by JOSH AMICK
Reporter | December 15, 2024 12:00 AM
From the tipoff at the Wolf Den the Glacier Wolfpack’s defense hounded the Great Falls Bison in their first boys basketball win of the season, 38-22 Saturday afternoon.
Things didn’t come easy for the Wolfpack on offense either, as Asher Knopik was the only player in double-figures, scoring 11 points.
After the first quarter the Wolfpack led 8-4 and held the Bison scoreless for the first four minutes of the second quarter. They went into halftime holding a 22-11 lead.
“Our kids brought it defensively tonight, we had energy, focus and stayed connected throughout the game. Just really proud of our effort today defensively,” Glacier coach Evan Epperly said.
Offensively the game plan was affected by their starting center Slate Burrington getting into early foul trouble. In the first quarter they were feeding the post to the 6-foot-6 senior center and after picking up two quick fouls, the offense used more motion to get their looks.
“With Slate getting into foul trouble it affects some of the rotations and some of the things we can do schematically,” Epperly said. “I thought the fouls were aggressive, as he was playing hard and as the season goes on hopefully, we can avoid some of those fouls.”
Glacier was held to only two field goals in the third quarter, a Knopik layup and a Cooper Pelc three pointer, but the Pack were still able to extend their lead.
They Great Falls without a field goal, only allowing three points from the free throw line. The Wolfpack took a 29-14 into the final quarter.
“We have had a lot of good defensive teams here and that is something we take pride in with our program,” Epperly said. “It’s something we hang our hat on, playing man defense and it was a great showing from us tonight.”
Playing on a back-to-back, the Wolfpack had energy throughout the game and responded well after losing the night before to the CMR Rustlers 56-40. Epperly is confident the team will start making more shots while maintaining their intensity on defense.
“This weekend tested our conditioning and helped us knock some rust off,” Epperly said. “We have a lot to clean up offensively with our execution and we didn’t shoot the ball great this weekend.
“We just have to run our stuff efficiently, making play, making shots and taking better care of the basketball.”
Glacier heads on the road next week for a Friday matchup with Gallatin at 7 p.m. and a Saturday matchup with Bozeman at 1 p.m.
Great Falls 4 7 3 8 – 22
Glacier 8 14 7 9 – 38
GREAT FALLS — Steele Harris 0 1-2 1, Deegan Duffy 0 0-0 0, Gavin Bebbington 0 0-0 0, Colter DeVoss 0 0-0 0, Blake Carver 1 2-2 4, Noah Banderob 3 1-1 9, Keenan Seltzer 2 0-1 4, Matt Kambic 1 0-0 2, Emmitt Richmond 1 0-1 2. Totals 8 4-7 22.
GLACIER — Cooper Pelc 1 0-0 3, Liam Ells 3 0-0 8, Hayden Endresen 0 0-0 0, Ethan Kastelitz 1 1-2 3, Easton Kauffman 0 0-0 0, Asher Knopik 3 4-6 11, Luke Nikunen 1 0-0 3, Garrett Endresen 0 0-0 0, Hunter Daniels 0 0-0 0, Slate Burrington 1 2-4 4, Dylan Banzet 3 0-0 6 Ben Winters 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 7-12 38.
3-point field goals — Great Falls 2 (Banderob 2) Glacier 5 (Ells 2, Pelc, Knopik, Nikunen)
Fouls — Great Falls 15, Glacier 13. Fouled out — Burrington.