Sports

Before the start of the boys’ varsity match up with Gardiner, Lone Peak’s sophomore big man Brayden Vaile sat in the stands in a shirt and tie. The 6΄3˝ backup injured his knee in the junior varsity game and that sidelined him for varsity play. He usually gets minutes in both games, but not against Gardiner. 

With elk grazing on the football field outside the Gardiner High School gym, the lady Big Horns just kept feeding their senior leader KP Hoffman on the inside for a hard-fought win. The victory over the Bruins followed one of the worst defeats of the season the night before against Twin Bridges.

In the final minutes of the Dec. 22 Lone Peak High School junior varsity game at Shields Valley, the opposing coach subbed in No. 32, Jordan Henson, a special needs student with a love for hoops. The home crowd roared as his teammates worked to feed Henson the ball. 

The Shields Valley varsity boys were winless until 24 hours before their match up with Lone Peak. 

Still basking in the victory from the night before, Shields Valley captain and post player Hunter Greenfield recalled how he put his team over the top against Roberts and earned the Rebels’ first win of the year. 

Right before tipoff, Assistant Coach Sam Lightbody pointed to the records of the two teams about to meet on Shields Valley’s home court. The LPHS girls’ varsity was heading into the game 0-2 in conference play, while the Lady Rebels were 2-0. 

It’s time again for the 8th annual Pavelich Invitational, which a bunch of Big Sky guys hold every year in honor of Marty Pavelich. Come to the rink in Town Center on Jan. 1. Marty will be there to drop the puck at 2 p.m. Both teams will wear Red Wings jerseys in honor of Marty and the team he played for back in the 50s.

A vocal crowd cheered the Big Horns on in their conference opener at home, but the excitement in the gym didn’t heat up the team’s shooting. The Big Horns ended the first period down 11-14. 

After a pair of hard losses, the Big Horn varsity boys came back strong against Harrison-Willow Creek on Dec. 19 at home. Kolya Bough kicked things off in the second half, hitting a three to take the lead 25-24. But then the Wildcats’ zone defense cooled Lone Peak’s offensive production, until Junior Milosz Shipman turned it on.