Billings Senior girls KO Flathead at AA state basketball tournament

Flathead senior Emily Russell becomes emotional after the Bravettes lost to Billings Senior on Friday afternoon in loser-out action at the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.

Flathead senior Dani Davis (11) dribbles the ball Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) knocks a ball loose Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Dani Davis (11) guards a Billings Senior player Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Head coach Karly Tait hugs Flathead senior Dani Davis (11) after she fouled out of the game Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead junior Emma Andrews (10) lays the ball in on a fast break Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) lays on the ground after being fouled Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

The Flathead High School band dances in-between the third and fourth quarter Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Jessika Abbrescia (22) has a pass knocked away Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Jessika Abbrescia (22) drives past a defender Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead junior Emma Andrews (10) looks to make a move around a defender Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead junior Emma Andrews (10) and Flathead senior Dani Davis (11) talk during a free throw Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) is fouled as she goes up for a shot Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead junior Emma Andrews (10) drives to the hoop Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) shoots the ball Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) looks for an open teammate to pass to after recovering a loose ball Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead junior Jenessa Heine (43) puts up a shot Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) puts up a shot Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Dani Davis (11) puts up a shot underneath the basket Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead junior Emma Andrews (10) and Flathead senior Jessika Abbrescia (22) plead their case to a referee Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Dani Davis (11) tips a ball away Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead junior Jenessa Heine (43) tries to block the shot of Billings Senior junior Sara Heard (2) Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Jessika Abbrescia (22) has her shot blocked from behind Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) drives to the basket Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

Flathead junior Tana Fountain (20) looks to pass the ball Friday afternoon during Flathead's matchup against Billings Senior on the second day of the Class AA state basketball tournament at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. Friday, March 8, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)

by Joseph Terry Daily Inter Lake
| March 8, 2013 11:16 PM

GREAT FALLS — The Flathead girls came out with a purpose, but couldn’t quite get it going against Billings Senior, losing 53-37 to fall out of the Class AA state basketball tournament on Friday at Four Seasons Arena.

The Bravettes had their moments, but were playing from behind the entire game. Flathead trailed 11-2 in the opening minutes, with its only bucket in the first seven minutes coming on a putback from Jessika Abbrescia. The Bravettes put together a run in the final minute of the quarter, scoring five straight points to trail 11-7.

After a poor second quarter left them behind 25-16 at half, the Bravettes opened the third on an 8-2 run, cutting the lead to one possession.

But Flathead didn’t score another field goal for five minutes and couldn’t keep pace with the Broncs in the fourth quarter. The Bravettes had their best output of the tournament in the final eight minutes but surrendered 20 to Senior.

“I thought we tried a lot harder,” Flathead coach Karly Tait said. “I thought we competed better. At one point we cut it to three, we just couldn’t make it over that hump. They hit shots and we didn’t.”

Emma Andrews scored a game-high 15 points for the Bravettes and Abbrescia scored 10 with seven rebounds.

Flathead 7 9 9 12 — 37

Billings Senior 11 14 8 20 — 53

Flathead — Emma Andrews 5-19 3-7 15, Dani Davis 1-5 1-2 3, Emily Russell 1-6 2-2 4, Tana Fountain 0-2 1-1 1, Jessika Abbrescia 5-6 0-0 10, Amber Lucas 0-0 0-0 0, Jennessa Heine 2-6 0-1 4. Totals 14-44 7-13 37.

Billings Senior — Sara Heard 3-8 2-2 10, Alexa Torbert 0-0 0-0 0, Kortney McNeil 5-11 3-6 13, Alli Kieckbusch 2-4 0-0 5, Marissa Van Atta 3-8 0-0 6, Jordyn Wagner 1-1 1-2 4, Karina Bell 2-2 3-4 7, Maylor Mims 0-2 0-0 0, Katie Gorman 0-1 0-2 0, Clancee Ferrin 0-0 2-3 2, Jace Henderson 2-9 1-3 6. Totals 18-46 12-22 53.

Total fouls - KF 18, BSR 18. Fouled out - Davis. 3-pointers - Andrews 2, heard 2, Kieckbusch, Wagner, Henderson. Rebounds - KF 27 (Abbrescia 7), BSR 31 (henderson 5). Assists - KF 7 (Davis 3), BSR 12 (Henderson 4). Turnovers - KF 18, BSR 14. Blocks KF 1 (Heine), BSR 6(Ferrin 3). Steals - KF 9 (Andrews 5), BSR 10 (four with two).