The Cameron Barber era has begun.

The Hot Springs Savage Heat boys played hard but dropped two games to District 13C teams at the Western C Tip-Off Tournament in Frenchtown, falling 53-49 to Darby Friday and 62-54 to Seeley-Swan Saturday.

The first two games of Barber’s coaching career in Hot Springs as the head man for the Heat boys were both games that he thought the Savage Heat could have won.

“I was really proud of the boys,” he said. “Both of those teams went to divisionals from 13C, so to be in a couple of close games where we only lost by single digits is a very good weekend.”

The Darby game was close all the way. “It was a good game from the start, both teams played really well,” Barber said. “We were up by two going into the fourth quarter and up by seven at one point after that, but couldn’t hold on to the lead.”

The Heat led 39-37 at the end of three quarters but lost the last eight minutes 16-10.

Brandon Knudsen scored 25 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead the Heat, Tyler Knudsen added nine, Tyler Carr seven, Jack McAllister four and Kyle Lawson and Luke Waterbury two apiece.

Waterbury and Carr cleared six rebounds each, McAllister had three assists and three steals, and Brandon Knudsen also grabbed three steals.

Scoring for the Darby boys, who are now coached by former Plains girls coach Richard Griffin, was not available.

The Seeley-Swan game turned on a big run by the Blackhawks at the end of the first quarter and into the second. “We dug ourselves a hole,” Barber said. “They went on a 26-1 run and we ended up down 34-17 at the half. We made some adjustments at halftime and chipped our way back into the game, but we were just down by too much.”

Brandon Knudsen enjoyed another huge game for the Heat in defeat, throwing down 28 points (again including three 3-pointers) and dished out two assists, Brandon’s older brother Tyler added 16 points and 11 rebounds, McAllister eight

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points, four boards and two steals and Carr two points and four rebounds.

Seeley-Swan put four in double figures with Cordell Turner counting 18, Chance Johnson 16, Owen Mercado 15 and Hunter Shelmerdine 10.

The Savage Heat now have this week off and return to play Dec. 13 at defending State C champion Arlee. That game will be Hot Springs’ first District 14C conference counter.

Barber got an idea of what the Heat need to work on in Frenchtown. “We got some good film to watch and will have a while before our next game,” he said. “We will make some adjustments and get ready for district play.”