Butte Central whips Libby

BELGRADE - Butte Central's Quinn Peoples scored a game-high 22 points to guide the top-ranked team in the state to a 65-27 victory over Libby on Thursday afternoon during first-round play at the Class A state girls basketball tournament at the Belgrade Special Events Center.

Peoples scored 16 points in the final half as the Maroons (18-3) outscored the Loggers 32-12 during that stretch.

According to the Montana Standard, Butte Central has now won 16 times this season by at least 10 points, 12 times by more than 20.

Kacie McKeon scored 10 of her 14 points in the opening stanza as Butte Central raced out to a 21-8 advantage

Butte Central shot 56.5 percent from the field for the game, 61.9 percent in the first half.

Libby (9-12) had just 27 field goal attempts, making 10 for 37 percent shooting, and totaled 29 turnovers.

Alysha Martin, Jaime Gilden and Kim Tangen scored six points each for the Loggers.

Butte Central, which has won 16 of its last 17 games, advances to tonight's semifinal contest at 6:30 versus Dillon.

Dillon advanced with a 49-45 win over defending state champion Billings Central.

Greer Crabtree led Dillon offensively with 12 points. Jackie Elliot of Billings Central led all scorers with 21 points.

Libby and Billings Central fall into loser-out action today at 12:30 p.m.

Butte Central 65, Libby 27

Libby 8 7 7 5 - 27

Central 21 12 18 14 - 65

LIBBY (9-12) - Alyssa Walker 0 0-0 0, Sheena Good 0 0-0 0, Myka Forster 0 0-0 0, Jenny Johnson 0 0-0 0, Alysha Martin 1 3-5 6, Jaime Gilden 3 0-0 6, Logan Best 2 1-4 5, Taylor Barton 1 0-0 2, Elly Webster 0 0-0 0, Kaitlyn Gilder 0 0-0 0, Ashley Shaw 0 2-2 2, Kim Tangen 3 0-1 6. Totals: 10 6-12 27.

BUTTE CENTRAL (17-3) - Kacie McKeon 5 1-2 14, Angela Piazzola 1 2-2 4, Taylure Svejkovsky 2 1-2 5, Brynne Kambich 1 0-2 2, Mckenzie Callahan 0 2-3 2, Danee Leary 0 0-0 0, Alysea Pica 3 0-1 6, Carlee Norbeck 0 0-0 0, Danika Neumann 1 0-0 2, Lexie Murphy 3 0-0 6, Quinn Peoples 9 4-6 22, Mariah Cooney 1 0-0 2. Totals: 26 10-18 65.

3-point goals: Lib 1 (Martin), BC 3 (McKeon 3). Rebounds: Lib 20, BC 23. Fouls: Lib 14, BC 16. Fouled out: Svejkosky.

Dillon 49, Billings Central 45

Dillon 10 13 12 14 - 49

Central 9 7 18 11 - 45

DILLON - Greer Crabtree 4 1-4 12, Kate Ferris 0 0-0 0, Alex Brammer 2 4-4 10, Kansas Suenram 2 1-2 6, Amanda Reed 2 4-4 10, Faith Keck 2 1-3 5, Susan Tangmo 0 0-0 0, Charlie Hahnkamp 2 2-2 8. Totals: 14 13-21 49.

BILLINGS CENTRAL - Jackie Elliot 10 1-1 21, Sammy Elliot 0 0-0 0, Katie Cummins 0 0-0 0, Allie Lucas 1 1-1 3, Kalli Sizemore 0 0-0 0, Ryanne Fraizer 0 0-0 0, Jaelene Zygmond 2 0-0 4, Kayla Lucas 5 2-2 16, Molly Woodman 0 1-4 1, Justin Juhl 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 5-8 45.

3-point goals: Dillon 8 (Crabtree 3, Brammer 2, Reed 2, Suenran), BC 4 (Kayla Lucas). Fouls: dillon 10, BC 15. Fouled out: none.