Spartans Finish Western Divisional Third Over Helena

Meeting on the court for the boys western divisional consolation championship game the Sentinel Spartans would play the Helena Bengals for the third place spot going into the state tournament and Sntinel closed out their divisional with a 50-49 win over the Bengals.

The opening quarter was spent figuring out each others schemes as the Spartans would jump on the board first with an Elias DeWaters jumper. Glacier got on the board at the 3:46 mark in the first quarter when Pierce Brown knocked down a three, the first of two to keep Helena ahead of Sentinel who did not score another point until there was 57 seconds left in the first quarter.

Going into the second quarter down five to the Bengals Sentinel stepped their game offensively and took the lead for the first time with 2:10 left in the half. Helena quickly charged back to get back ahead of the Spartans. Finishing out the half the Bengals and Spartans would have 10 rebounds apiece, but Helena would out shot Sentinel at 47% compared the Spartans 39%.

Down by one to start the second half Sentinel came out shooting with Alex Germer dropping a three to open the half, and then DeWaters hit a jumper to give Sentinel the lead. Helena battled back and off of the three ball regained the lead, but Sentinel did not go away as they would tie the game back up on the next trip down the court.

As the final quarter opened the two teams kept it close as the lead would change multiple times in the final frame. Mid way through the fourth quarter the Spartans took hold of the game on the hot hand of Alex Germer who knocked a three pointer on three consecutive possessions down the court, and then capped the run with a jumper from the top of the key. From there Sentinel held on to the lead with Helena climbing back into the game late, but the Bengals could not keep pace with the Sentinel shooters and the Spartans claimed the third place spot.