Eagles hold on to win in opening round

Published on Saturday, March 13, 2010 11:50 PM MST

Despite a late scare, the Sidney girls basketball team advanced to the semi-finals of the State Class A tournament with a 44-40 victory over Polson Thursday in Hamilton. The Pirates scored 11 of the final 14 points, but free throws by Jordan Sullivan helped the Eagles wrap up the victory.

With the game tied up at 11 after the first quarter, the Sidney defense took complete control as the Eagles held Polson to just two points in the second. A three by Whitney Thiel and a lay-in by Alex Hammer gave the Eagles a seven-point lead. A Sullivan jumper and a lay-in by Janae Moore helped Sidney gain a 22-13 halftime lead.

Sidney appeared to have all the momentum in the third period. A trio of jumpers by Moore, Sullivan and Megan Johnson gave the Eagles a 31-19 advantage. The Pirates quickly fought back with a pair of free throws and two inside jumpers to make the score 31-25 in favor of Sidney.

The defense of Sidney continued to come up big as Satra and Sullivan added transition buckets after steals by Moore and Hammer to give the Eagles a 12-point advantage. Polson, however, made a furious comeback behind two put-backs and a pair of baskets in transition to get within five at 41-36.

Missed free throws by Sidney allowed the Pirates to get even closer as two from the line by Breanne Kelly got Polson within three. A Hammer free throw gave the Eagles a 42-38 lead, but the Pirates bounced back with a lay-in by Kelly to get within two with 15 seconds left.

The Eagles, however, survived. A pair of free throws by Sullivan gave Sidney a 44-40 lead and neither team got back on the board.

Sullivan led Sidney with 16 points. Hammer had eight points while Thiel added seven. Moore had six while Johnson finished with four points. Satra rounded out the scoring with three points.

The first quarter was back-and-forth. Jumpers by Moore and Johnson gave Sidney an 8-4 advantage. Polson used five free throws to tie the game up at 9-9 going into the second.

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