Sophomore Owen Mercado puts in 2 of his 14 points against Darby. Mercado was the high scorer for the Blackhawks in all three district tournament games.
FRENCHTOWN - The Blackhawks had a bumpy ride at the District 13C tournament defeating Victor in a semifinal, falling to Darby in the championship game and then being upset by the Clark Fork Coop in a challenge game.
The Blackhawks easily rolled over Victor Feb. 15, outscoring the Pirates in every frame to a final score of 69-41.
Three Blackhawks scored into the double digits. Owen Mercado led the way with 21 followed by Cordell Turner with 19 and Chance Johnson scoring 14. The Boys hit 13 of 20 free throws led by Turner hitting 5 of 6, Mercado going 4 of 5 and Seth Richardson sinking 2 of 2.
Also scoring: Hunter Shelmerdine 7, Walker McDonald 3 and Lane Mackie-Wendel 3.
After the previous week's double overtime loss to Darby, the championship game was expected to be a battle but the Blackhawks found themselves buried in debt early. Darby took a 12-point lead in the first quarter and had extended it to 16 by the half. The Blackhawks were unable to turn the tables in the second half and fell 38-65.
Mercado led the Boys with 14 points. The boys hit 6 of 10 free throws.
Also scoring: Johnson 9, Turner 6, Chase Haines 3, McDonald 2, Wood 2 and Shelmerdine 2.
The loss to Darby set the Blackhawks up for a challenge game Feb. 18 with the Clark Fork Mountain Cats for second place and a trip to the divisional tournament. The previous two times the teams met in the regular season went to the Blackhawks 69-49 and 55-27.
The Blackhawks and Cats clashed through the first half with the Blackhawks trailing just 5 going into the third quarter.
By the fourth quarter the Blackhawks had slipped another 5 points and needed to keep the Cats from going to the basket. They succeeded in holding them to just one basket in the fourth but paid dearly from the foul line. The Cats put up 16 points in the final frame from free throws alone.
The Blackhawks were unable to make up any ground and their season came to a screeching halt with a final score of 44 to 56.
Mercado again led the Blackhawks scoring 17 points including going 6 of 7 from the free throw line. Johnson broke into the double digits as well with 13 points.
Also scoring: Wood 8 and Turner 6.
Reader Comments(0)