G-Town On A Tear Since Only Loss; Harlem & Plentywood Next

The Glasgow Scotties boys basketball team, ranked No. 2 statewide in Class B, rides two dominating home wins last week into conference action this week against Harlem on Friday and Plentywood on Saturday.

The girls, meanwhile, face what could be a battle for third place in District 2B in Saturday's game against visiting Plentywood. If Glasgow can beat fifth place Harlem on Friday, the Scotties and Lady Wildcats would be tied at 4-3.

The G-Town boys (6-0, 13-1) have roared back after their hiccup against Sidney two weeks ago in their only loss of the season. Last week they easily handled Class C Saco-Whitewater as expected, 64-20, and then dismantled a ranked Class A Dawson County team, 67-30, with surprising dominance.

“I think the kids came out with great intensity,” Braaten told The Courier. “They keep wanting to get better every game, and that's what we've stressed since Day 1. We want to get better every quarter.”

Braaten said he “certainly” anticipated a closer game against the Red Devils, whom GHS beat 58-37 on Dec. 5.

“They're a quality Class A team,” he said. “We caught them off guard. It happens in sports. You think you figured it out, and then you get knocked down. We need to remember that.”

This time, Glasgow pounced with 28 points in the opening quarter – just 2 fewer than the Glendive team scored all night.

The Scotties found some success “trying to pound the ball inside” against the tall Red Devils, but when it got clogged in there they took it outside, Braaten said.

That's where point guard Jason Thibault, Glasgow's leading scorer with 19 points, did some damage with his sharp shooting. He sunk three 3-pointers on the night.

Also scoring for Glasgow were Chase Fossum with 13 points, Jake Kolstad 10, Keil Krumwiede 9, Jake Page 8, Gage Legare 6 and Ethan Etchart 2.

Jared Asche led Dawson with 8 points, including two treys.

Against Saco, the Scotties put things away just as quickly. They scored 20 points in the first quarter, matching the Panthers' game total.

Fossum led Glasgow with 20 points. Also scoring were Legare with 9, Krumwiede 7, Page 6, Thibault 6, Kolstad 5, Trent Herbert 4, Chase Hughes 3, Etchart 2 and Zach Miller 2.

In this Friday's game with conference rival Harlem (4-4, 7-7), there's no telling exactly what the Wildcats will bring. Along with 6-5 standout Tristen Gone, Harlem will dress three newly eligible players who did not play against GHS earlier this season. Two of them might start, with the other coming off the bench, Braaten said.

“I hear they are quality players,” he said.

The Plentywood game, meanwhile, will give the Scotties a chance to work on improving aspects of their game as tourney time nears. The last place Wildcats are 0-7 in 2B, 2-12 overall.

As for the Scottie girls, they occupy fourth place in 2B at 3-3 and are 5-9 overall. Friday's opponent, fifth place Harlem, is 1-6 and 2-12, while third place Plentywood (4-3, 8-6) plays a nonconference game at Sidney on Thursday before hosting Glasgow on Saturday.

Class C power Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale (8-0 in 3C, 13-1 overall) beat GHS last Thursday, 50-26.

Glasgow scoring: Leinie Hughes 10, Abbi Kolstad 7, Jordan Kulczyk 4, Tyra Johnson 2, Amanda Wolff 2 and Khloe Krumwiede 1.

SWH scoring: Larimie Scheffelear 21, Tatum Moore 11, Kourtney Simonson 10, Keira Simonson 4 and Jada Sudbrack 4.

Against Dawson on Friday, the girls led 17-13 at the half but lost 32-27. Glasgow scoring: Kolstad 10, Hughes 8, Wolff 4, Kulczyk 3 and Nixdorf 2. Wyniah Mintz led the Lady Red Devils with 13.

Scottie Notes

• The MaxPreps boys Class B top 10: 1. Choteau (6-0, 14-0), 2. Glasgow (6-0, 13-1), 3. Bigfork (6-0, 12-1-1), 4. Sweet Grass County (8-0, 11-2), 5. St. Labre Indian Catholic (7-0, 9-2), 6. Loyola-Sacred Heart (5-1, 11-3), 7. Columbus (5-1, 9-3), 8. Thompson Falls (4-1, 10-4), 9. Jefferson (6-2, 10-4), 10. Florence-Carlton (5-1, 10-4).

• In 14 games each through Tuesday, Choteau has scored 1,011 points and given up 690 (plus 321), while Glasgow is at 892 and 531 (plus 361).

• Games times for the Harlem games here Friday are girls JV at 3:30 p.m., boys JV at 5, girls varsity at 6:30 and boys varsity at 8. Games time at Plentywood on Saturday are girls JV at 1 in the auxiliary gym, boys JV at 1, girls varsity at 2:30 and boys varsity at 4.