Braves, Bravettes move on in loser-out play
The Flathead Braves and Bravettes pulled off a sweep of Missoula Big Sky on Friday at the Western AA Divisional basketball tournament at Glacier High School.
The Bravettes take on Helena High at 9:30 a.m. at Flathead High School today, while the Braves play Helena in their gym as well, at 11 a.m.. Both games are in loser-out play, with the winners advancing to the consolation final later today and the Class AA state tournament next week.
In the girls tournament, Helena Capital and Missoula Hellgate face off at 6 p.m. in the championship game tonight. The boys final features Hellgate and Capital as well with a tip-off at 7:30 p.m.
Girls
Loser-Out
Flathead 37, Missoula Big Sky 21
Taylor Henley paced all scorers with 12 points as the Bravettes (7-13) easily defeated Big Sky (1-19).
Henley also posted seven rebounds and two blocks for Flathead, who led 26-18 after three quarters.
Maddie Walter and Jenna Johnson each added seven points. Walter sank two 3-point shots.
For Big Sky, who went 8-for-13 at the free throw line, Mia Sandau and Demi Smith both scored six points.
Missoula Big Sky 6 8 4 3 – 21
Flathead 5 12 13 7 – 37
BIG SKY – Elly Thorpe 2, Mia Sandau 2, Corbin Sandau 6, Demi Smith 6, TiLynn McGreevey 4, Lynell Shepherd 1.
FLATHEAD – Sadie Wilson 4, Maddie Walter 7, Jenna Johnson 7, Taylor Henley 12, Kennedy Kanter 2, Clare Converse 2, Bridget Crowley 2, Rebecca Eacker 1.
Boys
Semifinal
Missoula Hellgate 49,
Helena High 44
Top-seed Missoula Hellgate (18-1) pulled out a win against fourth-seed Helena High (10-10).
Hellgate erased an 11-point deficit after the first quarter to snag a berth in the AA state tournament.
Hellgate’s Rollie Worster scored a game-high 19 points and pulled down five rebounds.
Abe Johnson put up a double-double by scoring 11 points and posting 11 rebounds for Helena.
Helena High 16 10 7 11 – 44
Missoula Hellgate 5 21 8 15 – 49
HELENA – Alex Johnson 11, Hayden Ferguson 4, Pierce Brown 9, Grady Koenig 4, Connor Murgel 7, Carson Woodland 3, Logan Brown 3, Aidan Brus 1, Holder Sampson 2.
MISSOULA HELLGATE – Bridger Deden 8, Dylan Holst 4, Rollie Worster 19, Fisher Richardson 7, Abe Johnson 11.
Helena Capital 53,
Missoula Sentinel 51
Three players hit double digits as third-seed Helena Capital (12-8) slipped by second-seed Missoula Sentinel (14-6).
Capital came out swinging and had a seven-point lead after the first quarter. Sentinel stepped on the gas in the second half to nearly erase the deficit, even throwing up a last-second field goal before the buzzer.
Brady Martin paced Capital with 14 points, Bridger Grovom added 12 and Trevor Swanson scored 10. Sentinel’s Scott Malikie and Alex Germer each scored 15 points. Malikie grabbed nine rebounds and Germer pulled down six.
Missoula Sentinel 6 14 18 13 – 51
Helena Capital 13 15 9 16 – 53
MISSOULA SENTINEL – Elias DeWaters 10, Tony Frohlich-Fair 5, Scott Malikie 15, Alex Germer 15, Hayden Kolb 6.
CAPITAL – Parker Johnson 2, Brady Martin 14, Bridger Grovom 12, Trevor Swanson 10, Shane Haller 8, Cade Kidder 3, Garrett Kueber 2, Peyton Koch 2.
Loser-Out
Flathead 69, Missoula Big Sky 65
Gabe Adams notched a double-double to help the Flathead Braves (6-14) edge Big Sky (3-17) by four points.
Adams scored 17 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and had two blocks. Brian Wells added 11.
Flathead led by two after the first quarter, but Big Sky scored 21 points in the second to get within four at the half.
Big Sky’s Daniel Morin led all scorers with a game-high 26 points.
Missoula Big Sky 8 21 10 26 – 65
Flathead 10 23 18 18 – 69
MISSOULA BIG SKY – Camdyn LaRance 18, Daniel Morin 26, Brady Tabish 6, Andrew Gardanier 13, Ben Maehl 1, Kade Olson 1.
FLATHEAD – Tannen Beyl 10, Ethan Vandenbosch 6, Blake Counts 6, Brett Thompson 10, Gabe Adams 17, Cooper Smith 6, Seth Moon 3, Brian Wells 11.