Seniors lead Wampus Cats to big win
<p>Senior Joey Hazinsky hits one of his three first half lay-ins, helping the Cats to a big overtime win on Senior Night. (Photo by ERIC PLUMMER)</p>
CLARK FORK — Joey Hazinsky scored a game-high 17 points, and converted three first half steals into fast break layups, as the Wampus Cats hung on to beat the Warriors 58-54 in overtime on Tuesday night in North Star League hoops at Clark Fork High School.
Zack Klein scored 15 points and hit two big 3-pointers to spark the Wampus Cats (6-13, 5-3 NSL) to a 17 point third quarter, and Tristin Bristol added 10 points and 14 boards. Leading by two points, the Cats were poised to win in regulation, but committed a costly turnover in the final seconds.
Jake Pfeifer capitalized for Kootenai (6-9, 3-4 NSL), scoring with two seconds left to send the game into overtime. Ben Whipple hit four 3-pointers and scored 14 points, and Boone Benson added 14, as the Warriors were outscored 8-4 in the bonus period.
“When we went into overtime, we were pretty down, but we picked the energy back up,” said Cats head coach Corey Vogel, noting Bristol and Zach Nesbitt, who each had a hand in the costly turnover, combined to score all eight points in OT. “That was pretty cool to see them rise out of the ashes and win the game in overtime.”
Hazinsky added five assists, Axel Anderson eight points and nine rebounds, and Klein four steals, as the trio celebrated Senior Night with a big win. Hazinsky came up big in the first half, as the Cats were out of synch offensively, and trailed 23-22. Clark Fork hit 16-22 free throws on the game.
No. 1 seed Clark Fork will await the winner of Monday’s 1A Division II tourney opener between No. 2 Kootenai and No. 3 Mullan on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the championship game at Lake City High School.
Kootenai 9 14 13 14 4 — 54
Clark Fork 10 12 17 11 8 — 58
KOOTENAI — Butler 0, Whipple 14, Mo. Willms 11, Boone Benson 14, Ma. Willms 3, Pfeifer 12, Schultz 0.
CLARK FORK — Bristol 10, Klein 15, Hazinsky 17, Bowen 10, A. Anderson 8, Nesbitt 8, E. Anderson 0, Boudousquie 0, Bahr 0.