Glacier girls take down Helena High

HELENA – Ellie Keller scored 18 points and the Glacier Wolfpack made a double-digit lead hold up against Western AA foe Helena Saturday, 57-52.

Aubrie Rademacher shook off early foul trouble and added 14 points for the Pack, who were coming off a 60-31 loss to Helena Capital on Friday. Kaylee Fritz added another nine points for Glacier (9-9 overall, 8-6 in the Western AA), which led 40-29 entering the final quarter.

“We took the floor today ready to compete and play Wolfpack basketball,” Glacier coach Amanda Cram said. “I’m proud of our effort and we are looking forward to continuing the battle next week in Missoula.”

Glacier nailed down the fourth seed into the Western AA Divisional that begins Thursday at Missoula Sentinel High School, and will play Helena again in the first round.

Riley Thennis led three Bengals (8-10, 6-8) in double figures with 16 points.

Glacier 12 13 15 17 - 57

Helena 8 11 10 23 - 52

GLACIER (9-9, 8-6) — Ellie Keller 18, Aubrie Rademacher 14, Kaylee Fritz 9, Kenzie Williams 8, Emma Anderson 6, Aubry Grame 2.

HELENA (9-9, 7-7) — Riley Thennis 16, McKayla Kloker 12, Caroline Bullock 11, Liz Heuiser 4, Kylie Lantz 4, Abby Marcille 3, Maloree English 2.

Helena Capital 72, Flathead 30

HELENA – League champion Helena Capital exploded for 28 first-quarter points and cruised to a Western AA victory over the Flathead Bravettes.

Jenna Johnson scored more than half of her team’s points for Flathead, with 17. She tied Capital’s Mara McGinley for high scorer.

Flathead’s next game will be Thursday in the first round of the Western AA Divisional at Missoula Sentinel. The Bravettes will face No. 2 seed Missoula Hellgate.

Flathead 12 2 15 1 - 30

Capital 28 18 13 13 — 72

FLATHEAD (4-14, 3-11) — Jenna Johnson 17, Clare Converse 7, Maddy Moy 4, Akilah Kubi 2.

HELENA CAPITAL (17-1, 13-1) — Mara McGinley 17, Dani Bartsch 16, Paige Bartsch 15, Sloane Chapman 8, Mashayla O’Malley 5, Audrey Hofer 5, Ridlon Aryana 4, McKinlee Mihelish 2.