Libby outduels Troy as rivals clash

Libby led Troy 18-4 at the end of the first quarter en route to a decisive 51-42 victory over the Trojans Thursday.

Junior guard Jared Winslow led all scorers with 21 points, including eight in the first quarter, when the Loggers seemingly could not miss.

“Our field-goal percentage was very good,” said Libby Head Coach Wally Winslow. “But whether you’re way ahead or in a close game, it’s all mainly about execution.”

The Loggers had little trouble executing in the first quarter, but the luck ran out as Troy rallied in a big way with quarters of 15 and 14 points.

The Trojans snagged the lead 33-32 with 1:10 left in the third quarter.

Then Libby outscored Troy 19-9 in the final time frame.

“It’s been kind of a recurring theme for us,” said Troy’s head coach Cory Andersen. “We’ve had a lead, been ahead by three or four points and then couldn’t close.”

Andersen attributed his team’s struggles in a late game situations to youthful inexperience. Still, to came roaring back from a dispiriting 14-point deficit in the first quarter shows signs of promise for the young Trojans.

Libby played tough through and through. Forward Barak Lapka scored his big 12 points mostly in the paint, and frustrated Troy every time he touched the ball. Kraig Nelson tacked on nine points to help the Loggers to a much-welcomed win.

Troy won both matchups last season.

Gabe Hickman led the Trojans with 16 hard-earned points, and senior Austin Grable had several pocket 3-pointers to finish with nine points.

The Trojans used the game as valuable experience and beat on a Thompson Falls team on Friday. Troy won 52-38 behind Gage Tallmadge’s 13 points.

Libby faced one of the premier programs in the state in Columbia Falls on Saturday and nearly pulled off the upset before losing 47-42. Winslow had 21 points.