Bethany’s role: She is a shooter because she has put in the time to be a shooter.”

Fincher was equally effective, coming up with six steals, converting one into a layup and a 37-31 lead. The sophomore point guard also blocked a shot.

“Noah has certainly felt the weight of the world on her shoulders at times,” Cram said. “At this time of the season for her to have two games — where she’s not just the point guard but she’s also scoring and a threat at the defensive end — is pretty phenomenal for a sophomore.”

Butte again played without 6-foot-3 pivot Ashley Olson (ankle sprain). Glacier meanwhile, is short a couple reserves, including freshman Kenedee Moore (meniscus tear).

On Saturday Hoagland and Glacier’s Kiera Sullivan fought foul trouble: If there was a key call it was Hoagland getting No. 5 on a block/charge call that went Sullivan’s way (a charge) with 2:31 left.

Butte trailed 37-33 at the time. In the end, Glacier had the makings of a streak.

“We were right there in a lot of them,” Cram said of the losses. “I know we have a young squad, but I also know the potential they have. And like every coach says: Play your best at the end of the season.”

Butte 10 13 3 11 - 37

Glacier 11 9 12 10 - 42

BUTTE — Brooke McGrath 3-8 0-0 6, Emmarie Richards 3-10 0-0 7, Lauren Rosenleaf 5-7 0-3 10, Kodie Hoagland 1-6 2-4 5, Tyler Clary 0-2 2-2 2, Pieper Joseph 0-3 0-0 0, Payton Clary 2-5 2-2 7, Brooke Groesbeck 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-41 6-10 37.

GLACIER — Sidney Gulick 3-7 0-0 6, Bethany Sorenson 4-8 2-3 13, Noah FIncher 4-9 4-7 13, Kiera Sullivan 0-2 0-0 0, Reese Ramey 1-3 3-4 5, Sarah Downs 0-2 5-6 5, Colette Daniels 0-3 0-0 0, Raven Speer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 12-34 14-20 42.

3-point goals — Butte 3-16 (Hoagland 1-3, P. Clary 1-3, Richards 1-4, McGreath 0-4, T.Clary 0-1, Joseph 0-1), Glacier 4-14 (Sorenson 3-7, Fincher 1-2, Downs 0-1, Gulick 0-2, Sullivan 0-2). Rebounds — Butte 30 (Rosenleaf 8, Richards 6), Glacier 29 (Sorenson 8, Gulick 5). Fouls — Butte 14, Glacier 14. Fouled out — Hoagland. Steals — Butte 8 (Rosenleaf 3), Glacier 12 (Fincher 6). Blocks — Butte 3 (Rosenleaf 2, Richards), Glacier 5 (Gulick 3, Fincher, Ramey). Turnovers — Butte 18, Glacier 14.