Girls Basketball: Mee scores 41 in loss to defending champs

Libby senior Jackie Mee opened the season on an incredible note Friday in the Tip-Off Tournament at Polson. Mee scored 41 points – including seven 3-pointers – against defending Class A champion Anaconda. But the Copperheads also got 41 from its own Torry Hill and won the game, 67-56.

“It’s the most (points scored by a player) in the 20 years since I’ve been here,” said coach Jim May when asked if Mee’s performance was close to a school record. “Boy, if it isn’t, it’s got to be close.”

Libby took a three-point lead into the second quarter only to see Anaconda light up the scoreboard for 23 points. By halftime, the Copperheads held a 35-30 advantage. In the third, Anaconda got some breathing room and took a 13-point lead into the fourth.

“Anaconda got a pretty good lead on us … but the kids were competitive,” May said. “There are still not a lot of things done well which I guess is to be expected at the beginning of the season.”

Mee’s performance included 12-of-19 from the field, 7-of-12 on 3-pointers and 10-of-12 on free throws. She also grabbed six rebounds and had two blocked shots. Mee’s points accounted for 73 percent of the team’s total.

Jaime Gilden had a team-high seven rebounds to go along with two blocked shots and three steals. Alysha Martin also had three steals and shared the team lead in assists with Logan Best with four.

On Saturday, the Lady Loggers countered with a 38-34 victory over Hamilton – the team that lost to Anaconda in last year’s state championship game. Libby led 15-9 at halftime in a low-scoring affair and then held on in the fourth to post its first win.

“In the Hamilton game, the girls played pretty gutsy. They lost a big lead late but did some things to persevere,” May said.

Mee pulled off a double-double 10 points and 15 rebounds – four of those on the offensive glass. Gilden scored eight points and had eight boards. Best finished with four assists and Martin had three steals.

Libby was scheduled to play Tuesday at home against Glacier. The varsity heads to Kalispell for a game against Flathead on Saturday.

Anaconda 67, Libby 56

Friday at Polson

Libby—Mee 41, Luscher 5, Gilden 4, Martin 3, Good 2, Best 1.

Anaconda—Hill 41, Laslovich 4, Wagner 5, Verlanic 4, Galle 7, Krumm 6.

Libby 38, Hamilton 34

Saturday at Ronan

Libby—Mee 12 Gilden 8, Good 6, Martin 4, Johnson 4, Tangen 2, Best 2.

Hamilton—Schultz 16, Trotter 7, Kratofil 6, Albert 3, Hudson 2.