Sentinel slips past Bravettes
The Flathead girls didn’t back down from the toughest team in the state, leading Missoula Sentinel for three quarters before falling late 46-43 in a home Western AA conference basketball game on Tuesday night.
The Bravettes (7-6 overall, 2-3 Western AA) looked like they could unseat the unbeaten Spartans for most of the game, holding Sentinel (13-0, 5-0) to just eight points in the second quarter to take a 22-18 lead into half. Even as the Spartans chipped away at the lead, Flathead was able to take a 33-32 lead into the final eight minutes, the only team to lead Sentinel that late in a game this season.
“We got them to take shots we wanted them to take,” Bravettes coach Tricia Dean said.
“Our defense I was super pleased with. I thought our girls executed so well. They really shut down their inside game and drives to the basket.”
Sentinel took control in the fourth quarter, taking advantage of a cold stretch of offense from the Bravettes to build an 8-point lead. Flathead fought back to make it a one-possession game at the end, but couldn’t quite close the gap.
“Overall the girls played well and I’m super proud of them,” Dean said.
Tiana Johnson had a game-high 24 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead Flathead.
Jordyn Schweyen had 14 points to lead Sentinel.
Sentinel 10 8 14 14 — 46
Flathead 10 12 11 10 — 43
SENTINEL — Emma Blakely 3 0-0 7, Grace Stayner 1 2-2 4, Kylie Frohlich 4 3-6 11, Jordyn Schweyen 4 4-7 14, Lexi Deden 3 4-5 10. Totals: 15 13-20 46.
FLATHEAD — Kylee Meredith 3 0-0 6, Averie Olson 1 0-2 3, Sierra Siblerud 2 0-0 4, Kelsey Gillespie 1 0-0 3, Taylor Henley 1 1-1 3, Tiana Johnson 9 1-1 24. Totals: 17 2-4 43.
3-point goals—Sentinel 3 (Schweyen 2, Blakely), Flathead 7 (Johnson 5, Olson, Gillespie). Total fouls—Sentinel 9, Flathead 17. Fouled out—none.
Troy 56,
Stillwater Christian 38
Troy dominated from the tip against Stillwater Christian, taking the nonconference contest and stretching its winning streak to six games.
The Trojans (9-3) stormed out to an 18-9 lead after the first quarter and continued to pile on, leading 45-28 after three quarters.
Alyssa Lewis scored a game-high 17 points, Aurora Becquart had 16 points and Allie Coldwell had 14 points to pace Troy.
Dori Smith led Stillwater (7-8) with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Troy 18 11 16 11 — 56
Stillwater 9 10 9 10 — 38
TROY — Aurora Becquart 16, Allie Coldwell 14, Allie Brown 9, Alyssa Lewis 17.
STILLWATER CHRISTIAN — Ramey Metzger 4, Haleigh Schwartz 2, Adrianna Lambert 3, Dori Smith 14, Lulu Neumann 7, Selah Neumann 8.
BOYS
Missoula Sentinel 52, Flathead 45
MISSOULA — Flathead couldn’t keep pace with a hot-shooting Sentinel team in the second quarter, dropping its third straight Western AA conference game.
Flathead led 12-8 after the first quarter but saw the Spartans explode for 21 points in the second quarter to fall behind 29-23 at the half. The Braves were able to make a dent in the lead but couldn’t overtake Sentinel late in an evenly-played second half.
Tyler Johnson had 15 points and Bridger Johnson 12 points for Flathead.
Will Mytty led Sentinel with a game-high 18 points.
Flathead 12 11 10 12 – 45
Sentinel 8 21 11 12 – 52
Flathead – Cade White 2 0-0 4, Wyatt Potter 1 1-2 4, Bridger Johnson 5 2-2 12, Eric Seaman 1 0-0 2, Tyler Johnson 5 5-6 15, Sam Elliott 4 0-0 8. Totals 18 8-10 45.
Sentinel – Mitch Roberts 3 3-6 9, Danny McKittrick 2 0-0 5, Brayden Danzinger 1 0-0 2, Sam Beighle 3 1-2 9, Elias Dewaters 0 0-0 0, Ethan Jones 2 1-2 5, Will Mytty 7 2-2 18, Griffin Line 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 7-12 52.
3-point goals – Flathead 1 (Potter), Sentinel 5 (Mytty 2, Beighle 2, McKittrick). Rebounds – Flathead 23 (Elliott 8), Sentinel 21 (Mytty 5,). Total fouls – Flathead 15, Sentinel 14. Fouled out – none.