Sanders County Ledger - Your Best Source For Sanders County News

by John Hamilton

After a slow start, the Hot Springs Savage Heat girls are now off to the races for the remainder of the 2019 portion of their hoop schedule.

Seeming to be in need of a jump start to their offensive engine, the Heat struggled past an equally cold-shooting Noxon squad 27-25 in Hot Springs Thursday, and then lost 48-40 to the Trotters in Plains Friday.

Coach Richard Jackson and his Heat have two more District 14C games this week, at St. Regis Thursday and against Charlo in Hot Springs Saturday. The Heat will host Arlee next Tuesday.

Jackson said a wave of sickness affected his team last week and hopes that his players can get well soon. "The crud is taking its toll," he said. "It seemed like we missed a lot of shots – layups, free throws, you name it – and were having trouble with our wind because of it."

The Heat managed to prevail over the Lady Red Devils in spite of their being somewhat sick.

Trailing 23-21 in the late going, McKennzie Cannon scored to tie it up at 23-23 before Noxon's Delaney Weltz connected to put the Devils back up 25-23 with only 25 seconds left.

On Hot Springs' next trip down the floor, Cannon saved the ball from going out of bounds on the baseline and flipped it to Brianna Gray under the basket. Gray's shot slipped out of her hand on the way up and the ball grazed the top of the backboard and continued going straight up, but finally came back straight down and somehow fell through the hoop, tying the game at 25-25.

Although Noxon looked to work the ball around and get the last shot, the Heat forced a turnover to gain possession with 5.4 seconds left.

With 2.8 seconds showing, the Devils fouled Sydney Jackson for the seventh foul of the half, sending Jackson to the line for a one-and-one free throw chance. Jackson knocked both charity tosses down to win the game for the Heat.

"A win is a win but that wasn't the best game we ever played," coach Jackson said. "We will take it though, even if it wasn't very pretty."

Sydney Jackson finished with 11 points and Cannon 10 to lead the Heat, Katelyn Christensen added four and Gray the all-important two she scored in the closing seconds.

See other story for Noxon scoring detail in the game.

At Plains, Cannon scored 16 points to lead Hot Springs, Christensen and Sydney Jackson added eight apiece, Gray scored four and Lizzy Fisher and Sage Jackson two apiece.

See other story for Plains scoring.