Lady Wolves Advance To Divisional Tourney

Comebacks don’t happen with simply just one spectacular play. Rather, it takes a series of outstanding efforts. For Wolf Point’s girls’ basketball squad, the come from behind 50-45 win over Glasgow in the district tourney’s semi-final round on Thursday, Feb. 17, started with a pass.

Down by a 39-33 margin with under four minutes remaining, the Wolves’ comeback journey began when an outstanding pass from senior Jaylee Azure to Josie Kolstad resulted in two free throws by Kolstad. Azure, who was remarkable down the stretch, soon drove to the basket and was fouled. Two free throws by Azure closed the margin to 39-37 with 3:03 remaining.

After a free throw by Azure at the 2:38 mark, the senior connected from three-point range to put the Wolves ahead 41-39 with 1:59 left in the District 2B tournament contest in Glasgow.

“I was confident,” Azure said of her three-pointer. “I was hoping I was going to make it. I was wide open.”

Glasgow responded with a pair of free throws by Abrianna Nielson for a 41-41 deadlock and then gained possession on a jump ball call.

It was here that Wolf Point’s J’Elle Garfield created likely the play of the game when the talented junior leaped to tip an in-bounds pass attempt. She then grabbed the ball and went in for the goahead shot with 1:16 on the clock.

Two free throws by Kolstad increased the lead to 45-41 with 57 seconds left. After a steal and free throw by Katelyn MacDonald put the Wolves up 46-41 with 46 seconds remaining, the Scotties were soon forced to foul Kolstad again.

After spending many of her younger years in the Glasgow gym practicing her free-throw shooting, Kolstad felt right at home on the foul stripe and hit both free tosses for a 48-41 advantage with only 31 seconds remaining.

“I told Josie to go get the ball so they foul her,” Wolf Point coach Frank Benson said.

The senior was six for six from the foul stripe during the final 3:35.

“I just went into it wanting to win so badly,” Kolstad said. “We all made mistakes, but we pick each other up.”

Wolf Point’s top scorers were Garfield with 14, Azure with 10 and Kolstad with 10. Also scoring were Hamyanie Campbell with six, Kaylandra St. Marks with five, Mac-Donald with three and Sierra Hamilton with two.

“It was a great team effort,” Benson said.

Sabrina Harsh led the Scotties with 16 points.

A coast-to-coast drive by Campbell put the Wolves ahead 8-7 at the end of the first quarter.

After the Scotties took an 18-14 lead during the second period, Garfield accounted for five of the game’s next six points to end the half at 19-19.

A three-pointer from way out by St. Marks tied the game at 31-31 late in the third quarter. A pair of free throws by Hamilton put the Wolves up 33-32 at the end of the period.

Glasgow, however, accounted for the first seven points of the fourth quarter to take a 39-33 advantage.