Lady Wolves Fight Off Wildcats

There were some passes that Wolf Point Coach Frank Benson wasn’t pleased with against Harlem, but a couple of passes made a big positive difference in the Wolves’ 5042 league victory over Harlem on Saturday, Jan. 8.

Ahead by only a 41-40 margin with just over three minutes to play, the Wolves scored when passes from Josie Kolstad and Haidyn Raining Bird broke the press and resulted in a basket by Sierra Hamilton.

A press-breaking pass from Jaylee Azure then led to another hoop by Hamilton for a 45-40 lead with 2:41 remaining.

A drive by Taya Trottier got Harlem as close as 47-42 with 26 seconds left, but Wolf Point closed the game on free throws by J’Elle Garfield and Azure.

“We did help pretty good on defense. We’re getting better on defense,” Benson said.

The coach felt that Adeia Erickson and Raining Bird played well off the bench.

Garfield and Hamilton led the Wolves with 11 points each. Also scoring were Hamyanie Campbell with nine, Azure with seven, Erickson with six and Kolstad with six.

Trottier accounted for 20 of Harlem’s points.

A 15-footer by Kolstad put the Wolves ahead 16-12 at the end of the opening quarter. The Wolves increased the gap to 22-12 on an inside shot by Hamilton, a three-pointer by Azure and a free throw by Campbell to open the second period.

The Wildcats, however, bounced back with the next eight points for a 22-20 game. The half ended in a 28-28 deadlock.

After Harlem took a 3130 lead on a three-pointer by Trottier early in the third quarter, Campbell nailed a three-pointer to put the Wolves back ahead. The Wildcats moved ahead 39-34 at the end of the third period. Wolf Point opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer by Erickson, a 15-footer by Kolstad and a basket by Hamilton off a pass from Garfield for a 41-19 advantage. After a free throw by Harlem’s Chloe Messerly at the 3:39 mark, the Wolves gained control with the next six points.

The Wolves will host Glendive on Friday, Jan. 14, and travel to Scobey on Saturday, Jan. 15.