Knopik brothers spark Glacier comeback, Asher's late layup beats Helena 39-35

Asher Knopik converted a layup with 15 seconds remaining to put Glacier ahead 37-35, and a Cooper Pelc block followed by Carter Knopik’s steal and free throws closed out a 39-35 Western AA road victory over Helena High in Helena on Feb. 27, 2026. The win snapped Glacier’s skid and came down to the final possessions.

Helena opened the game strong, outscoring Glacier 20-14 at the break as Tyse Todorovich swished an early triple and scored seven first-half points. Seth Lieberg and Todorovich were Helena’s top scorers for the night; Lieberg finished with 12 points and Todorovich tallied 10 but fouled out late in the fourth quarter.

Glacier’s comeback took shape in the third quarter when Cooper Pelc poured in seven points in that period to help the Wolfpack build a 28-27 lead entering the fourth. Talis Pitts added eight points overall and Asher Knopik led Glacier with 14 points. Carter Knopik contributed from the line, making clutch free throws and finishing 7-for-10 at the stripe.

The decisive sequence unfolded after Asher’s basket. Pelc blocked Helena’s next 3-point attempt out of bounds, Carter stole the final inbounds pass, and Glacier converted free throws to secure the final margin. Team foul totals were sizeable: Glacier committed 21 fouls while Helena had 17, and Todorovich was the only player listed as fouling out.

Box score lines from the game: GLACIER — Cooper Pelc 3 0-0 7, Ethan Kastelitz 0 0-4 0, Tate Kahler 1 0-0 3, Hudson Kastelitz 0 0-0 0, Talis Pitts 3 1-1 8, Blake Pittman 0 0-0 0, Dylan Banzet 0 0-0 0, Asher Knopik 6 2-2 14, Carter Knopik 0 7-10 7. Totals 13 10-13 39. HELENA HIGH — Pacer Lybbert 1 0-0 2, Cayden 0 3-6 3, Reece Silvonen 0 1-3 1, Seth Lieberg 5 1-4 12, Gracen Silvonen 0 1-2 1, Tyse Todorovich 4 1-4 10, Jonathan Laboy 2 0-0 4, Chase Foster 1 0-2 2. Totals 13 7-21 35. 3-point goals — Glacier 3 (Pelc, Kahler, Pitts). Helena 2 (Lieberg, Todorovich) Fouls — Glacier 21, Helena 17. Fouled out — Todorovich. Scoring by quarter: Glacier 8 6 14 11 - 39; Helena 10 10 7 8 - 35.

The result moves Glacier to 6-13 overall and 3-11 in Western AA games while Helena falls to 9-9 overall and 6-7 in conference play. Glacier’s late-game defense and the Knopik brothers’ finishing touches decided a one-possession game in downtown Helena.