Lady Prospectors advance after blindsiding Victor

HAMILTON – The Victor Lady Pirates appeared to sail into the playoff waters without a chart or anyone at the helm as the Lady Prospectors held them without a basket for the entire first half in posting a 57-14 victory in the opening round of the District 13C Basketball Tournament Thursday night in Hamilton.

The win puts Granite into the Winner’s Bracket Semifinal against Seeley Swan Friday night at 6:30.

The Lady Prospectors started slowly, leading 6-1 later into the first period. But Granite’s full-court press turned up the heat and the Lady Pirates wilted, allowing the Lady Prospectors to post a 10-0 run and a 26-1 first-quarter advantage.

The pace was intensified in the second as Granite outscored Victor 26-1 for a 42-2 halftime margin. From there the clock started running with the third-quarter inbounds pass and the rout was on.

“It was good,” said GHS Head Coach Cash Laslovich. “I thought at the beginning of the game were going a little slow. We weren’t playing at our tempo. But once we got there we were ahead by so much … I was just glad to let our bench get in there and play.”

Senior Gretchen Hill led Granite with 17 points, seven rebounds and five steals. Rachel Ward scored 11 and had four assists, with Montannah Piar adding 10 points. Ramsey Smith scored nine and tied Hill with five thefts.

Seeley and Granite split their district series this season, each winning on their home floor. When asked what it would take to beat the Lady Blackhawks in Friday’s matchup, Laslovich said, “I think the key it just to play Granite basketball. Keep playing our defense, our tempo and not letting the emotions take over and keep our composure.”

SCORING

Victor – 1/1/7/5 – 14

Granite – 16/26/11/4 – 57

Victor – Smorowski 5, Tacker 4, Brown 1, Kay 3, Buchanan 1

Granite – Lee 6, White 1, Ward 11, McDonald 1, Hill 17, Smith 9, Piar 10, Lilyquist 2