Warriors bring MSU-N's postseason run to an end

The Montana State University-Northern Lights were just one hurdle away from playing for a Frontier Conference championship. That hurdle, however, proved to be much too tall.

Saturday night in the Frontier Conference semifinals, the Lights were blitzed by the 13th-ranked Lewis-Clark State Warriors in a 95-53 loss that brought Northern’s season to an end with an 18-14 record. Meanwhile, the Warriors advanced to Tuesday night’s championship game where they’ll take on Carroll College.

And the Warriors got there, with an offensive display against the Lights. LCSC shot an incredible 62 percent from the field, including 54 percent in the first half as the Warriors built a 41-20 lead at intermission. Northern could never slow LCSC down either as the Warriors outscored the Lights 54-33 in the final 20 minutes.

“It definitely was not our night out here tonight,” MSU-N head coach Shawn Huse said. “And LC showed why they have been the winners of 10 in a row now. I just told the guys to remember this year for all the good they accomplished in a very tough league.”

In the offensive onslaught, LC had six different players scored in double figures, while the Lights got a game-high 17 points from senior Caulin Bakalarski. Devin Bray and Adam Huse each chipped in with nine points, while the Lights shot just 35 percent and made five 3-pointers.

“Our seniors, and team overall, did a fantastic job down the backstretch of the year ... and I am very proud of how they stepped up to get us this far,” Huse said. “Despite tonight, Justin and Caulin and the whole group went out the right way overall. We just need to look at this one and the whole season (good and bad), and use it for motivation moving forward. I like the experience and ability returning next year ... and with a solid offseason, I feel like this team has a bright future moving forward.”

LC State 95, Lights 53

MSU-N - Justin Dunsmore 2-8 2-2 6, Devin Bray 4-9 0-0 9, Adam Huse 3-11 2-2 9, James Fry 0-0 0-0 0, Caulin Bakalarski 6-13 2-3 17, Cedric Crutchfield 1-3 0-0 2, Kavon Bey 2-10 0-0 4, Joe Fons 1-2 0-0 2, Mascio McCadney 2-4 0-0 4. Totals 21-60 6-7 53.

LCSC - David Shedrick 1-2 0-0 3, Race Martin 5-6 0-0 11, Blair Moore 1-2 0-0 2, Cordel Hankerson 3-6 0-0 7, Damek Mitchell 3-5 0-0 6, Cory Dollarhide 6-8 0-0 13, Andre McCowan 4-8 2-2 10, Trystan Bradley 5-7 3-4 13, Dana Abe 3-7 3-4 10, Derrick White 2-5 1-2 5, Conner Moffatt 1-2 0-0 2, Josiah Westbrook 4-4 4-5 13. Totals 38-62 13-17 95.

3-pt FG:Montana State University- 5-21 (Dunsmore 0-3, Bray 1-4, Huse 1-4, Bakalarski 3-6, Bey 0-1, Fons 0-1, McCadney 0-2), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 6-11 (Shedrick 1-1, Martin 1-1, Hankerson 1-1, Mitchell 0-1, Dollarhide 1-2, McCowan 0-1, Abe 1-2, White 0-1, Westbrook 1-1). Rebounds: Montana State University- 26 (Dunsmore 6), Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 39 (Mitchell 6). Fouls Montana State University- 9, Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 8. Fouled out: none.