Sentinel vs Hellgate Preview

Thursday night will be the second night this week for crosstown action as Hellgate will host Sentinel on the hardwood for a doubleheader between the boys and girls.

Ladies First…

The tip off game for the doubleheader will be between the girls in a revenge game for Sentinel as they fell to Hellgate in the first match up at Sentinel. For Sentinel it has been an off year as they sit in the lower half of the western conference of girls Class AA basketball after making a trip to the state championship game in the last two seasons. A win over Hellgate and splitting the city match up would be a great way to build momentum going into the final week of the season.

Hellgate has been a team on fire so far in the 2018-2019 season as they sit in the third place spot in conference play, and seventh overall with a 9-6 record. With a young group of players who are led by a grizzled senior Hellgate has worked their way up the ranks and earned the respect of their peers across the league by playing fundamental basketball.

In the first match up of season in mid January Sentinel held the lead for most of the game with Hellgate coming back in the final frame to close out the first victory over Sentinel in a decade. Expect Thursday nights game to be another low scoring affair as the last game was with Hellgate taking advantage of the fast break, and Sentinel slowing the game down to work the ball inside to all-star Lexi Deden. Tip off from Hellgate is at 5:30 pm

And Now For The Boys…

For the night cap game it will be a battle between the top two teams in the Class AA Western Conference as the Knights sit at the top of all Class AA teams in the state, and Sentinel sits in a three way tie for third with Bozeman and CMR with a 10-4 record overall. Hellgate has dominated in all games they have played this season with their only loss coming in non conference play.

Outside their one lose to Hellgate in league play Sentinel holds on to the second place spot with a 7-1 record, three games ahead of the Helena Bengals who are 4-4 in the western conference. The Spartans have had impressive wins over some of the best teams in Class AA basketball, but their losses have come at times that have shown their youth.

Hellgate has been boat racing their opponents this season including the game between the two teams in January where they leaned on their senior staff to lead the Knights to a victory. Watch out for the perimeter shooters for Sentinel to have success against the Knights where other teams have struggled, but keep in mind that Hellgate has a strong game when the clock ticks down in the final frame.