Basketball roundup: Braves roll by Big Sky, 75-46

The Flathead boys got back on track on Friday night, beating Missoula Big Sky 75-46 at home.

The Braves opened up the game in the second quarter scoring 27 points to take a 39-24 lead into halftime. Another huge quarter in the fourth added style points to the 29-point victory.

Junior Shea Schroeder had a career night, scoring double digits in the first quarter on the way to a season-best 24 points. He pulled in 10 rebounds for a double-double. He also had five steals. George Sherwood scored 16 points for the Braves.

"Shea Schroeder was just outstanding," Flathead coach Fred Febach said. "He really started well for us. He was a real starter for us tonight ... It was really nice to see somebody like Shea step forward and score."

Nine different players scored for Flathead and it got contributions from every player that saw the court.

"That's pretty good," Febach said. "That's the type of contribution we need from those kids."

The Braves (3-4 in Western AA, 7-8 overall) had lost six of their last seven games entering the night, with their last AA win coming over Big Sky (0-7, 1-14) in January.

"The team played really good defense throughout," Febach said. "It was a good win for us, especially since we've struggle recently with some tough losses."

Flathead travels down to Missoula tonight to play Sentinel (2-5, 5-10) in a Western AA matchup. The Braves won the first game this season 49-45.

"They'll be everything we want down there," Febach said. "It's an important conference game and we're going to have to play pretty well to beat them."

Big Sky 10 14 13 9 - 46

Flathead 12 27 12 24 - 75

BIG SKY - Baker 5 3-5 14, Graham 4 1-1 10, Thornock 1 0-0 2, Donaldson 4 0-1 8, Kester 0 2-2 2, Stemple 2 3-6 7, Lavalley 0 0-2 0, 1 0-0 3. Totals: 17 9-15 46.

FLATHEAD - Chris Cronk 1 1-2 3, Matt Tokarz 4 2-3 10, Drew Crosby 2 1-1 6, Matt McLean 3 1-2 8, George Sherwood 5 4-4 16, Shea Schroeder 9 6-9 24, Nick James 2 0-2 4, Garth West 0 2-2 2, Chandler Escalante 1 0-0 2. Totals: 27 17-25 75.

3-point goals - Big Sky 3-11 (Baker, Graham, Preston), Flathead 4-8 (Sherwood 2, McLean, Crosby); Rebounds - Big Sky 29 (Stemple 6), Flathead 25 (Schroeder 10); Assists - Big Sky 9 (Lavalley 4), Flathead 14 (Sherwood, Austin Jones 4); Steals - Big Sky 6 (Baker 2), Flathead 19 (Sherwood, Schroeder 5); Fouls - Big Sky 23, Flathead 18. Technical fouls - none. Fouled out - Donaldson.

Bigfork 47,

Florence 46

BIGFORK - Eighth-ranked Florence (15-3) failed to get a shot off in the final six seconds after pulling down a rebound following a Bigfork missed free throw, allowing the No. 6 Vikings (14-3) to escape with tight nonconference victory.

Ian Lorang paced Bigfork offensively with 12 points. Chris Landon added 10.

Florence 19 3 10 14 - 46

Bigfork 14 9 9 15 - 47

FLORENCE - Mike Finley 10, Aaron Ward 15, Riley Phillips 8, Sage Hansen 8, Ryan Baerlocher 3, Champy Hopsintiller 2.

BIGFORK - Ian Lorang 12, Chris Landon 10, Cody Dopps 8, Jackson Boese 9, Connor Coleman 4, Austin Jordt 3, Dillon Fraley 1.

Columbia Falls 50, Ronan 38

RONAN - Jared Trinastich was the lone Columbia Falls player to reach double-figure scoring, hitting 10 points in the nonconference victory.

Fourth-ranked Columbia Falls (13-3) prevailed despite scoring three points in the third period.

Columbia Falls 16 15 3 16 - 50

Ronan 7 8 9 14 - 38

COLUMBIA FALLS - Ronny Gallegos 2, Ty Morgan 3, Luke Kazlauskas 4, Anthony Correa 7, Parker Johnson 9, Brian Marcille 7, Austin Barth 8, Jared Trinastich 10.

RONAN - Carston Baertsch 2, Edmond Dupuis 2, Marcus Hungerford 10, Robert Faoa 2, Marley Tanner 2, Brady Oakland 8, Chris Clary 10, Jalen Bell 2.

Troy 47, Stillwater 42

TROY - Cory and Cody Orr combined for 26 points as Troy (13-4) rolled past Stillwater Christian in a nonconference contest.

Cory Orr led the way with 14 points and Cody Orr was next with 12.

Josh Bray had 15 points and Josh Topp 12 for Stillwater (14-6).

Stillwater Christian 5 7 12 18 - 42

Troy 15 2 14 16 - 47

STILLWATER CHRISTIAN - Josh Bray 15, Noah Hashley 1, Ryan Koch 6, Josh Topp 12, Trevor Holladay 8.

TROY - Creede Garcia 8, Cory Orr 14, Ryan Rayson 6, Cody Orr 12, Gabe Hickman 8.

Girls

Florence 60,

Bigfork 58

FLORENCE - Rosie O'Brien's two free throws with seven seconds left allowed Florence (11-7) to upset No. 4-ranked Bigfork in nonconference play.

O'Brien finished with 21 points.

Bigfork (14-3) was led by Melissa VanDerveer, 23 points, and Tessa Robertson, 18.

Bigfork 20 11 7 20 - 58

Florence 12 13 18 17 - 60

BIGFORK - Taylor Peck 5, Melissa Vanderveer 23, Tessa Robertson 18, Mckinze Shults 3, Shelby Scoggins 3, Riley Coleman 6.

FLORENCE - Courtney Byrne 11, Cody Miller 2, Carli O'Brien 2, Kyndall Hoff 9, Rosie O'Brien 21, Megan Byrne 7, Cassandra Skeers 3, Ava Kollman 1, Hailey Huot 2, Margaret Finley 2.

Polson 60,

Corvallis 18

POLSON - Two Polson Pirates finished with double-doubles, with senior Riley Kenney scoring 24 points and hauling in 11 rebounds and junior Heidi Rausch scoring 12 and bringing in 10, for the nonconference victory.

Corvallis 4 3 5 6 - 18

Polson 13 16 25 6 - 60

CORVALLIS - Sadie Henderson 2, Annie Jessop 3, Lakyn Connors 8, Jessica Lewis 1, Jordan Miller 2, Carlie Jessop 2.

POLSON - Mackenzie Banner 2, Macall Banner 3, Mariah Hamel 3, Malia Hamel 2, Anna DiGiallonardo 10, Riley Kenney 24, Jordan Quinn 3, Heidi Rausch 12, Shelbi Mallon 1.

Columbia Falls 62, Ronan 40

RONAN - Columbia Falls took a commanding 35-18 lead at the half en route to the nonconference victory.

Hope Burlage scored 15 points for Columbia Falls (5-11).

Columbia Falls 14 21 13 14 - 62

Ronan 7 11 6 16 - 40

COLUMBIA FALLS - Hope Burlage 15, Madison Sandefer 9, Cortney White 8, Winter Kemppainen 7, Haley Belgarde 9, Kathrin Jetty 2, Ciera Finberg 7, Summer Burlage 3, Kaity Presnell 2.

RONAN - Raymi Clairmont 6, Courtney Clairmont 10, Ashley Grandchamp 12, Alaina Madsen 3, Courtney Taylor 3, Aspen Jore 6.

Stillwater 63, Troy 38

TROY - Jordan Danz tallied 22 points and Samantha Red Elk 12 as Stillwater Christian claimed an easy nonconference victory over Troy.

Jordon Williams scored 13 for Troy (0-17).

Stillwater Christian 19 15 15 14 - 63

Troy 7 17 11 3 - 38

STILLWATER CHRISTIAN - Katie Harrel 1, Samantha Red Elk 12, Sarah Smith 6, Jordan Danz 22, Jessica Mocabee 2, Morgan Paolini 7, S. Paolini 5, McKenzie Hemp 4, Evelyn Miller 4.

TROY - Kellie Lundin 8, Holli Higgins 4, Jordon Williams 13, Michaela Curry 4, Breanne Opland 8, Caitlin O'Brien 1.

Flathead Valley 72, Browning frosh 52

BROWNING - The Flathead Valley Homeschool Crusaders outscored Browning 19-8 in the second quarter to take a 36-21 lead into the half. FVHS scored another 36 after the break to roll to the win.

Melody Sarunger scored a game-high 25 points to lead FVHS (20-11).

Maggie Rajkowski also had a big night, scoring 21.

FVHS 17 19 20 16 - 72

Browning Frosh 13 8 15 16 - 52

FLATHEAD VALLEY HOMESCHOOL - Melody Sarunger 25, Maggie Rajkowski 21, Hannah Seely 13, Erin Donahoe 9, Lexi Ehlers 2, Priscilla Rajkowski 2.

BROWNING FRESHMEN - Kayla Skunkcap 14, Myra Horn 10, Ivannah Spotted Eagle 7, Shelesy St. Goddard 7, Cyndie Shamp 6, Trey Belcourt 3, Shelbi St. Goddard 2, Roni Lee 2, Ferrine Whitcomb 1.