Sports

It was Senior Night, but the Lone Peak High School girls’ varsity coach was also thinking about her younger players. At the start of the second half vs. the Sheridan Panthers, Head Coach Ausha Cole started freshmen Ruth Blodgett and Sara Wilson, then brought in freshman Ivy Hicks.

Maggie Voisin of Whitefish and Darian Stevens of Missoula will compete in the slopestyle skiing competition at this year’s Olympic games. Butte native Brad Wilson will go for gold in moguls.

When you enter Audrae Coury’s home in the Meadow, the first thing you’ll notice is the ski rack jam-packed with pair after pair of colorful Nordic skis. Then the pungent smell of ski wax hits your nose as your eyes shift to the numerous medals hanging on the coat rack along the wall. 

One of the best parts of the difficult loss to Manhattan Christian came near the end when sophomore Isaac Gilmore entered the game with a head of offensive steam. He scored just 3 points, but his hustle and energy reinvigorated his teammates and the crowd.

Manhattan Christian’s offense is all about tossing the ball into No. 31, six-foot Kelsey Heidema. Once in the paint, Heidema knows how to pour in points with easy layups or even easier foul shots. Or at least, Heidema makes it look easy. 

Whenever the Lone Peak Big Horns see an opportunity to exploit a size and height advantage, they take it. Time after time, as the Shields Valley Rebels tried to shoot down low, they were met with a powerful swat from center Jackson Wade. 

Wade went on to achieve another double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

One of Lone Peak’s fiercest fans likes to sleep through entire games. Her name is Scarlet, she’s the coach’s infant daughter and she was born at the start of the season. When stray balls bounce toward Scarlet, she’s usually in the arms of her Grandmother Linda Cole, so she sleeps through those moments too. 

The Lady Big Horns came out a bit cold, but rallied thanks to scoring by Emma Flach, KP Hoffman and Jayleen Cole, who hit four three pointers. Then down the stretch, Cole’s impressive outside shooting couldn’t hold back the Mustangs’ balanced attack.