GIRLS BASKETBALL: Late layup lifts Loyola past Bigfork in Western B tournament

It went just like the coach planned.

Well ...

“Almost,” said Missoula Loyola girls basketball coach Betsy Cornelius.

“I had a screen play in there. She (Skylar Hollenback) didn’t need it.”

Loyola had the ball with 10.3 seconds left, down by one and had to travel the length of the court.

After a timeout to design a possible game-winning play, the Breakers got the ball into Hollenback’s hands as planned. The speedy senior guard quickly moved it up the court and headed straight for the basket, where she banked in a layup from a tough angle with 4.5 seconds left to give Loyola a hard-fought 43-42 victory over Bigfork.

Bigfork had one final chance, after it called a timeout, but a hurried shot from long range fell well short in first-round action at the Western B divisional tournament Thursday afternoon at Flathead High School.

Hollenback totaled 11 points and was one of three players to finish in double-digit scoring for Loyola. She had three of her team’s four 3s in the contest.

Tessa Burke had a game-high 15 points for the Breakers. Brook Kolar netted 10.

Kolar scored six of Loyola’s eight points in the fourth quarter.

Lana Berg and Miranda Campbell, who was foul trouble already in the second quarter, had 11 each for the Valkyries.

It was the second meeting for the two rivals this season. Loyola also won the first matchup in Missoula on Jan. 30, 67-59. Burke scored 29 points in that one.

“We did a better job of rebounding this time,” Cornelius said.

“That’s a struggle inside with them because of their size.”

Campbell, at 6-foot-2, and Berg, at 5-10, again were a factor in the paint, scoring some key points on second-chance shots. Campbell had nine points in the first quarter.

That strong inside presence kept the pressure on Loyola the entire game.

Bigfork trailed by five heading into the final eight minutes. The Valkyries took a 40-39 lead with 3:07 showing on a turn around jumper off the glass by Berg from close range.

Two free throws by Jaime Berg then pushed the Bigfork margin to three points with 51.7 seconds remaining.

A Kolar field goal with 40 seconds left had Loyola down by just one, setting up the wild finish.

“(Statistics) don’t lie,” Bigfork coach Jami Grende said.

“We got outrebounded by 11, missed 10 free throws, couldn’t make the big plays, which was unfortunate. We were outhustled, didn’t fight for the boards. We forced a lot of passes. It was a bummer for us.”

Loyola advances to semifinal play tonight at 7:20 vs. Florence.

Bigfork falls into loser-out action today at 11:20 a.m. vs. Troy.

Missoula Loyola 7 15 13 8 — 43

Bigfork 12 11 7 12 — 42

MISSOULA LOYOLA — Darien Schneider 2, Caroline Stahl 2, Tessa Burke 15, Payson Jacobson 3, Skylar Hollenback 11, Brooke Kolar 10.

BIGFORK — Haile Norred 1, Jaime Berg 5, Rakiah Grende 4, Mattie McAnally 8, Katie Thomas 2, Lana Berg 11, Miranda Campbell 11.

Florence 46, Troy 33

Florence broke open a tight ballgame with a strong fourth quarter.

Leading 30-26 after three quarters, Florence outscored the Trojans 16-7 over the final eight minutes.

Rilee Mangun scored six of her eight points in the fourth quarter to spark Florence.

Chloe Arthur led the Falcons with 12 points. Kourtney Kohlman added 10.

Aurora Becquart netted nine points for Troy. Alyssa Lewis added eight.

Florence moves into semifinal action tonight vs. Missoula Loyola at 7:20. Troy tangles with Bigfork in a loser-out matchup today at 11:20 a.m.

Troy 11 6 9 7 — 33

Florence 11 10 9 16 — 46

TROY — Aurora Becquart 9, Allie Coldwell 7, Olivia Roach 2, Kaitlyn Downey 4, Allie Brown 3, Alyssa Lewis 8.

FLORENCE — Kourtney Kohlman 10, Autumn Round 5, Ally Rust 3, Rilee Mangun 8, MaKenna Liles 2, Danielle Zahn 6, Chloe Arthur 12.

Ronan 51, Eureka 43

A strong second quarter gave Ronan a little breathing room and the Maidens played Eureka on near-even terms after that to net the victory.

Ronan, tied up at 6-6 after the first quarter, scored 20 points in the second quarter for a 26-15 halftime lead.

Micalann McCrea led Ronan offensively with 15 points. Jordyn Clairmont added 12.

Sienna Utter had 15 to pace Eureka. Amanda Peterson was next with 14.

Ronan cashed in at the free-throw line, going 14 for 23. Eureka had just nine trips to the charity line, making four.

Ronan moves on to semifinal action tonight at 9 against Libby. Eureka drops into loser-out play today at 1 p.m. versus Deer Lodge.

Ronan 6 20 12 13 — 51

Eureka 6 9 12 16 — 43

RONAN — Micalann McCrea 15, Gabby Wirz 4, Jordyn Clairmont 12, Siliye Pete 4, Jaelynn Askan 4, Alicia Camel 8, Lee Camel 4.

EUREKA — Sienna Utter 15, Elizabeth Pacella 2, Cassie Peterson 2, Stacy Cooper 10, Amanda Peterson 14.

Libby 45, Deer Lodge 32

Libby exploded for 16 points in the fourth quarter to defeat Deer Lodge in the final first-round game of the day.

The game was tied at 29-all heading into the fourth quarter.

Shannon Reny topped Libby in scoring with 19 points. Madisen Monigold added 11.

Rilee Gray had 12 points and Jaicee Senecal 11 for Deer Lodge.

Libby plays Ronan in a semifinal game tonight at 9 p.m.

Deer Lodge has a loser-out contest with Eureka at 1 p.m.

Deer Lodge 14 4 11 3 — 32

Libby 7 14 8 16 — 45

DEER LODGE — Josie Applegate 2, Rilee Gray 12, Jaicee Senecal 11, Darcy Walker 3, Alyssa Lamb 4.

LIBBY — Trinity Wallace 6, Madisen Monigold 11, Abby Ennenga 4, Jayden Winslow 5, Shannon Reny 19.