Gesture of sportsmanship lifts Libby's Freese
Libby senior Ashley Freese is greeted by her teammates during Tuesday's game against Columbia Falls. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
It’s been a tough season for the Libby Loggers girls basketball team, but the difficulties were tempered a bit Tuesday night against Columbia Falls.
While the girls squad also celebrated Senior Night along with the pep band and cheer team, senior Ashley Freese made it on to the court.
An injury sidelined Freese for her final basketball season, but thanks to an agreement between Libby head coach Todd Boehmler and Columbia Falls head coach Cary Finberg, she made it into the game briefly and scored a layup as the Wildcats stepped aside.
Freese and her teammates hugged after her basket during the bittersweet moment.
Prior to it, 15 Loggers seniors and their families were honored following the senior walk.
Basketball team members included Freese, Ellie Andreessen, Addy Gilden-Vincent and Jossalyn White.
Logger Spirit Senior Faith Erickson was also honored. She’s excelled in several sporting events in Special Olympics.
Pep band seniors included Allison Beaty, Morgan Davis, Kayla Hoff, Jared Iliff and Cheyenne Nielson.
Cheer team seniors included Molly Gotham, Lyndee McElmurry, Mylie Rayome and Macie Sichting.
Columbia Falls went on to win the girls game, 78-43.