Scotties Shine as Super Heroes, Honor Seniors

Girls

Georgie Kulczyk / The Courier

The Nashua Porcupines hosted the Glasgow Scotties on Thursday night with two JV games and two varsity games. The bleachers held a respectable number of fans for both teams, which is one benefit of the proximity of the communities.

Squaring off for the jump-ball were Scottie junior Leinie Hughes and senior Porcupine Tasha Chamberlain. Glasgow gained possession of the ball and Khloe Krumwiede claimed the first 2-point basket of the game.

The Lady Scotties maintained the lead for the remainder of the game as Nashua struggled under the basket and faced tough pressure from Glasgow.

Both teams played their full rosters, with Nashua sending in their bench to finish the game. Starting for Glasgow were Krumwiede 10, Hughes 17, Abbi Kolstad 9, Tyra Johnson 8, and Jordan Kulczyk 15. Coming off the bench throughout the game were Demi Aune 2, Kaylee King 1, Ashtyn Myrick 5, and DJ Rasmusan. The Lady Scotties went 14/22 at the line. Fouling out of the game was Aune.

Starting for the Lady Porcupines were Taylor Laumeyer 3, Ziggy Chamberlain 8, Sophie Koessl 3, Anika Peters 3, and Tasha Chamberlain 7. Coming off the bench were Jordan Ramsbacher, Ali Cunningham, Mattea Piersak 2, Brennan Peters, Lauren Padden and Ryleigh Delich. Nashua went 7/17 at the line.

The contest finished under the mercy rule and the final score was 67-27.

Following the game in Nashua, the Lady Scotties took on the Harlem Lady Cats on super hero night at Scottie Gymnasium.

In addition to super hero night, with the players representing super heroes with warm-up t-shirts sponsored by JMG, Friday night was also senior night and the last home game of the season.

After the boys game and before the girls game, senior basketball players and managers, cheerleaders and pep band members were introduced to the audience one last time.

Senior pep band members honored were: Andy Brandt, Katie Brandt, Braden Meland, Rachel Mickelson, Michael Mulligan, Max Knodel, and Josh Schack.

Senior cheerleaders recognized were: Lily Helland, Lauren Runningen and Alexa Shipp.

Receiving recognition for their participation in the Scottie girls basketball program were Keirsten Wethern, manager, and Abbi Kolstad, the lone senior girl on the roster. Accompanied by family members, both girls received a handmade gift from their teammates and recognition from the crowd.

Immediately following senior recognition, the floor cleared and the Lady Scotties took the court.

In one of their best moves of the night, the Lady Cats won the tip-off and scored the first basket of the game. After that, Glasgow set the tone by lighting up the scoreboard with 20 points in the first quarter, while Harlem only managed 10 points of their own.

In the second quarter, the Lady Scotties continued their scoring streak and effectively denied their opponent under the basket. At the half, Glasgow led the contest 33-19.

Returning from the locker room after the break, the Lady Cats hit the hardwood with determination and claimed the third quarter by scoring one point more than the Scotties.

Glasgow answered back in the fourth with another flurry of shots and an impressive 18 points to Harlem's 8. The Lady Cat's lead scorer, Brooke LeValdo (14), fouled out of the game in the fourth, which likely explains the 10 point margin in scoring between the teams in that quarter. Also contributing in scoring for Harlem: Mari Ereaux 10, Val Talks Different 3, Skylee Dirden 6, Anita Bentley 2, Autumn Eagleman 2, and Emma Humphreys 3. The Lady Scotties finished the game on top with a score of 63-40.

Dirden displayed her ability to draw fouls consistently, but was unable to follow through at the free-throw line, going 2/13 (15 percent). Her team was only slightly more successful at the line with 23.5 percent of their total attempts making it in.

Nearly 90 percent of the 63 points earned by the Lady Scotties were scored by the starting five: Khloe Krumwiede 7, Kolstad 7, Jordan Kulczyk 18 (top scorer), Leinie Hughes 14, and Tyra Johnson 9.

Coming off the bench were Demi Aune 2, Kaylee King, Ashtyn Myrick 6, and Lexi Nixdorf, who missed the previous game against Nashua with an illness. At the line, the Lady Scotties had 62 percent success, going 8/13.

The Scottie girls are 12-4 on the season and continue to represent as a cohesive team with each member doing their part effectively on the court. If the Lady Scotties can tighten up their shooting with more confidence in the paint as well as maintain control of the ball and keep turnovers to a minimum, they will prove to be tough competition against Wolf Point and Malta this weekend, and into the District Tournament the following week.

Boys

Lih An Yang / The Courier

LIH-AN YANG

THE COURIER

A two-win week for the Scotties in spite of an expanding disabled list speaks volume of the toughness and depth of the team.

The victory over Nashua on the Porcupines' court on Thursday, followed by a crucial win over the Harlem Wildcats that capped Friday's Senior Night, has got to rejuvenate the boys who have been plagued by foot/ankle injuries.

At 4-2 in the conference and 7-9 overall, the Scotties are expected to enter the district tournament as a 2nd seed. As such, the Scotties shall open up the tournament on Friday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. with the #3 seed-most likely Poplar.

The Scotties get to enjoy home court advantage as GHS hosts both boys and girls District 2B tournament.

The play-in game between #4 and #5--perhaps Harlem and Wolf Point--is to take place on Thursday at 8 p.m. The loser goes home, and the winner will face #1 seed, Malta, on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

All four teams will advance onto the Northern B Divisionals to be held in Malta, Feb. 25-27.

Injury update: It doesn't look promising for junior starter Luke Breigenzer to rejoin the team by tournament time as he strengthens his foot. Trent Herbert sat out both games due to sprained ankles. Alex Fransen, who played big in the JV game in Nashua, also did not dress out for the Harlem game with a sore ankle. Two freshmen, Brett Glaser and Ellis McKean, have been added to the varsity roster.

Only two regular-season and conference games remain on the Scotties' schedule. They will travel to Malta on Thursday, and Wolf Point on Friday. While Malta is undefeated so far in 2B, Wolf Point has been struggling with only one win (over Harlem) in the district.

Glasgow 60, Nashua 38

In their determination to not repeat the 44-point loss to the Scotties from January, the young and hard-playing Porcupines cut the margin in half this time around.

Starting for the Porcupines were Lane Nickels, Nolan Viste, Dalton Kautz, Chase Williams and Gavin Adkins. They kept the first quarter tight and trailed by only four at the end of eight minutes.

The Scotties' speed and pressure forced Nashua into turnovers, however. The Scotties steadily widened their lead and outscored Nashua in every quarter: 18-14, 16-6, 14-8, 12-10. It appears though that Nashua began to pick up momentum as the game went on in the second half.

Ethan Etchart, Chase Hughes, Tyler Hersom, Bryce Legare and Zach Miller started for Glasgow. Every able-bodied player got floor minutes, and points.

Leading the Scotties in scoring was Etchart with 13 points, followed by Miller 10, Legare and Cade Myrick each with 9, Hughes 8, Hersom 4, Brett Glaser 3, Brayden Ross and Ellis McKean each with 2.

For the Porcupines, Nickels was the high scorer with 15 points, including three from behind the arc. Viste added two treys of his own. Kautz picked up 6 points, Adkins 5, Gunner Greene and Dylan Sanner each added 3.

Glasgow 50, Harlem 41

Down by as much as 13 in the first half, the Scotties mounted the biggest comeback of their season and avenged the earlier one-point loss to the Wildcats.

It was defense, adjusted offense and free throws that turned the tide around and guaranteed the Scottie a berth in the district tournament.

The Wildcats came out on fire with speed and three-pointers, and the Scotties appeared to be caught off-guard.

However, the Scotties were able to out-grab the Wildcats under the board. They also capitalized on turnovers when the Wildcats' ball control could not keep up with their speed. The Scotties cut the deficit to eight at the half, 29-21.

Harlem's shooting went cold in the second half under renewed pressure from Glasgow. Baseline shots from Cade Myrick and offensive put-backs allowed the Scotties to go on an 8-2 run, ending the third quarter down by only two, 31-29.

As the Wildcats picked up intensity in the fourth, fouls also increased which sent Glasgow to the line for 17 free throws. Twelve of Glasgow's 21 points in the fourth quarter came from free throws. Senior Chase Hughes, who was fouled repeatedly in his fight for rebounds, went 5-6 from behind the line.

It is fitting that the theme for the Scottie senior night was "Super Hero" night. Players and spectators decked out in a variety of super power costume, which no doubt inspired the players to rise to the challenge. The three seniors contributed to 31 of the team's 50 points total.

Freshman Cade Myrick assembled a double-double night in spite of his injured ankle, with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Zach Miller was the high scorer with 13 points. Ethan Etchart added 10, Hughes 8, Bryce Legare 4, and Tyler Hersom 3.

For the Wildcats, Marcus Henry led the offense with 18 points, followed by Keahna Little 12, Michael Butterfly 9, and Cole Azure 2.