Flathead defeats Helena in OT

The Flathead Lacrosse varsity team defeated Helena High School 11-10 in a thrilling overtime game May 3 to complete a three-game sweep over the weekend.  

On Saturday, Flathead defeated Sentinel High School 12-10. On Sunday, Flathead’s defense shut down Cody High School of Cody, Wyo., spurring the varsity to a 14-1 rout.

The defensive effort was led by several Columbia Falls High School players, including goalie Brian Voustinas, defensemen Grant Wallace and Storm Kempapainen, and long-stick specialist Connor Bowman. Voustinas had his best outing yet in the cage, racking up an 83 percent save percentage.

The final game of the weekend pitted Flathead against last year’s runner-up state champion, the Helena High School Huskies. The Huskies entered the game with an 8-2 record and a firm grip on first place in the Montana Lacrosse Association’s Eastern Division.

The Huskies jumped out to an early 4-0 lead before senior Henry Chisholm beat two defenders on a physical drive to the goal that sparked the Flathead offense. The fourth quarter ended in a 10-10 tie, and Flathead scored in the second minute of sudden death overtime to win the game and move into second place in the Montana Lacrosse Association’s Western Division.

Chisholm was part of a potent starting attack line that included juniors Jack Blair and Marcus Jackson, of Whitefish, that scored 21 goals and nine assists over the weekend.

Flathead will play another triple-header on the road next weekend before traveling to Montana State University in Bozeman for the state championship May 15-18.