Loggers snap losing streak

After Libby’s loss to Columbia Falls on Jan. 3, Libby head coach Josh Bean said, “We need to learn how to finish.”

In front of a packed house at the Ralph Tate Memorial Gym on Friday night, the Loggers learned that lesson as they clawed back from a four-point deficit late in the game to claim victory over the visiting Plains Horsemen, 50-48.

The game started with aggressive defense from both teams, with Libby scoring the first three points on a jumper from Jonny Cielak and a split pair of free throws from Michael Curtiss. Plains guard Alec Cole brought it back to even with a three-pointer, providing a solid preview of the rest of the first half.

The first quarter went back and forth, until Plains started pulling away late, reeling off five unanswered points to take a 17-13 lead. As the period wound to a close, however, Libby’s Cielak hit a long three to end the quarter down only one point. That deficit disappeared on the first play of the second quarter, as Cielak drove the lane to score a quick layup.

The Loggers’ tough defense kept Plains out of the paint in the second quarter, limiting them to long outside shots, many of which didn’t fall. Unfortunately, the Loggers couldn’t capitalize on the Plains misses on the offensive end and the half ended with the score deadlocked at 24.

The Loggers jumped out to a 27-24 lead early in the third, but that lead disappeared after a jumper from Plains’ Ryan Ovitt and a free throw on a technical foul called on Libby’s Zander Petersen after a traveling call. After a bit more back and forth, the Loggers closed out the third quarter with a 34-30 lead.

The fourth quarter seemed to be all Plains, as they went on a 14-6 run. At the 2:52 mark, with Plains leading 44-40, Libby called for a timeout to regroup and push to the finish.  The crowd, behind Athletic Coordinator Wayne Baker leading a cheer, came alive to cheer for their home team.

Michael Curtiss split a pair of free throws to cut the lead to three, then scored on an solid interior pass play to cut the lead down to one. Plains’ Aaron Baker was fouled scoring inside, but missed the free throw for a 46-43 lead. With just 51 seconds remaining, Libby’s Collin Johnson cut the lead to a single point.

Johnson then fouled Kyle Revier, who made both free throws to extend the lead back to three. Libby responded, with Erik Lauer driving to the lane, scoring and drawing the foul. Lauer made the free throw to complete the three-point play and tie the game at 48.

With 13.1 seconds left in the game, Libby’s defense forced an errant pass by Plains and gave them back the ball with the score tied. The Loggers worked a quick pass into Lauer in the paint, who laid it in with just 3.5 seconds left in the game.

Plains managed to fire up a shot from three-quarters of the way across the court, but it was way off the mark and the Libby Loggers left the court with their first win of the season.

Libby shot 44 percent from the field, including 40 percent from beyond the three-point arc. The Loggers also crashed the boards hard, pulling down 26 rebounds, 10 of them on the offensive side.

Jonny Cielak led all scorers with 16, also adding four rebounds, an assist, a steal and a block. Collin Johnson chipped in 13, with Michael Curtiss and Erik Lauer each adding eight. Curtiss and Lauer each contributed seven rebounds in the win, as well.

The Loggers were at home again on Saturday night, but lost their game against Polson by a socre of 54-44.