MCAA State Basketball: Crusaders advance to girls semis; Stillwater boys in semis
GREAT FALLS — Flathead Valley Homeschool pushed its win streak to 11 games Thursday afternoon with a 64-27 victory over Gallatin Valley Homeschool in first-round action at the Montana Christian Athletic Association girls state basketball tournament.
FVHS (16-4) jumped out in front quickly, leading 12-2 and never looked back. The Crusaders were comfortably on top at halftime, 36-12.
Karissa Williams led the victors in scoring with 16 points. Priscilla Rajkowski had a double-double for FVHS with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She also had a team-high six assists.
Heidi Schneller totaled 11 points and a team-best five steals for FVHS.
Courtney Lieurance topped Gallatin Valley in scoring with 13 points.
The Crusaders advance to face Billings Christian School in semifinal play today at 5 p.m. at Paris Gibson Education Center.
Flathead Valley Homeschool is the top seed from the Western Division. Billings Christian is the second seed from the Eastern Division.
The Crusaders are seeking their first state title since 2008.
Gallatin Valley 2 10 11 4 — 27
Flathead Valley 12 24 14 14 — 64
GALLATIN VALLEY HOMESCHOOL — Glenna Jacobs 2, Courtney Lieurance 13, Alina Jacobs 4, Mariah Flook 6, Jubilee Blair 2.
FLATHEAD VALLEY HOMESCHOOL — Victoria Hanson 8, Julia Burden 1, Heidi Schneller 11, Britney Howery 2, Naomi Dobson 4, Cassidy Husted 2, Karissa Williams 16, Lexi Ehlers 8, Priscilla Rajkowski 12.
Yellowstone County 45, Stillwater Christian 26
Stillwater Christian failed to score in the second quarter and never recovered to fall to Yellowstone County Homeschool.
Yellowstone led 16-7 at the half and outscored the Cougars 17-9 in the third quarter to pull away.
Serena Koch had 13 points to lead Stillwater while Dori Smith had a team-best 13 rebounds.
“We started out strong, but went cold for much of the second and third quarters,” SCS coach Sarah O’Rourke said. “We found shots, but we just couldn’t make them.”
Stillwater shot 16 percent from the field and 15 percent from 3-point range.
Stillwater managed to get within 10 points in the fourth quarter, but no closer.
Stillwater (7-13) plays a loser-out game today at 8:30 a.m. versus Heritage Christian School.
Yellowstone Co. 8 8 17 12 — 45
Stillwater Christian 7 0 9 10 — 26
YELLOWSTONE COUNTY HOMESCHOOL — Molly Lundby 7, Hannah Thom 10, Shana Icenagle 4, Rose Jones 4, Sophi Gillespie 8, Rachel Hamilton 5, Hannah Watson 7.
STILLWATER CHRISTIAN — Serena Koch 14, Cora Boll 1, Dori Smith 3, Alicia Warricks 2, Lulu Neumann 2, Alisa Venman 1, Helena Hashley 3.
Boys
Stillwater Christian 73, Heritage Christian 43
GREAT FALLS — The defending state champions looked sharp in downing Heritage Christian in opening-round play at the MCAA state boys basketball tournament at the Paris Gibson Education Center.
The Cougars (19-2) exploded for 23 points in the third quarter to put it away.
BJ Bach led the Stillwater attack with 18 points. Joe Hooker and Isaac Neumann had 17 points each.
The victory advances Stillwater to semifinal action today at 8 p.m.
The champion game is Saturday at 5 p.m.
Stillwater Christian 19 14 23 17 — 73
Heritage Christian 13 7 9 14 — 43
STILLWATER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL — Clay Hashley 10, Micah Friesen 4, BJ Bach 18, Jared Fetveit 2, Joe Hooker 17, Isaac Neumann 17, Nich Sulzbacher 3. Daniel Fetveit 2.
HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL — Konner May 7, Vale May 1, Eli Gossa 10, Andrew Tofslie 15, Ryan Nuss 10.