MCAA state basketball: Stillwater girls finish 2nd, boys 3rd
HELENA — The Stillwater Christian School girls couldn’t hold on late, finishing second after a 42-32 loss to Gallatin Valley Home School at the Montana Christian Athletic Association state basketball tournament on Saturday at Carroll College.
The three-time defending state champs couldn’t outlast the Cougars of Bozeman, despite trailing by just two points with six minutes left in the contest. Stillwater went cold from the field and GVHS pulled away with free throws.
“We couldn’t come up with a score,” Stillwater coach Denise Topp said.
“The girls did everything on defense. Time ran out on us ... They really played very well to get this far.”
Sarah Paolini led Stillwater with 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Morgan Lester had 14 for GVHS.
The Stillwater boys fought back from a devastating loss Friday night to finish third at the tournament.
Led by 16 points from Peter Venman, Stillwater beat Flathead Valley Home School 42-35 in a consolation semifinal to advance to the third-place game. Josiah Sheeran had a team-high 11 points for the Crusaders.
In the consolation final, the Cougars overcame a tough first quarter to storm past Billings Christian. Down six points after the first eight minutes, Stillwater outscored the Warriors 60-38 over the last three quarters to clinch a third-place finish. Eight Stillwater players scored in the contest, with Venman and Bach leading the team with 19 points each.
The Cougars fell to eventual state champion Foothills Community Christian of Great Falls on Friday, unable to answer three quick 3-pointers at the beginning of the fourth quarter that propelled the Falcons to victory. Venman and Isaac Neumann each had 12 points to lead Stillwater in the loss.
Gallatin Vly. HS611817—42
Stillwater Christian66137—32
GALLATIN VALLEY — Country Liebranu 7, Anna Barrett 8, Alethia Heide 6, Morgan Lester 14, Hannah Savskojus 7.
STILLWATER — Kathryn Jentz 4, Serena Koch 2, Janelle Falk 2, Dani Smith 4, Sarah Paolini 14, McKenzie Hemp 4, Annalise Pierson 2.
BOYS
Consolation Finals
Billings Christian19111413—57
Stillwater Cn.13192219—73
BILLINGS — Jake Teske 2, Josh Tompkins 7, Taylor Faw 2, Sam Waggoner 13, Jalen Garcia 14, Cody Hopkins 5, Joe Waggoner 1, Chris Schwartz 13.
STILLWATER — Schuylar Kauffman 1, Clayton Hashley 10, Peter Venman 19, BJ Bach 19, Jeremiah Hashley 8, Jaron Neumann 6, Isaac Neumann 8, Alex Sulzbacher 2.
Consolation Semifinals
Flathead Vly. HS61289—35
Stillwater Cn. 1141215—42
FVHS — Jordan Sproul 3, Cayden Roberson 3, Joel Landis 3, Ryland Carlson 4, Jaden Moon 5, Josiah Sheeran 11.
STILLWATER — Clayton Hashley 9, Peter Venman 16, BJ Bach 8, Jaron Neumann 6, Isaac Neumann 3.
Late Friday
Championship semifinals
Foothills Comm. Cn. 13111323—60
Stillwater Christian14101116—51
FOOTHILLS — Kolter Lund 10, Owen Madsen 25, Dawson Reiman 8, Shane Wood 9, Konner Lund 2, Claus Henning 6.
STILLWATER — Clayton Hashely 6, Peter Venman 12, BJ Bach 7, Jeremiah Hashley 6, Jaron Neumann 8, Isaac Neumann 12.