One didn’t need to be at the game Friday morning after the loser out game between Hamilton and Corvallis. They only needed to stand outside each locker room after the game. The Corvallis Blue Devils were in tears while the Hamilton Lady Broncs were laughing and cheering. That’s because of the buzzer beater shot by Mariola Tesoro of Hamilton.
With a little more than two minutes remaining in the game, Corvallis was up, 46-44. Corvallis ran the clock down to a minute but then lost the ball. Hamilton ran the same slow down offense play and ran the clock down to 6.8 seconds. Hamilton took three time outs and Corvallis used their remaining time out in what was shaping up as a coaching battle between Mark Albert and Andy Knapp. Hamilton inbounded the ball but it was knocked out of bounds and Corvallis had the chance for the win. Lauren Ryter fouled Corvallis freshman, Madeline Gilder who went to the line for a one-and-one shot. The ball rattled out but Corvallis got the rebound and had one more chance. Again, the shot was no good and Hamilton had the ball. With less than three ticks on the clock, a Hamilton player threw the ball to Tesoro who took a couple of dribbles and launched the ball from about three feet behind the three point line just before the buzzer sounded. The ball hit the back of the rim, bounced straight up, bounced again on the rim and then fell through for the three points and the Hamilton win.
“We didn’t have time to draw it up,” said Hamilton coach Mark Albert. “But that’s who we want because she’s kind of dynamic. She either throws it out of the gym or she makes a spectacular shot. We’re not here without her.”
Corvallis took an early lead and was up by nine at the end of the first quarter. Hamilton came back when Ringer hit the front end of two free throws and then Kaitlin Dickemore hit a long trey to pull Hamilton within two points. Corvallis again took the lead but a trey by Abby Johnson tied the game up at 18. Only three points separated the two teams at the end of the half and at the end of the third quarter. Hamilton took back the lead a couple of times but each time Corvallis rallied and retook the lead.
“Rivalry makes a difference,” according to Albert. “We know each other so well. We know who we have to guard and if we can slow them down we have a chance. Overall they’re a little deeper than we are, certainly more physical. They have a couple senior all state type players. We did a nice job on the for the most part and you just hope the other kids don’t beat you. It was just a really good game and we got a little lucky there at the end.”
Hamilton 47, Corvallis 46
Corvallis – Hannah Martin 5, Calla Halderson 12, Madeline Gilder 9, Hadli Lords 7, Lainie Albright 6, Ashlynn Nixon 7.
Hamilton: Abby Johnson 3, Lauren Ryter 6, Jorden Taggart 2, Sophia Doyle 4, Maggie Ringer 4, Madi Drake 2, Mariola Tesoro 13, Ani Mason 2, Katelyn Dickamore 11.
Hamilton opened against Libby on Thursday. Both teams were a bit tentative and the first score didn’t happen until four minutes into the game. The Loggers and the Lady Broncs were well matched on the perimeter, however the Lady Broncs gave up some size inside and that factored in on rebounds with Libby out rebounding Hamilton by 10 boards.
“We struggled,” said Albert. “Statistically speaking, we were out rebounded by 10. I didn’t follow my instincts.”
After trailing by four at the half, Hamilton came alive in the third quarter and pulled ahead. But then the Lady Broncs shooting went cold. Shots fell short or rattled out and after leading by eight points with over five minutes left in regulation play, Hamilton’s momentum lost ground and Libby scored eight points to tie the game and force overtime.
Lauren Ryter of Hamilton spun in a nice reverse layup and then Libby traveled on the next play to give Hamilton the ball. But the rims were dead and Hamilton couldn’t gain their momentum back. Libby went on to win, 34-29, in overtime.
Libby 34, Hamilton 29, OT
Hamilton: Abby Johnson 4, Lauren Ryter 11, Jorden Taggart 8, Mariola Tesoro 2, Maggie Ringer 4.
Libby: Alli Collins 13, Jayden Winslow 5, Sammee Bradeen 4, Sheyla Gallagher 8, McKenzie Proffitt 4.
With the loss, Hamilton had to play Saturday morning against Butte Central. The two teams were tired but evenly matched and the game reflected that until the fourth quarter when Hamilton got in a little foul trouble and Butte Central’s Tricia Joyce caught fire. Butte Central went on to win, 38-33.
Butte Central 38, Hamilton 33 – Loser out
Hamilton – Lauren Ryter 9, Mariola Tesoro 6, Katelyn Dickamore 6, Abby Johnson 5, Maggie Ringer 4, Sophia Doyle 3.
Butte Central – Tricia Joyce 19, Bella Sorini 7, Madison Kump 7, Amira Bolton 4, Delaney Hasquet 1.
Corvallis opened against Columbia Falls and had to play with one of their starters in street clothes due to illness. It took about a half for the Blue Devils to adjust to the absence of Hannah Martin but after the half, Corvallis had settled down and began hitting their shots. Lainie Albright connected on seven three point shots and finished with 24 points. Calla Haldorson was two-of-three from beyond the arc and finished with 18 points including a late trey from the far left corner to pull the Blue Devils within five points. But foul trouble and free throws put the game away for the WildKats, 65-57.
Columbia Falls 65, Corvallis 57
Columbia Falls – Ryley Kehr 29, Trista Cowan 9, Madysen Hoerner 8, Lakia Hill 7, Josie Windauer 6,Hannah Schweikert 4,Maddie Robison 2.
Corvallis – Lainie Albright 24, Calla Haldorson 18, Hadli Lords 5,Hannah Hutchison 4, AshlynnNixon 2, Madeline Gilder 2,Lilly Berry 1.