Big Sky girls hang on to down Cougars

The Daily Inter Lake

Missoula Big Sky's sophomores used a quick start to knock off Stillwater Christian School's varsity 55-48 Tuesday afternoon in a nonconference girls basketball contest at SCS.

Big Sky exploded for 25 first-quarter points, then was held to 10 point quarters for the remainder of play.

Stillwater, 16-2 overall, trailed by nine after the first quarter and 35-28 at the half.

Stillwater made a late run at the Eagles, but wound up losing by seven points. It was the first meeting of the season between the two schools.

"We had a chance at it," Stillwater coach Denise Topp said.

"We got withing three, we couldn't get that turnover and score."

Topp said it was tough to rebound from Big Sky's big opening quarter.

"Abby (Smith) had a great game - 19 points and eight rebounds," Topp said.

"The (team) really played hard, never gave up," she continued.

"It's really good to see them do that."

The Cougars conclude regular-season play on Friday hosting the Flathead sophomores at 5 p.m. The Montana Christian Athletic Association state tournament follows Feb. 19-21 in Helena. SCS enters that event as the West's top seed.

Stillwater went through West play 8-0.

Big Sky sophs 25 10 10 10 - 55

Stillwater Christian 14 14 7 13 - 48

MISSOULA BIG SKY SOPHS - Laryn Dombrouski 13, Kirstin Wagener 9, Emily Griffith 13, Taylor Rather 7, Nora Rector 3, Kate Tryhus 2, Kristin Daugherty 8.

STILLWATER CHRISTIAN - Laetitia Block 4, Abby Smith 19, Dana Topp 2, Samantha Red Elk 5, Lorraine Moberly 8, Linnea Hashley 7, Lindsey Vander Ark 3, Julia Bray 9.