Knights Bend But Don’t Break Against The Bengals

Two of the top three boys basketball teams in the Class AA Western Conference battled on the hardwood Thursday night with the Hellgate Knights holding off a surging Helena Bengals squad in a 58-45 win.

The 11-1 Knights ran out on an eight point streak at the opening of the game, but Helena settled in as three different Bengals would knock down a three pointer. Helena kept the pressure on Hellgate in the second quarter by rotating the ball and waiting for the high percentage shot to come open, going on to out shoot the Knights 14-13 to finish the firs half down by three.

Known as one of the best in high school basketball at making half time adjustments Knights head coach Jeff Hays instituted his defensive changes to start the third quarter and Hellgate held the Bengals to six points while scoring 13 of their own. Leaning on the outside game in the final quarter Helena hit a pair of three pointers to come close, but the Knights held on to their lead by hitting free throws in the closing moments to slip away with a win.