C-Falls, Browning district champs

WHITEFISH — Ryley Kehr scored the final seven points as Columbia Falls edged Browning 55-49 in a Northwest A District girls basketball championship thriller on Saturday night at Whitefish High School.

Down 49-48 with 50 seconds to go, Kehr hit a 3-pointer — the Wildkats’ first since the opening minutes — to give Columbia Falls (19-1 overall) the lead.

The Indians (15-5) turned the ball over on their next possession, and with 18 seconds left Kehr found some space in the lane for a layup that made it a two-possession game.

She iced the contest with two free throws in the final seconds and finished the game with 19 points, 15 of those in the second half.

Both teams were on fire early in an up-tempo, back-and-forth first quarter. The Wildkats forced multiple turnovers that led to easy fast-break points, but the Indians had the edge from beyond the arc.

Browning hit four 3-pointers in the quarter and took a 23-20 lead into the second. The team finished with eight triples.

The pace slowed in the second and third quarters. Halfway through the second the Indians took a lead they would hold until the fourth quarter, but it was never more than five points.

The third quarter was littered with missed opportunities for the Wildkats. Columbia Falls forced numerous turnovers for fast-break chances, but threw the ball away or missed close-range shots.

When Walker Running Crane hit a long bank-shot 3 late in the third quarter that pushed the lead to four, it looked like it might not be the Wildkats’ night.

But just like in last week’s 57-55 win over Browning at home, Columbia Falls found a way down the stretch.

Trista Cowan added 14 points for the Wildkats.

Danaiya Polk led the Indians with 14 and Dulci Skunkcap had 10.

Both teams will be back in action on Thursday at the Western A Divisional tournament in Hamilton.

Browning 23 7 10 9 — 49

Columbia Falls 20 6 11 18 — 55

BROWNING – Chalissa Kipp 3, Cha’slin Kipp 6, Kelsey Mad Plume 2, Danaiya Polk 14, Walker Running Crane 6, Dulci Skunkcap 10, Taylor Jordan 8.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Maddie Robison 3, Savannah Ellis 2, Lakia Hill 3, Josie Windauer 5, Hannah Schweikert 5, Ryley Kehr 19, Madysen Hoerner 4, Trista Cowan 14.

Boys

Browning 78, Polson 50

WHITEFISH — Browning overwhelmed Polson in the first quarter before earning a comfortable victory in the Northwest A District basketball championship game.

Deion Mad Plume buried a 3-pointer from the corner in the opening seconds, and the Indians (19-1 overall) rolled from there. The No. 1 seed jumped out to a 19-1 lead and electrified the large crowd of Browning faithful that filled the stands at Whitefish High School.

No. 3 seed Polson (9-12) struggled with Browning’s tight press throughout the first quarter, turning the ball over and finding few open looks at the basket.

The Pirates’ first field goal came on a steal and layup by Colton Graham with 1:20 left in the frame.

Polson refused to surrender, finding a way around the Indians’ press in the second quarter to tally 23 points. Robin Erickson scored six points and made aggressive moves to the basket, while Micah Askin scored all nine of his total points, including a 3-pointer seconds before the buzzer.

But Browning had no problem keeping pace. Tyree Whitcomb established himself in the post, scoring 10 of his 14 points and the Indians tallied 24 to go into halftime with a 43-26 lead.

Graham cut the deficit to 13 with five minutes to go in the third quarter, but Mad Plume responded with a 3 to stifle Polson’s momentum and help Browning put the Pirates away for good.

Mad Plume had an outstanding night, hitting 5 triples while scoring a game-high 25 points.

Derek Sharp added 10 points for the Indians, including back-to-back triples in the second quarter.

Erickson and Graham each led the Pirates with 13 points.

Both teams will be back in action on Thursday at the Western A Divisional tournament in Hamilton.

Browning 19 24 20 15 — 78

Polson 3 23 12 12 — 50

BROWNING – Riley Spoonhunter 5, Ethan Running Crane 7, Derek Sharp 10, CJ Smith 5, Brant Bremner 2, Trevon Fisher 2, Latrell Bullchild 6, Deion Mad Plume 25, Tyree Whitcomb 14, John DeRoche 2.

POLSON – Keyan Dalbey 2, Ryker Wenderoth 5, Robin Erickson 13, Trevor Schultz 4, Parker Toth 2, Colton Graham 13, Trevor Lake 2, Micah Askan 9.