Libby Loggers keep Highway 37 Battle of the Kootenai trophy

The Highway 37 Battle of the Kootenai trophy is staying in Libby after the Loggers Greenchain wrestling team beat Eureka Thursday afternoon at Lincoln County High School.

Libby has won the trophy six of the last eight years, including the last two.

The Loggers won five of nine events this year, including softball, boys track, boys cross country, girls cross country and wrestling.

The Greenchain’s win over the Lions following the girls basketball team clinched the triumph.

The Lady Loggers battled Eureka before falling 46-38.

Madison Vincent and Bergen Fortner led the Loggers with eight points each. Kaydence Stanek scored five points, while Rylee Delmas, Rachel Kosters and Addy Gilden-Vincent had four each. Ellie Andreessen scored three and Peyton Waggoner had two.

In the boys game, the Loggers led 23-21 at halftime before Eureka took control in the second half for a 55-39 win. 

For Libby, Tyler Andersen hit three 3-pointers and scored 20 points. Cy Williams tallied nine points while Ryan Beagle scored six and Tristan Andersen had four.

Eureka’s Braden Casazza scored 20 points, 15 after halftime, to lead the Lions.

The wrestling team hosts its first matches of the season Tuesday in a tri-meet with Ronan and Stevensville. Ronan and Stevi begins at 4 p.m., followed by Libby battling Stevi, followed by Ronan.

Saturday, five Greenchain wrestlers competed at the Tri-State Tournament at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene.

Jace DeShazer claimed another title with a 4-0 performance at 195 pounds, including four straight pins. DeShazer was on the mat for four minutes, 10 seconds.

After a first-round bye, DeShazer dispatched West Valley’s (Spokane) Matt Duthie in 1:29. In the quarterfinals, he decked Arlington’s Holden Strande in 34 seconds. His semifinal match with Kamiakin’s Joshua Limon-Garcia ended in 1:13 and he won the championship by pinning Weiser’s Kaleb Grove in 54 seconds.

Marley Erickson (138) and Xavier Reatz (138) each finished 2-2. Riley Orsborn (98) and Zekiah Meyers (145) each finished 1-2.

The Logger basketball squads play their first home games of the season this week.

Thursday, Hamilton comes to town. The girls game begins at 4:15 p.m. while the boys are scheduled for 5:45 p.m. The Libby cheer team will perform.

Friday, Libby hosts Corvallis. The boys game begins at 4:15 p.m. while the girls are scheduled for 5:45 p.m. The fifth and sixth grade basketball teams will perform at halftime.

    Libby's Jace DeShazer and Loggers head coach Dean Thompson celebrate the senior's championship at 195 pounds Saturday at North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene. (Photo courtesy Libby High School)