Riley Kenney is kind of a big deal

Listen folks, Riley Kenney is amazing. Dealing with a shoulder injury that sounds about as gruesome as the opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan," she kept playing through it in volleyball and now basketball season.

Last night? She scored 30 points against a Class AA school and led the Lady Pirates to a 61-51 victory over Flathead on the road. She sank 14 of 17 free throws, meaning she was fouled all night long. I don't think toughness would even begin to describe this girl, I think we need to come up with a new word. Riley Kenney's "Chuck Norris-ness" allowed Polson to continue their roll through the season.

(From the Daily Interlake)

Polson's Riley Kenney put on quite the show at the free-throw line, sinking 14 of 17 attempts en route to a 30-point performance in the Pirates' 61-50 nonconference girls basketball victory Tuesday over Flathead at Flathead High School.

Kenney, a 5-foot-10 junior forward, was nine of 12 shooting at the charity stripe in the final period.

Polson's Mackenzie Banner was even more deadly at the line, making all eight of her shots. Six came in the final period.

For the game, Polson enjoyed a big edge at the line, going 25 of 36.

Flathead had just 11 attempts, making six.

"That was the difference right there - free throws," Flathead coach Karly Tait said.
"We have to foul less and make more free throws on our end."

Polson, up 17-12 at the half, led at all four quarter stops.

Banner added 10 points for Polson.

Brittany Earnest and Jenessa Heine both scored 10 for Flathead.

"We need to clean up our defense," Tait added.

"We reach too much, we put ourselves in foul trouble."

While the game got off to a slow start, it ended with a flury. Polson outscored Flathead 27-23 in the final eight minutes.

"We hit some good shots down the stretch, but they knocked down free throws," Tait said.
"I'm proud of the girls for not giving up. We played hard until the last buzzer."

Flathead hosts Whitefish on Friday.

Polson - 9 - 8 - 17 - 27 - 61
Flathead - 5 - 7 - 15 - 23 - 50

POLSON - Mackenzie Banner 10, Nina Orozco-Charlo 4, Breanne Kelley 8, Riley Kenney 30, Jonna Grant 8, Heidi Rausch 1.

FLATHEAD - Emma Andrews 4, Sam Thompson 2, Tess Brenneman 7, Ashlee O'Dell 4, Brittany Earnest 10, Cassie Krueger 8, Jenessa Heine 10, Danika Johnson 5.