HELENA — Kalispell Glacier scored the first nine points of the game and then hold off Helena High for a 55-49 Western AA boys basketball win on Saturday.
The Wolfpack limited the Bengals to just two points in the first quarter and one field goal in the first 11 minutes of action, but Helena High rallied to close out the first half and get within 23-18 going to the third. The Bengals trimmed the lead to just two points — 35-33 — going to the fourth, but the defending champion Wolfpack were too much in the final eight minutes.
Glacier sank eight of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to ice the game. Kody Jarvis made four of his six free throws in the final frame and nine of 13 overall, finishing with a game-high 21 points. Brec Rademacher chipped in 13 points, on four 3-pointers, for the Wolfpack.
The Bengals got 10 points each from Hayden Ferguson and Connor Murgel.
Glacier improves to 6-7 overall and 4-3 in the Western AA, while Helena High falls to 3-10 overall and 1-6 in conference. The Wolfpack are back in Helena on Monday to play Helena Capital, while the Bengals will host Kalispell Flathead. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m.