Rams Out Gun The Wardens

The Loyola Ram basketball team took to the road Friday night to play the Powell County Wardens in Deer Lodge and held off the Wardens for a 70-61 win.

Loyola would get David Koppang back for the first time this season after he sat out last season with an injury and missed the first three games due to illness. The Rams would not be a complete team yet as they would be down their paint producer Joe McElroy because he would be in Bozeman for his official visit to Montana State.

The Rams came out on the run against a youthful but experienced Wardens and Koppang lead the pack scoring six points in the first quarter. Loyola held a 17-14 lead to start the second quarter and pushed the ball in the second to enjoy a 32-24 lead at the break. Koppang led all shooters with 11 points after two quarters of play, with Jack Lincoln sharing in the production matching Koppangs 11 points.

Powell County would not go quietly as Coach Norris made his adjustments at the half and out scored the Rams by five points in the third quarter to reel in Loyola to 48-45. Warden junior guard Dylan McDermid put his team on his shoulders and led all scorers with eight points in the the third quarter. In total McDermid would lead the Wardens in the scoring column with 25 points on the night and shot 60 percent from the free throw line.

In true Loyola fashion, the Rams would not lift their foot off the throttle and pulled away from Powell County on the hands of Jack Lincoln who dropped eight points in the paint in the fourth quarter to keep the Wardens out of reach. Koppang finished the night with 28 points, going 2-2 from the three point line at crucial moments in the second half. Lincoln would not be out down by Koppang throwing down 20 points, eight in the fourth quarter, and ruled the boards on both ends of the court.

The Rams and Breakers will host their conference rival Florence Falcons Saturday at the Ram Athletic Center with the boys tipping off first at 4:00 pm, and the girls play 20 minutes after the boys finish off.