Dogs scratch out win over Libby

Whitefish’s

four-point victory Friday night over Libby certainly won’t go down

as the prettiest of the season. It was slow and sometimes ugly —

but a win is a win.

“I was just happy to get out of there

with the conference win,” Whitefish coach Mark Casazza said

afterward.

All three of the Bulldogs’ top scorers

were off early. Libby played physical defense, while Gage Vasquez,

Cooper Olson and Jake Slaybaugh struggled to make shots. The

Loggers were up 5-13 after the first period and took a 12-24 lead

into the break.

“At half time, some of our leaders

stepped up,” Casazza said.

Whitefish’s defense forced turnovers —

28 in all — and created chaos. The offense started to click,

too.

Vasquez and Olson each tallied treys in

the third and Logan Harwood put in a nice floater to end the period

with Whitefish down 28-32.

“Logan gave us a spark offensively and

defensively,” Casazza said.

The Bulldogs took the lead back in the

fourth when Olson assisted Vasquez on a three-pointer. With the

game tied 40-40, Chris Forrest took a defensive charge with 10.4

seconds left to give Whitefish a chance to win it in regulation.

The Bulldogs, however, couldn’t find their shot and the game went

to a four-minute overtime.

Six different players scored for

Whitefish in overtime. Olson hit a 15-foot jumper and Vasquez had a

put-back in the post to make it 44-42. Jace Kalbfleisch and Harwood

each hit free throws to give Whitefish a 47-42 lead.

Libby banked in a long three-pointer

with 17 seconds left to make it a two-point game, but Chris Forrest

sank two free throws to seal the victory.

Vasquez finished with 16 points and

Harwood added 11.

Whitefish hosts Plains on Thursday for

senior night, then hosts Columbia Falls at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

“That’s the game we’ve all been waiting

for,” Casazza said.

Libby 13 11 8 8 5 - 45

Whitefish 5 7 16 12 9 - 49

LIBBY - Micah Germany 2, Elias Lapka 4,

Jared Winslow 17, Nolan Broden 9, Josh Foote 11, Kraig Nelson

2.

WHITEFISH - Christopher Forrest 5, Jake

Slaybaugh 7, Logan Harwood 11, Gage Vasquez 16, Cooper Olson 8,

Jace Kalbfleisch 2.