Stillwater wins second straight title
The Daily Inter Lake
HELENA - Stillwater Christian School (SCS) defended its Montana Christian Athletic Association state boys basketball title Saturday evening with a 58-42 victory over Yellowstone County Homeschool at Carroll College.
Kaleb Topp and Andy Harrel both finished with 18 points to guide Stillwater offensively while guards Wes Curtis and Zach Smith, dubbed Smith and Wesson by SCS coach Dana Hashley, spurred a defensive effort that limited Yellowstone to 13 second-half points.
"We played together, we played hard and we played smart," said Hashley.
"Defense won it for us."
Both teams came into state as the top seeds from the West and East divisions.
Yellowstone held a slim halftime lead, 24-23.
"We did everything right in the first half, except we missed a bunch of layups," said Hashley.
"Daniel Neitzling kept us in the game in the first half with offensive rebounds and put-backs. He was jumping out of the gym."
Neitzling had eight points in the first two quarters and finished with 12.
Topp, playing with a broken wrist, had some key rebounds and layups and also hit some wide open jumpers.
Harrel was named the tournament MVP and to the all-tournament first team along with Topp.
Neitzling was a second team selection.
The Cougars advanced to the title game by defeating Gallatin Valley 61-55 Friday night in the semifinals. Neitzling led the way in that outing with 26 points. Harrel had 16 and Topp 10.
Flathead Valley Homeschool defeated Foothills Community Christian School 72-56 to finish third. Jared McCollam scored 38 points and Shea Heffernan 35 to lead Flathead Valley.
Heffernan was named to the all-tournament second team.
COUGARS 58, KNIGHTS 42
Yellowstone County 14 15 4 9 - 42
Stillwater Christian 14 13 13 18 - 58
Yellowstone County - Tylan Jones 2 1-2 5, Ryan Smith 5 2-2 17, Tim Brown 4 0-1 8, Mathew Henderson 2 0-0 4, Will Ballow 1 0-0 2, Schyler Bryan 3 0-0 6. Totals: 17 3-5 42.
Stillwater Christian - Wes Curtis 1 0-0 2, Zach Smith 2 0-0 4, Mason Gertz 1 0-0 2, Kaleb Topp 9 0-0 18, Daniel Neitzling 5 2-2 12, Andy Harrel 8 0-0 18, Jon Cloyed 1 0-0 2. Totals: 27 2-2 58.
3-point goals: Smith (5); Harrel (2). Team fouls: Yellowstone County 10, Stillwater Christian 16. Fouled out: None.
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Friday
Stillwater Christian 14 17 15 15 - 61
Gallatin Valley 15 13 12 15 - 55
Stillwater Christian - Wes Curtis 1 0-0 2, Brandon Lodien 1 0-0 3, Kevin Louden 1 0-0 2, Kaleb Topp 5 0-1 10, Daniel Neitzling 8 4-5 26, Andy Harrel 7 2-5 16, Jon Cloyed 1 0-0 2, Bryce Snyder 2 1-3 6. Totals: 26 7-14 61.
Gallatin Valley - Halfden Galgerad 3 0-0 8, Matt Hughes 10 1-2 23, Mike Hughes 8 2-2 20, Brandon Abbot 2 0-0 4. Totals: 23 3-4 55.
3-point goals: Lodien, Snyder; Galgerad (2), Ma. Hughes (2), Mi. Hughes (2). Team fouls: Stillwater Christian 14, Gallatin Valley 13. Fouled out: None.