Late-game execution spoils Clark Fork's comeback

CLARK FORK — Spotty three-point defense and lack of late-game execution doomed the Wampus Cats in a 61-51 on Tuesday night against Mullan in a league game was closer than the score indicated.

Staring at a 10-point deficit at halftime, the Wampus Cats turned up the pressure in order to claw back into the game.

“We had to play a little more aggressive,” Clark Fork head coach Heath Benson said. “Once we had figured out who Mullan’s shooters were, we were able to turn up the intensity and get back in the game.

Mullan, which had only five players suit up, didn’t let playing on the road or a lack of substitutes faze them, as it led for the majority of its second win of the season. The Tigers slowed down the tempo in the first half, making extra passes through the high post to find Riley Trogden, who nearly outscored the Wampus Cats himself with a dozen first-quarter points.

Yet the Wampus Cats pulled within three with 2:59 to play, thanks to Theo Icardo’s seven points in the fourth-quarter.

Clark Fork’s insistence on shooting would-be game-tying threes came back to haunt them in the end.

After pulling within one possession of Mullan, Clark Fork missed its next five three point attempts; the mounting empty possessions coupled with free throws from Luke Trogden and Chandler Holling on the other end dashed any comeback hopes.

“Sometimes we’re a little overconfident when we need to be fundamental,” Benson said of the shot selection in the fourth quarter. “Our kids’ fundamentals have been strong at times, but we’re trying to make them strong 100 percent of the time.”

Luke Trogden led all scorers with 27 points, while Cameron Garcia led Clark Fork with 90. Junior teammate Josh Constantin added 13 and 6 rebounds.

Mullan 18 12 16 15 — 61

Clark Fork 12 8 14 17 — 51

MULLAN — L. Trogdan 27, Holling 12, Hess 2, King 0, R. Trogden 20.

CLARK FORK — Garcia 19, Sanroman 2, Rueter 0, Constantin 13, Abbott 7, Icardo 10, Heisel 0.