BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Libby girls, Thompson Falls boys advance to District 7B title games

LIBBY — Trinity Wallace hit a pair of clutch free throws with 22 seconds remaining to put Libby on top for good as the Loggers held off a determined Eureka squad 39-34 in a District 7B semifinal tournament girls basketball game Thursday evening.

Wallace had eight points in the game, five coming at the free-throw line in eight attempts.

Libby (9-10) led 16-9 at the half and 26-22 heading into the fourth quarter.

Jayden Winslow had 10 points for Libby. Abby Ennenga also scored eight for the Loggers.

Amanda Peterson had 11 for Eureka (8-11) and Stacy Cooper 10.

Libby will play Bigfork in the 7B tournament title game in Polson on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Eureka will face Troy in the third/fourth-place game at 1 p.m.

Eureka 5 4 13 12 — 34

Libby 10 6 10 13 — 39

EUREKA — Sienna Utter 5, Liz Pacella 4, Cassie Peterson 2, Ashlynn Waldo 2, Stacy Cooper 10, Amanda Peterson 11.

LIBBY — Trinity Wallace 8, Madisen Monigold 7, Abby Ennenga 8, Jayden Winslow 10, Shannon Reny 6.

Polson 44, Whitefish 42

POLSON — Polson’s Lauren Lefthand missed a late 3-pointer only to rebound the missed shot and sink a buzzer beating shot from closer to topple Whitefish in the final Northwestern A conference game of the regular season for each team.

Lefthand finished with 10 points for the Pirates, who mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, outscoring Whitefish 12-3 in the final frame. The Bulldogs dominated early play, leading 39-32 with eight minutes to play.

Brenna Clarke led Polson with 13 points and Nichole Lake had 12 points.

Cailyn Ross had 14 points to lead Whitefish and Coral Schylz had 12 points.

Whitefish 13 8 18 3 — 42

Polson 9 9 14 12 — 44

WHITEFISH – Dani Douglas 6, Coral Schulz 12, Allie Schulz 1, Annisa Brown 2, Haley Nicholson 4, Makenna Benbrook 3, Cailyn Ross 14.

POLSON – Makenna Weltz 3, Lauren Lefthand 10, Kaelyn Smith 6, Brenna Clarke 13, Nichole Lake 12.

BOYS

Thompson Falls 49, Libby 40

THOMPSON FALLS — Libby failed to bounce back from a slow start in falling to Thompson Falls in a District 7B semifinal.

Thompson Falls (10-9) held a 23-10 edge at halftime.

The Blue Hawks were led by the scoring combination of Trais Hoisington, 16 points, and Joe Frields, 14.

Ryggs Johnston topped Libby (11-8) with 15 points. Anthony Johnson added 11 and Jonny Cielak finished with 10 for the Loggers.

Thompson Falls will play Bigfork for the District 7B tournament title on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Polson.

Libby faces Troy (7-13) at 3 p.m. in the third/fourth-place game.

Libby 4 6 12 18 — 40

Thompson Falls 11 12 7 19 — 49

LIBBY – Jonny Cielak 10, Ryggs Johnston 15, Anthony Johnson 11, Erik Lauer 2, Brandon Sadewasser 2.

THOMPSON FALLS – Tanner Laws 5, Corey Tessier 1, Joe Lundberg 7, Trais Hoisington 16, Joe Frields 14, Tyler Riffle 6.