Prospectors lose rough & tumble affair with Seeley

NOTE - Videos and Pictures from the games at bottom of story.

PHILIPSBURG – Down two starters and facing a team with four potential 20-point scorers, the Prospectors were already facing a tall order to secure a win. But playing a tough non-conference schedule is all part of the gig for the Granite Boys Basketball team this year according to Head Coach Dustin Keltner.

Seeley Swan won the contest 65-xx.

“I told the kids that we’re not playing any weak teams,” Keltner observed. “We want to play up and it’s going to pay off down the road. We still have Clark Fork left (Feb. 8) and they’re a good team too. These games don’t help your conference record, but we had some kids get some quality playing time tonight with our all-conference players out.”

Keltner specifically mentioned the play of Andrew Tallon and Kai O’Donnell as standouts in their promoted rolls.

For the second night Granite was without the services of senior Daniel Brabender (football recruiting trip) and junior Brian Ward (ankle).

The Prospectors held a brief first quarter lead, but the Blackhawks eventually took control and held a slim 15-12 lead at period’s end. The was true with the second and third periods as Seeley gained a three point advantage in each to hold a nine-point lead, 47-38, going into the final eight minutes.

The Prospectors closed the gap to eight on several occasions but could never make it any smaller. But it was during that fourth quarter that control of the game appeared to get away from the officials as several hard fouls led to even harder feelings between the two rosters.

All of that action can be seen below in the Flint Creek Courier’s video of the game’s final eight minutes.

Junior Kade Cutler led the Prospectors with 18 points while Tallon added 14.

Granite has a busy dance card next week with three games. Their first game comes Tuesday at Sheridan before they return home for home games against Harrison-Willow Creek Friday and county rival Drummond Saturday, Feb. 1.

SCORING

SEELEY SWAN – 15/17/15/20 – 67

GRANITE – 12/14/12/13 - 51

Seeley Swan – Mercado 34, Schelmerdine 13, Wood 2, Pram 5, McDonald 3, Haines 10

Granite – Cutler 18, PMetesh 5, AMetesh 6, Parret 6, Tallon 14, O’Donnell 2