Glasgow Scottie Girls Off Target

The Glasgow Scottie girls exit the Divisional Tournament in Shelby after three games.

The Scottie girls went 1-2 in the Divisional Tournament falling to the Conrad Cowgirls and the Choteau Lady Bulldogs while defeating the Wolf Point Wolves.

"We shot the ball really poorly," said Head Coach Willie Thibault.

The Scottie girls shot a combined 24.1 percent from the field in the tournament while their best performance, a 31 percent effort against Choteau, came in a loss.

Coach Thibault thought the team had some good looks during the games but the baskets were not falling and it was the missed easy points that really hurt the Scottie girls.

"We've got to hit the bunnies," said Coach Thibault.

Missed easy points, or bunnies, is not the only challenge that ultimately led to the girls early exit.

The adjustment to how the game is officiated took some time according to Coach Thibault. The game is much more physical and the officials let the players use a more physical style in the Divisional Tournament than the style of play that was allowed at the District Tournament.

It took a while for the girls to understand what types of calls would be called and what would not be called and by that time, they were already down to a physically imposing Conrad squad. The Cowgirls would not allow the Scottie girls back into the game and ended up winning 47-31.

The girls were able to bounce back in the second game, though, beating the Wolf Point Lady Wolves 55-49 despite only shooting 27.1 percent from the field.

But the Scottie girls were not so fortunate against the Choteau Lady Bulldogs led by standout Alisha Breen.

"Choteau's a very good basketball team . . . and I would take Alisha Breen as the best player in the Northern Division," said Coach Thibault.

Choteau won the tightly contested game 48-41.

The divisional favorite entering the weekend, and perhaps the State Tournament favorite, Fairfield High School won the Divisional Tournament and moved onto State alongside Malta High.

The Scottie girls lose four seniors, including two different three-year starters in Rose Reyling and Jami Johnson. Michelle Mulligan and Kelsey Borgen who both started several games for the Scottie girls this season are also seniors.

"Overall, its been a good run," said Coach Thibault.

The team will have three juniors, Alex Page, Alaina Cole and Laurel Wageman, and four sophomores, JoLynn Reyling, Erika Hartsock, Abby Dalbey and Lexis Synan returning from the tournament roster.

However, Coach Thibault will need to find a couple of guards for the team because of Rose Reyling and Jami Johnson's departures. Reyling and Johnson had been two very stable guards for the Scottie girls for the last three years.

But the seven returning girls from this year's team is a good start to a team looking to build upon the last few years' successes.

The Scottie girls finish the season with a combined record of 12-11.

Now that both the boys and girls basketball season is over, the awards night will be Thursday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.