Rough outing for Bravettes at AA state basketball tournament
<p>Flathead senior Dani Davis walks off the court Thursday night near the end of Flathead's loss to Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA state basketball tournament in Great Falls. </p>
<p>Flathead junior Emma Andrews (floor) reaches for the ball controlled by a Great Falls High player Thursday night in the first round of the Class AA state basketball tournament in Great Falls. </p>
<p>Flathead senior Jessika Abbrescia (22) fights for a rebound Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead junior Tana Fountain (20) dribbles around a defender Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead senior Jessika Abbrescia (22) puts up a shot Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>The Flathead girls watch from the bench Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) watches the game as she gets a drink Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead senior Dani Davis (11) looks to pass the ball Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) tips the ball away from Great Falls' Taylor Kumm (30) Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead senior Emily Russell (15) defends a pass Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead junior Jenessa Heine (43) looks to pass the ball Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead junior Tana Fountain (20) drives past a defender Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead head coach Karly Tait argues a call with a referee Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead junior Emma Andrews (10) goes after a loose ball Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead senior Jessika Abbrescia (22) drives past a defender Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead junior Tana Fountain (20) looks to pass the ball Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead junior Emma Andrews (10) picks her self up after hitting the floor going for a loose ball Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead junior Tana Fountain (20) passes the ball Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead junior Jenessa Heine (43) eyes the ball for a rebound Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
<p>Flathead junior Emma Andrews (10) tips the ball away from Great Falls' Taylor Kumm (30) Thursday night during Flathead's matchup against Great Falls High in the first round of the Class AA State Championship in Great Falls. Thursday, March 7, 2013 in Great Falls, Montana. (Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
GREAT FALLS — The Flathead girls couldn’t keep up with top-seeded Great Falls, losing 58-36 in the first round of the Class AA state basketball tournament at the Four Seasons Arena on Thursday night.
The Bravettes struggled to score all game and fell behind early, going without a basket for more than five minutes at the end of the first quarter and start of the second. Great Falls took advantage, scoring 10 straight points to take a 22-7 lead.
It was all Bison from then on, even as the Bravettes started to find their range.
Great Falls led 26-13 at half and 47-24 after the third quarter.
“We didn’t come ready to play,” Flathead coach Karly Tait said.
“We didn’t do the things that we did to get us here.
“Inexperience and whatnot — you can make a list of excuses but the bottom line is we didn’t come and play a very good basketball game. And at the state tournament you’re not going to win games playing like that.”
Great Falls’ length and pressure defense gave Flathead fits as the Bravettes shot just 25 percent for the game and committed 19 turnovers.
Jenessa Heine had a team-high 13 points to lead the Bravettes.
Flathead plays Billings Senior in a loser-out game today at 1:30 p.m. The Broncs nearly knocked off Helena Capital in their first round game, falling to the second-ranked Bruins in overtime 55-45.
“We’ve got to take better care of the ball,” Tait said.
“We’ve got to be awake on defense. Lots of things need to get better.”
Great Falls 16 10 21 11 — 58
Flathead 7 6 11 12 — 36
Great Falls — Liz Klinker 2-2 2-4 6, Gabby Fought 0-0 0-0 0, Nora Klick 2-10 1-1 6, Mercedes Bourgeau 0-4 0-0 0, Mikaela Kynett 2-2 1-2 7, Markaela Francis 4-7 2-4 10, Darbi Fought 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Kumm 1-5 0-0 3, Brice Henning 1-3 0-0 2, Jessica Keller 3-6 0-0 6, Kelsey Devlin 1-5 0-0 2, Callee Remsen 7-13 0-2 16. Totals 23-57 6-13 58.
Flathead — Emma Andrews 0-11 0-0 0, Dani Davis 0-4 0-1 0, Emily Russell 1-6 5-6 7, Tana Fountain 3-9 0-0 7, Ronalae Rogers 0-0 0-0 0, Jessika Abbrescia 2-3 2-2 6, Paige Birky 1-2 0-0 3, Amber Lucas 0-0 0-0 0, Jessica Simmons 0-2 0-0 0, Jenessa Heine 5-11 3-5 13. Totals 12-48 10-14 36.
Total fouls—GFH 15, KF 12. Fouled out—none. 3-pointers—Kilck, M. Kynett 2, Kumm, Remsen 2, Fountain, Birky. Rebounds—GFH 39 (Keller 8), KF 29 ((Heine 6). Assists—GFH 16 (Klick 4), KF 9 (Davis 3). Turnovers—GFH 15, KF 19. Blocks—GFH 3 (Remsen 2). Steals—GFH 13 (Klick 3), KF 9 (Andrews 3).
Billings Senior 14 6 9 12 4 — 45
Helena Capital 6 11 13 11 14 — 53
Billings Senior — Sara Heard 2-4 0-2 5, Alexa Torbert 0-0 0-0 0, Kortney NcNeil 4-9 0-0 9, Alli Kieckbusch 2-10, 4-4 9, Marissa Van Atta 4-17 0-0 9, Jordyn Wagner 2-8 0-0 5, Clancee Ferrin 2=3 1-2 5, Jace Henderson 1-10 1-2 3. Totals 17-61 6-10 45
Helena Capital — Alexa Welch 1-4 2-2 4, Michaela Dowdy 7-10 4-7 18, Sadie Pilgeram 2-10 0-2 5, Quinci Robertson 1-1 0-0 2, Sierra Bignell 0-1 0-0 0, Drue Copps 0-0 2-2 2, McKenzie Johnston 3-10 4-4 13, Kaye Bignell 4-14 1-2 9, Julia Anderson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-52 13-19 53.
Total fouls - BSR 12, HVC9. Fouled out - none. 3-pointers - BSR 12-38 (heard 1-3, McNeil 3-5, Kieckbusch 1-6, Van Atta 3-11, Wagner 1-2, Ferrin 2-3, Henderson 1-8), HC 14-41 ((Welch 1-3, Dowdy 7-10, Pilgeram 1-7, Robertson 1-1, S. Bignell 0-1, Johnston 0-3, K. Bignell 4-14, Anderson 0-2). Rebounds - BSR 29 (Van Atta 11), HC 45 (Dowdy 8, Pilgeram 8, K. Bignell 8). Assists - BSR 10 (McNeil 3, Van Atta 3), HC 11 (Johnston 4). Turnovers - BSR 8, HC 13. Blocks - BSR 3 (Ferrin 2), HC 1 (Dowdy). Steals - BSR 6, (Henderson 3), HC 6 (Johnston 3).