Boys Win Exciting Overtime Game at Slidell, Girls Win Big!
The Montague boys’ basketball team traveled to Slidell to battle it out with the Greyhounds. Each team was undefeated at 7-0 entering the game and needing a win to have a chance at the district championship. The matchup did not disappoint and would end up being a thriller. The Eagles began the game strong opening up a 6 point lead by the end of the first quarter. After the good start, the Eagles maintained great half-court defense and capitalized in key situations offensively. The Eagles increased their lead to 8 by halftime, leading 24-16. In the 3rd quarter, the Eagles held off the Greyhounds defensively for a while and increased their lead to 10 at one point before a late run by Slidell closed the gap to 6 to start the fourth. In the final period, Slidell shifted defensively into a soft press putting pressure on the Montague guards. The pressure was successful leading to a slew of turnovers by the Eagles narrowing the score toward the end of the quarter. The Greyhounds defensive change sparked a comeback and with less than one minute to go in regulation, Slidell tied the game. After tying the game, the Hounds got a stop defensively and then a score on the offensive end taking the lead for the first time in the game, 38-36. The Eagles then possessed the ball with only 7 seconds remaining in the game with no timeouts on the Slidell end of the floor. With Slidell in the press defensively, the Eagles inbounded the ball and made 3 of the best passes of the night ending up in the hands of Walker Strahan who was wide open under the basket and he tied the game as time expired with a clutch layup. They were headed into overtime! In the overtime period, the supercharged Eagles came out with stifling defense and were great on the boards. They made life difficult for the Greyhounds, forcing tough shots and came up with huge baskets on offense at opportune times. The Eagles led by two with 5 seconds remaining in the game. The Eagles stayed in their base defense and had their best defensive possession of the night forcing a deep contested three-point attempt by the Greyhounds that fell short. The Eagles won the game in O.T. by a final score of 45-43. The leading scorer for the Eagles was Karson Kleinhans with 20 points. Other scorers were Caden Belcher with 9 points, Brady Moore with 7, Hunter Parr with 6, and Walker Strahan with 4.
The Montague Lady Eagles kept their undefeated district streak alive as they traveled to Slidell and won in dominating fashion 44-11. The Lady Eagles road the hot hand of Brylie Hager and Aubree Kleinhans to victory as Hager scored 14 points and Kleinhans 13. Hager also took a charge, shot 67% from the field and handed out 2 assists. Kleinhans shot 75% from the 3, nailing 3 out of 4 3s while also snagging 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals. Paige Davis scored 5 points to go with 4 rebounds and 2 assists, Bayler Smith had 4 points to go with a team high 8 steals and 5 rebounds, Emma Read had 3 points and 2 assists, while Ava Johnson and Raylea Bowles had 2 each. Tinley Cable contributed a freethrow and Chloe Broussard had 5 rebounds.
Montague's final district contest of the season will be next Monday night, January 31st as they travel to Gold-Burg to face the Bears.