Loggers use paralyzing defense to rout rival Trojans 48-33
<p>Libby guard Collin Johnson has his shot blocked by Troy’s Bruce Metz, but draws the foul from freshman Sean Opland, behind. Johnson made one-of-two from the line.</p>
<p>Libby’s senior guard Will Reichel has his shot tipped away by Jared Trinastich in first-quarter action vs. Columbia Falls Saturday evening. </p>
In case anyone in the Kootenai Valley had any doubts about who was the little brother in the Libby-Troy rivalry, the Loggers gave a heavy reminder Friday night, beating the Trojans 48-33.
This was a turnaround from last season, when Troy beat Libby twice.
Libby’s big bodies, greater speed and wide wingspans shut down Troy, a team that came out timid against its Class A rivals.
Troy scored just 11 points in the first three quarters, and the Loggers led by upward of 20 points in the second and third quarters.
But what really doomed the Trojans, playing up a division against Libby, was the effectiveness of the Loggers’ inside-outside game. Senior forward Barak Lapka controlled the interior and finished with 21 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter.
Junior guard Jared Winslow had 18, mostly from the perimeter.
“When both inside and outside are working, it is difficult to defend,” said Libby Head Coach Wally Winslow. “The defense has to commit one way or the other.”
Although Troy has gone 5-1 in conference play and has improved from the first meeting between the Loggers and Trojans, Libby plays at a different speed. The intensity, by and large, of Class A compared to Class B, makes the teams difficult to compare fairly. Even so, Troy had opportunities to keep the game closer. The Trojans shot 4-of-13 from the free-throw line in the first three quarters.
Troy struggled until scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter, doubling the production from the other three quarters. By then, the game was out of hand.
Gabe Hickman, Troy’s junior guard and most dynamic playmaker, hit three 3-pointers to draw the game as close as it had been since the second quarter. Hickman finished with 13.
Troy’s youth may have played a factor in the game getting away early.
“The guys were all a little nervous,” said Trojan Head Coach Cory Andersen. “For the most part it was their first time playing in Libby’s gym in a varsity game.”
Gage Tallmadge, sophomore guard, had nine points for Troy, shooting 50 percent from the charity stripe.
Both teams went on to play conference games the next day, Saturday.
Libby found the “diamond-and-1” defense of Columbia Falls too much to handle. The Wildcats played zone on four players and man defense on Winslow, locking down the explosive guard. He and senior center Kraig Nelson were held to 10 points each in the 63-40 loss.
Troy had better luck, with Hickman lighting up for 25 points and seven rebounds in a 56-48 win over Thompson Falls. Junior center Bruce Metz added nine to help Troy to yet another conference win.
Libby will travel to Whitefish this Friday. Troy heads to Bigfork the same day.
Troy - 2 5 4 22 - 33
Libby - 12 14 7 15 - 48
Troy: Gabe Hickman 13, Gage Tallmadge 9, Sean Opland 4, Nathan Olds 2, Bruce Metz 2, Austin Grable 2, Ryan Huffman 1.
Libby: Barak Lapka 21, Jared Winslow 18, Kraig Nelson 4, Danny Leggins 2.
C-Falls - 21 9 14 19 - 63
Libby - 9 10 11 10 - 40
C-Falls: Ty Morgan 14, Luka Kazlauskas 13, Alex Presnell 11, Jared Trinastich 11, Austin Kimmett 6, J. Fagerland 4, Austin Martin 2, Logan Williams 2.
Libby: Jared Winslow 10, Kraig Nelson 10, Danny Leggins 9, Barak Lapka 7, Will Reichel 3, Collin Johnson 1.
Troy - 14 13 11 18 - 56
T-Falls - 9 10 15 14 - 48
Troy: Gabe Hickman 25, Sean Opland 9, Bruce Metz 9, Gage Tallmadge 4, Austin Grable 4, Nathan Olds 3, Luke Haggerty 2.
T-Falls: Ross Dalby 12, Baptiste Senaeve 12, Tanner Laws 10, Tyler Bates 8, Derek Whittenburg 3, Dominique Holt 2, Trais Hoisington 1.