The Darby Tigers are on a winning streak. They notched two more wins this weekend by tripping up Seeley-Swan on Friday night and Clark Fork (Superior and Alberton co-op) on Saturday.
The Tigers run a high tempo type of offense and are scrappy on defense. With new coach Richard Griffin at the helm, the team has come together to play a well rounded game.
Friday night against Seeley-Swan, the Tigers jumped out to an early lead and controlled the boards to out rebound the Blackhawks. Darby’s Brandon Winter, at 6’3”, is a force inside but his outside shot makes him a threat there too. Dylan Parks three years of varsity experience to the point and can drive inside or shoot from outside. Cole Kayser, a solid 6’4” senior is a force inside rebounding. Add in Nelson Smith’s speed and shooting and you have a team to be reckoned with.
By the end of the first half, Darby had built up a 20 point lead over the Blackhawks. Seeley made a comeback in the third quarter but seven points by Nelson Smith gave Darby the momentum and they went on to win, 60-51. Winters scored 19 to lead the Tigers.
Darby 60, Seeley-Swan 51
Seeley-Swan: Owen Mercado 16, Chance Johnson 12, Hunter Shelmerdine 2, Cordell Turner 21.
Darby: Dylan Parks 14, Nelson Smith 17, Cole Kayser 4, Preston Smith 2, Brandon Winters 19, Daniel Muir 4.
On Saturday, Darby took on Clark Fork. The Mountain Cats had a six point lead at the end of the first quarter and led by two at the break. In the fourth quarter, the Tiger defense went to work and held Clark Fork to only seven points while the offense scored 20 to take the 56-47 win. Parks had 16 points and Winters and Smith added 15 and 14 points respectively.
Darby 56, Clark Fork 47
Clark Fork: Carson Callison 18, Danner Haskins 7, Korey Radford 1, Michael Spence 5, Aaron Waddle 9, Bryan Mask 7.
Darby: Dylan Parks 16, Nelson Smith 14, Cole Kayser 5, Preston Smith 2, Brandon Winters 15, Gabe Smith 4.
The Lady Tigers did not fare as well against Seeley. Turnovers plagued Darby and although both teams were scrappy, Seeley’s platooning of players wore the Lady Tigers out. Darby was down by as many as 16 points but clawed their way back to within six points in the third quarter.
“We were without our freshman post,” said veteran coach Caroline Ehmann. “She pulls down a lot of rebounds.”
Ehmann also said that Casey Ehmann was having to adjust to being pressured on offense. Casey Ehmann is the leading scorer on the Lady Tigers team. Friday night against Seeley, she was held to only nine points in the 48-36 loss.
Seeley-Swan: Terra Bertsch 4, Autumn Morse 4, Ashley Miller 13, Taylor Dillree 2, Lily Mercer 6, Lauryn Barnes 2, Sariah Maughan 5, Kara Good 12.
Darby: Casey Ehmann 9, Kimber Schlapman 2, TeaAnna Rouse 6, Haley Frey 5, Gracie Lang 4, Makenzie Clarke 8.
On Saturday night against Clark Fork, the Lady Tigers came back in the fourth quarter to outscore the Mountain Cats but it was not enough as they fell, 58-51. Ehmann had 26 points to lead all scorers.
Clark Fork 58, Darby 51
Clark Fork: Sorren Reese 11, Cassie Green 9, Madison Mask 11, Zoe Kelsey 13, Margaret Parkin 2, Sophia Krutilla 4, Emmah Baughman 5, Izzy Pereira 3.
Darby: Casey Ehmann 26, Rennaker 1, TeaAnna Rouse 8, Makenzie Clarke 2, Gracie Lang 8, Kimber Schlapman 6.