Whitefish boys advance to Western A semis
RONAN – Justin Conklin scored 20 points, including a trio of 3-pointers in the third quarter, and Whitefish knocked off Hamilton 49-42 at the Western B boys divisional Thursday.
The Bulldogs (8-12) advanced to Friday’s 8 p.m. semifinal against Browning (15-4), which outscored Dillon 19-4 in the fourth quarter of a 67-59 win in Thursday’s finale.
Frenchtown (17-3) and Butte Central (16-3) will meet in the 3:30 p.m. semifinal. Polson lost to Frenchtown 48-39 in the day’s first game. In the second game Ronan fell to Butte Central 56-30.
Polson (11-8) and Ronan (7-12) play a loser-out game at 9:30 a.m.
Whitefish 47, Hamilton 32
Conklin went 6-for-8 from the field, all behind the arc, to lead Whitefish. Sam Menicke (9 points) scored twice in the third period when the Bulldogs built a 35-28 lead.
Whitefish hit 10 fourth-quarter free throws to keep Hamilton at bay. The Bulldogs lost to Hamilton 51-41 earlier this season; they dropped their regular-season games with Browning by scores of 62-56 and 70-60.
Hamilton 9 6 13 14 - 42
Whitefish 4 13 18 14 - 49
HAMILTON (15-4) – Carson Rostad 12, Ausdtin Drake 6, Tyson Rostad 9, Eli Taylor 3, Trej Searle 10, Tyler Burrows 2.
WHITEFISH (8-12) – Bodie Smith 8, Justin Conklin 20, Jayce Cripe 7, Sam Menicke 9, Talon Holmquist 5.
Frenchtown 48, Polson 39
The Pirates went cold in the fourth quarter while Frenchtown sank 8 of 16 free throws to pull away from a 35-34 lead.
Colton Graham had a game-high 16 points for Polson (11-8). Zack Baker’s 11 points led the Broncs.
Frenchtown 15 8 12 13 - 48
Polson 9 12 13 5 - 39
FRENCHTOWN (17-3) – Cade Baker 9, Mason Pyron 7, Brandon Finley 3, Hank Rugg 7, Zack Baker 11, Devin Sheldon 7, Tel Arthur 4.
POLSON (11-8) – Gunner Grisak 4, Trevor Lake 6, Colton Graham 16, Bo Kelley 5, Jarrett Wilson 6, Ryker Wenderoth 2.
Western A Divisional
Ronan
(4 teams advance to State)
Thursday
Frenchtown 48, Polson 39
Butte Central 56, Ronan 30
Whitefish 49, Hamilton 42
Browning 67, Dillon 59
Friday
9:30 a.m. — Polson (11-8) vs. Ronan (7-12), loser-out
11 a.m. — Hamilton (15-4) vs. Dillon (7-13), loser-out
3:30 p.m. — Frenchtown (17-3) vs. Butte Central (16-3), semifinal
5 p.m. — Whitefish (8-12) vs. Browning (15-4), semifinala