C-Falls slips by Libby
The Daily Inter Lake
HAMILTON — Columbia Falls outlasted Libby 37-33 on Friday to claim a spot in the title game of the Western A Divisional girls basketball tournament.
With the Wildkats (21-1) leading 36-33, the Loggers had a chance to tie the game with seconds to go. But Libby’s 3-pointer fell short and Ryley Kehr hit a free throw to ice the game.
Both teams struggled from the field early. The Loggers led 8-6 after the first quarter, and Columbia Falls took a 15-14 lead into the break.
The Wildkats have won 11 consecutive games.
Kehr led all scorers with 17 points and Trista Cowan had 10 for Columbia Falls.
Alli Collins had eight for the Loggers and Emma Gruber added seven.
Columbia Falls will meet Browning in the championship tonight at 6:30. Libby faces Ronan in loser-out action at 9:30 a.m.
Columbia Falls 6 9 13 9 – 37
Libby 8 6 10 9 – 33
COLUMBIA FALLS – Ryley Kehr 17, Trista Cowan 10, Josie Windauer 7, Savvy Ellis 3.
LIBBY – Alli Collins 8, Emma Gruber 7, Jayden Winslow 6, Samantha Miller 4, Taylor Holm 2, McKenzie Proffitt 2.
Browning 52, Butte Central 18
HAMILTON — Butte Central was held to seven points or less in each quarter as Browning (16-5) romped to an easy semifinal victory.
Browning advances to championship play tonight at 6:30 versus Columbia Falls. Those two teams have met three times this season with Columbia Falls winning twice. Butte Central (9-12) falls into loser-out play at 9:30 a.m. versus Hamilton (13-10).
Browning led 17-3 after the first quarter and 29-7 at the half.
Taylor Jordan led Browning in scoring with 14 points. Dulci Skunkcap was next with 10.
The high-point scorer for Butte Central was Emma Keeley with six.
Butte Central 3 4 7 4 — 18
Browning 17 12 15 8 — 52
BUTTE CENTRAL — Emma Keeley 6, Sophie Thatcher 5, Avery Kelly 2, Bella Sorini 2, Shea Davis 2, Madison Kump 1.
BROWNING — Taylor Jordan 14, Dulci Skunkcap 10, Chalissa Kipp 9, Caelin Guardipee 5, Walker Running Crane 4, Danaiya Polk 4, Tatum Running Crane 2, Lacy Goss 2, Kelsey Mad Plume 2.
Loser-Out Games
Ronan 47, Frenchtown 44, OT
HAMILTON – The Maidens squandered a 23-14 halftime lead but hung on to eliminate Frenchtown in overtime.
The Broncs had a chance to send the game into a second overtime but just missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Tiana Ulutoa came up big for Ronan (11-13) with 21 points. Jaylea Lunceford added 10.
Faith Rebich paced Frenchtown with 12 and Cassidy Bagnell had 10.
Ronan meets Libby in loser-out action today at 9:30 a.m.
Ronan 9 14 5 11 8 – 47
Frenchtown 4 10 6 19 5 – 44
RONAN – Tiana Ulutoa 21, Jaylea Lunceford 10, Regan Clairmont 6, Kieauna DeRoche 5, Madeline McCrea 2, Madison Clairmont 2, Ari Burke 1.
FRENCHTOWN – Faith Rebich 12, Cassidy Bagnell 10, Lauren Demmons 7, Claire Bagnell 5, Kiya Shelton 4, Hailey Arthur 3, Cassidy Moen 2, Hope Rebich 1.
Hamilton 47, Corvallis 46
HAMILTON – Mariola Tesoro banked in a long 3-pointer at the final buzzer as Hamilton stunned Corvallis.
Corvallis led 15-6 after the first quarter and 23-20 at halftime. The second half was back-and-forth until the very end.
Tesoro led all scorers with 13 and Katelyn Dickamore added 11 for the Broncs.
Hamilton will face Butte Central in loser-out action this morning at 9:30.
Hamilton 6 14 14 13 – 47
Corvallis 15 8 14 9 – 46
HAMILTON – Mariola Tesoro 13, Katelyn Dickamore 11, Lauren Ryter 6, Maggie Ringer 4, Sophia Doyle 4, Abby Johnson 3, Madi Drake 2, Jorden Taggart 2, Ani Mason 2.
CORVALLIS – C. Holderson 12, Madeline Gilder 9, A. Nixon 7, H. Lords 7, L. Albright 6, Hannah Martin 5.
Boys
Semifinals
Butte Central 58, Browning 56, OT
HAMILTON — In tight battle from start to finish that needed extra time, Butte Central prevailed.
Cade Holter led Butte Central in scoring with 17 points. Braden Harrington was next with 11.
Rylee Spoonhunter tallied 16 points for Browning and Deion Mad Plume finished with 12.
Butte Central advances to the championship game tonight at 8:30 p.m. against the Dillon/Hamilton winner.
Browning has a loser-out test with Whitefish at 11 a.m. today.
Butte Central 10 11 10 14 13 — 58
Browning 10 9 12 14 11 — 56
BUTTE CENTRAL — Cade Holter 17, Braden Harrington 11, Gator Yelenich 9, Dylan Sestrich 8, Luke Heaphy 3,Trevor Neumann 3, Jared Simkins 3, Matt Simkins 2.
BROWNING — Rylee Spoonhunter 16, Deion Mad Plume 12, Ethan Running Crane 7, Tyree Whitcomb 6, Justin Bird 6, Latrell Bullchild 5, CJ Smith 4, Brant Bremner 2.
Dillon, Hamilton
HAMILTON — Tipoff for this semifinal was pushed back because of two overtime games in loser-out play and one in the semifinals.
The game was originally set for 8 p.m. and was pushed back by more than an hour and a half.
No results were available by press time.
Loser-Out Games
Whitefish 67, Polson 63, OT
HAMILTON — Whitefish rallied in the fourth quarter and took down the Pirates in overtime.
Polson (9-15) led 37-25 at halftime after scoring 25 points in the second quarter. The Bulldogs (15-8) rumbled back and took a 55-52 lead after a 3-pointer and a dunk by Lee Walburn with under two minutes left in regulation.
Polson’s Colton Graham hit a putback at the buzzer to send the game into overtime, but Whitefish took care of business in the extra period.
It was Whitefish’s third overtime in four games.
Walburn had 26 points for the Bulldogs and Dillon Botner finished with 17.
Micah Askan paced the Pirates with 16 points, while Graham and Trey Kelley each had 10.
The Bulldogs will take on Browning today at 11 a.m. in a loser-out test.
Whitefish 12 13 12 18 12 – 67
Polson 12 25 8 10 8 – 63
WHITEFISH – Lee Walburn 26, Dillon Botner 17, Bodie Smith 9, Sam Menicke 6, Ryan Kemm 5, Justin Conklin 2, Mark Anderson 2.
POLSON – Micah Askan 16, Trey Kelley 10, Colton Graham 10, Ryker Wenderoth 9, Trevor Schultz 7, Robin Erickson 6, Parker Toth 3, Trevor Lake 2.
Frenchtown 63, Libby 52
HAMILTON — The Broncs surged past Libby in the second half to end the Loggers’ season.
Libby (15-10) led 31-25 at the intermission, but was outscored 38-21 in the second half.
Ryggs Johnston put up a game-high 28 points in his final game as a Logger. Keith Johnson added nine for Libby.
Cade Baker led Frenchtown with 18 and Zack Baker had 15.
The Broncs have loser-out action this morning at 11 against the Dillon/Hamilton loser.
Libby 15 16 8 13 — 52
Frenchtown 13 12 14 24 — 63
LIBBY – Ryggs Johnston 28, Keith Johnson 9, Jay Beagle 6, JJ Davis 3, Chandler Bower 2, Kevin Barnes 2, Caden Williams 2.
FRENCHTOWN – Cade Baker 18, Zack Baker 15, Ben Larson 9, Mason Pyron 5, Hank Rugg 4, Devin Shelton 4, Jared Cole 3, Dawson Leishman 3.