Browning boys 4th at Class A state hoops
BOZEMAN — A second-half surge gave Hamilton the win over Browning in the third-place game at the Class A boys state basketball tournament at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Saturday night.
Hamilton, which trailed 39-36 at halftime, outscored the Indians 38-30 in the final two quarters.
Browning fell cold from the field in the second half, connecting on just 8 of 30 shot attempts (26.7 percent). The Indians missed their last 14 attempts from 3-point range after starting 7 of 12 from beyond the arc.
Browning led by as many as nine during the first quarter, in which it shot 66.7 percent from the field.
Hamilton capitalized on 14 Browning turnovers with 14 points. The Indians held a 19-5 advantage in second-chance points and 18-8 edge in points off the bench.
Tyree Whitcomb turned in an admirable performance for Browning, scoring 26 points to pair with 14 rebounds and six assists. Nathaniel Stiffarm chipped in 12, and Brandon Aimsback added 11 for the Indians.
Hamilton’s Tanner Goligoski poured in an efficient 27 points. He made 8 of 13 shots from the field, including a 6 of 11 clip from deep, and hit 5 of 8 free throws.
Browning’s fourth-place finish is the school’s highest since 2009.
Hamilton 16 20 15 23 — 74
Browning 19 20 8 22 — 69
HAMILTON: Cam Rothie 7, Tyler Chouinard 4, Hunter Omlid 12, Tann Goligoski 27, Carter Kearns 16, Carson Rostad 2, Bridger Bauder 6.
BROWNING: Nathaniel Stiffarm 12, Justin Burd 2, Tyree Whitcomb 26, Brandon Aimsback 11, CJ Smith 2, James Gilham 5, Ethan Running Crane 2, Deion Mad Plume 9.
Browning 69,
Frenchtown 62
BOZEMAN — Browning overcame a lackadaisical first quarter to edge Frenchtown in a loser-out game despite Cade Baker’s 33 points.
Browning fell behind 21-10 after eight minutes of play, but the Indians outscored Frenchtown 34-18 over the next two quarters to make up the deficit and then some.
Nathaniel Stiffarm keyed Browning’s offensive attack with 15 points, and Tyree Whitcomb poured in 14 to go with a game-high 13 rebounds. Ethan Running Crane also reached double figures with 10.
Justin Burd contributed five assists and four steals, half of the Indians’ team totals in both categories.
After a cold start, Browning shot 60 percent from the field over the final three quarters.
Frenchtown scored just four points on 1 of 8 shooting in the second quarter, allowing Browning to trim its halftime deficit to one.
Frenchtown 21 4 14 23 — 62
Browning 10 14 20 25 — 69
FRENCHTOWN: Ethan Pyron 7, Cade Baker 33, Zach Baker 5, Adam Botkin 6, Jared Cole 11.
BROWNING: Nathaniel Stiffarm 15, Derek Loring 2, Justin Burd 2, Tyree Whitcomb 14, Brandon Aimsback 8, James Gilham 9, Ethan Running Crane 10, Deion Mad Plume 7, Latrell Bull Child 2.
Saturday’s Other Boxes
Loser-Out
Lewistown 20 9 12 16 — 57
Hamilton 18 11 16 15 — 60
LEWISTOWN: Tanner Trafton 24, Jake Clinton 5, Wes Jameson 5, Jaden Graham 21, Landon Henderson 2.
HAMILTON: Cam Rothie 13, Tyler Chouinard 2, Hunter Omlid 19, Tanner Goligoski 9, Carter Kearns 11, Bridger Bauder 6.
Championship Game
Billings Central 21 8 3 11 — 43
Hardin 12 15 6 14 — 47
BILLINGS CENTRAL: Chrishon Dixon 15, Isaac Meyer 4, Jae Hugs 7, Sam Gray 6, Joe Byorth 2, Liam Clancy 3, Seth Sasich 2, Cade Herriford 4.
HARDIN: Trae Hugs 3, Codi Small 3, Cayden Redfield 8, David Evans 17, Famous Left Hand 11, Peyton Good Luck 3, Andrew House 2.