Glacier downed by Bozeman
Despite a 23-point effort from Bret Michaels, Glacier fell to Bozeman 58-47 in Class AA boys basketball action on Friday at Glacier High School.
Michaels knocked down six 3-pointers for the Wolfpack (3-1). Drew Engellant added 7 points, but the rest of the team struggled to put the ball through the hoop.
The Wolfpack kept it close early, trailing 16-13 after the first quarter and 29-22 at halftime. But the Hawks pulled away in the third quarter, as Carter Ash scored 7 of his team-leading 13 points.
Ryan Simpson had 12 and Jashon Mendoza and Brett Clark added 8 apiece in a balanced scoring effort from Bozeman.
Next up for Glacier is a Jan. 4 home game against Post Falls, Idaho.
Glacier 13 9 10 15 – 47
Bozeman 16 13 18 11 – 58
GLACIER: Drew Deck 2, Ethan Baines 2, KJ Johnson 3, Weston Price 4, Cole Crosby 3, Drew Engellant 7, Michael Schwarz 3, Bret Michaels 23.
BOZEMAN: Ryan Simpson 12, Jashon Mendoza 8, Hudson Willett 2, Jackson Coles 7, Brett Clark 8, Padraig Lang 1, Ryan Lonergan 2, Carter Ash 13, Kenneth Eiden 5.
Flathead 55, Butte 51
BUTTE – The Braves narrowly edged Butte in Class AA action to improve their record to 2-2.
Flathead was up by 13 in the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs trimmed the lead to just 50-49 with 37 seconds left.
No scoring summary was available.
Boys
Class A
Ronan 36,
Columbia Falls 35
RONAN – The Chiefs earned their first win of the season, nipping the Wildcats in a Northwest A battle.
Both teams are now 1-5 on the season.
No scoring summary was available.
Frenchtown 47,
Whitefish 45
WHITEFISH – The Bulldogs could not recover from a poor start and fell to Frenchtown in Western A play.
Frenchtown had a 15-4 lead after the first quarter, and Whitefish’s comeback effort fell just short.
“We didn’t show up in the first half,” Whitefish coach Scott Smith said.
“We can’t dig ourselves a hole like that and expect to win against good teams.”
Dillon Botner led all scorers with 22 and Lee Walburn added 11 for the Bulldogs (4-2). Hank Rugg and Cade Baker had 12 each for Frenchtown (5-1).
Frenchtown 15 15 9 8 – 47
Whitefish 4 14 11 16 – 45
FRENCHTOWN: Cade Baker 12, Mason Tyron 4, Brandon Finley 5, Hank Rugg 12, Zack Baker 7, Ben Larson 2, Dawson Leishman 5.
WHITEFISH: Jayce Cripe 5, Bodie Smith 2, Sam Menicke 3, Ryan Kemm 2, Lee Walburn 11, Dillon Botner 22.
Girls
Class AA
Glacier 49, Bozeman 45
BOZEMAN – Glacier held on to narrowly defeat Bozeman in a Class AA meeting.
The Wolfpack were up 26-16 at the half, but the Hawks trimmed the lead to 36-34 at the end of the third quarter.
No scoring summary was available.
Butte 44, Flathead 19
BUTTE – Butte trounced the Bravettes in Class AA play.
No scoring summary was available.
Class A
Columbia Falls 40,
Ronan 27
COLUMBIA FALLS – The Wildkats recovered from a sluggish start to take down Ronan.
Columbia Falls remains undefeated at 7-0, while Ronan falls to 1-5.
The Maidens outscored Columbia Falls 11-2 in the first quarter and were up 16-4 with two minutes left in the second quarter. But a late push at the end of the quarter cut the deficit to 18-12 at halftime.
“We didn’t do a good job moving the ball,” Columbia Falls coach Cary Finberg said.
“Ronan defensively was very good. It was a combo of them getting after us and us standing around.”
But the Wildkats surged ahead in the second half, as Josie Windauer scored all of her 10 points and Trista Cowan scored the majority of her team-high 18.
Columbia Falls also clamped down defensively, allowing the Maidens just 8 points in the third quarter and 1 in the fourth.
“A game like tonight is good for us in the long run,” Finberg said.
“We had a little adversity and the kids responded.”
Madysen Hoerner led the Wildkats in rebounds with 11, and Cowan had 10.
Both teams resume play on Jan. 4, as Columbia Falls visits Libby and Ronan takes on Polson.
Ronan 11 7 8 1
Columbia Falls 2 10 17 11
RONAN: Hannah Moss 1, Tiana Ulutoa 5, Jaeleigh Gatch 9, Clairmont 3, Kieauna DeRoche 3, Jaylea Lunceford 6.
CFALLS: Savvy Ellis 1, Lakia Hill 2, Josie Windauer 10, Ryley Kehr 6, Paige Burger 1, Madysen Hoerner 2, Trista Cowan 18.
Frenchtown 44,
Whitefish 41
FRENCHTOWN – Whitefish could not hold onto an early lead as it lost to Frenchtown in Western A action.
Whitefish led 27-18 at halftime, but could only manage 14 points in the second half as the Broncs stormed back.
Marlee Bender led the Bulldogs with 14 points, and Gracie Smyley added 9. Kiya Shelton scored 20 for Frenchtown.
Whitefish 15 12 5 9 – 41
Frenchtown 9 9 13 13 – 41
WHITEFISH: Kiah Moore 2, Claire Carloss 6, Jasmine Matern 2, Gracie Smyley 9, Payton Kastella 8, Marlee Bender 14
FRENCHTOWN: Hope Rebich 11, Claire Bagnell 5, Lauron Demmons 7, Hailey Arthur 1, Kiya Shelton 20.