Bravettes get first win
Well, Flathead no longer has to wonder if this will be the time when it actually happens.
The Bravettes, who have suffered through 13-straight losses to open the girls basketball season, finally tasted victory for the first time.
Kelsey Hildal, a 5-foot-4 senior dynamo guard, scored a game-high 25 points, and the Bravettes hit double-figure scoring in all four quarters in rolling to a 69-52 victory Saturday afternoon over Missoula Hellgate.
Flathead improves to 1-5 in Western AA play, 1-13 overall. Hellgate falls to 0-6 and 1-12.
The 69 points was the most FHS has scored since last year's state tournament. And its 39 first-half points on Saturday was more than it had scored for an entire game in five outings this season.
"We kept on thinking today will be the day," Hildal said of getting that first win.
"Well, today was the day."
Hildal scored the game's first points on a nice baseline drive and tallied the final three on a trey with .7 seconds left that delighted a sparse crowd. Hildal was knocked to the court on the shot, which put her on the free throw line for a possible four-point play. She missed, but it didn't really matter.
Hildal's season high is 28 points versus Libby in December.
"It was really exciting," Hildal said of the atmosphere in the locker room afterwards.
"It was our first win.
"Screams, we had a big hug," she added.
"We're excited to get into practice on Monday, keep the winning up."
Danika Johnson and Tess Brenneman joined Hildal in double-digit scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Johnson had a team best nine rebounds, and Brenneman was next with seven, six coming on the defensive end.
"A lot of smiles, excitement," Brenneman, a 5-7 freshman guard, said of what it was like in the locker room.
"We were all relieved.
"It was a different environment," she continued.
"A lot happier, more comfortable."
Hellgate, thanks to four treys in the opening quarter, led 18-16 at the break.
Hildal opened the second quarter with a steal and finished it off with a layup. She was fouled on the play, sank the free throw, and Flathead jumped in front 19-18. The Bravettes never trailed after that.
Flathead led by 11 at the half, 39-28, and enjoyed a 19-point advantage, up 57-38, heading into the fourth period.
"Since we weren't down (trailing) we could stay calm, comfortable," Brenneman said.
"We were able to focus on what we needed to do.
"We had a real strong feeling that we could do well (today)," she added.
"We knew we could compete with them, and we really needed it."
Perhaps it was the sense of urgency that sparked Flathead in the early going. The Bravettes shot a blistering 62 percent (18-for-29) from the field in the first half and 53 percent (30-of-57) for the game.
"Finally, we played as a team," said a pleased Flathead coach Tim Elliott.
"If you go down the stats, we had 11 assists and only had nine turnovers. And then we had kids step up and score.
"No bad quarters," Elliott added.
"They played well, very, very well."
Flathead is back in action Thursday, 7:30 p.m., hosting top-ranked Missoula Big Sky.
Missoula Hellgate 18 12 8 14 - 52
Flathead16 23 18 12 - 69
MISSOULA HELLGATE - Raina Walther 4 0-0 11, Jill Lindbergh 0 0-1 0, Piper Frame 2 2-2 8, Kate Liddle-Broberg 3 2-3 9, Mary Yoder 5 0-0 10, Leyna Downey 2 0-0 4, Chanell Tobin 1 0-0 2, Lacey Zinke 1 0-0 2, Kaitlyn Horner 3 0-0 6. Totals: 21 4-6 52.
FLATHEAD - Kelsey Hildal 10 1-2 25, Ariel Johnson 3 2-4 8, Jaimee Zorn 2 0-0 4, Marissa Stivers 2 1-2 5, Danika Johnson 5 1-1 11, Samantha Thompson 3 0-0 6, Tess Brenneman 5 0-0 10. Totals: 30 5-9 69.
3-point goals: Walther (3), Frame (2), Liddle-Broberg; Hildal (4); Team fouls: Hellgate 12, Flathead 12; Fouled out: None.