WESTERN A DIVISIONAL: Polson boys, Columbia Falls girls punch tournament tickets
BUTTE — Polson advanced to the Western A divisional boys championship basketball game on Friday, clinching a spot in the Class A state tournament next weekend in Missoula.
The Pirates countered the scoring of Hamilton’s Carter Kearns with a more balanced attack. The teams were locked in a tight game until the fourth quarter, when Kearns sat with foul trouble.
Polson outscored the Broncs 17-9 in the final quarter to run away with the final score.
Matthew Rensvold had 20 points to lead the Pirates and Julian Jones had 11.
Kearns had a game-high 31 points, but the rest of the Hamilton team was 7 of 26 from the field, adding just 16 points.
Polson will play Dillon in the finals today at 6:30 p.m. The Beavers routed Butte Central in the other semifinal on Friday.
Hamilton 14 10 14 9 — 47
Polson 15 13 12 17 — 57
HAMILTON — Ky Burch 10, Hunter Ornlid 6, Carter Kearns 31.
POLSON — Wyatt DuCharme 8, Payton Lefthand 9, Matthew Rensvold 20, Julian Jones 11, J’von Niemeyer 3, Shade Main 2, Jeremiah North Piegan 4.
Semifinal
Dillon 16 11 21 11 — 59
Bu. Central 2 13 4 10 — 29
DILLON — Nate Simkins 15, Payton LaFrentz 7, Troy Andersen 10, Nick Huber 7, Tanner Haverfield 7, Carson Hritsco 3, Michael Haverfield 2, R.J. Fitzgerald 4, Logan Wilson 2, Clay Allison 2.
BUTTE CENTRAL — Nate McGree 6, Cole Harper 3, Tanner Kump 9, Riley Richardson 1, Tyge Yelenich 1, Cade Holter 7, Dan McCloskey 2.
Loser-out
Whitefish 72, Columbia Falls 52
The Whitefish boys kept their season alive and hopes for a state tournament berth intact, blowing out North Valley rival Columbia Falls in a loser-out contest.
The Bulldogs controlled the game from the tip, rolling out to a 22-7 lead after eight minutes and a 20-point lead at halftime. Whitefish shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and 43 percent from 3-point range to run away from a Wildcat team that made just five field goals.
Columbia Falls put up a fight in the second half, playing the Bulldogs even, but couldn’t make up ground after its slow start. Whitefish swept the season series 3-0.
Jacob Henry had 18 points and Sawyer Siliker had 17 points to lead Whitefish. Derek Kastella scored 10 points and Luke May had nine points and a game-high eight rebounds.
Nathan Riley had 20 points for Columbia Falls and Tyler Murphy added 10.
Whitefish will play Hamilton in the consolation semifinals at 8 a.m. today, the winner advancing to the state tournament.
Whitefish 22 9 22 19 — 72
C. Falls 7 4 20 21 — 52
WHITEFISH — Derek Kastella 10, Jacob Henry 18, Matt Brewer 7, Luke May 9, Sawyer Siliker 17, Cole Ashby 1, Jansen anderson 2, James Sampson 1, Murphy Wick 1, Zander Wold 2, Max Smyley 4.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Nathan Riley 20, Austin Green 5, Tyler Murphy 10, Matthew Morrison 6, Kyler Burns 2, Steven DeCamp 5, Mason Tucker 4.
Loser out
Corvallis 23 11 12 23 — 69
Stevi 11 20 6 20 — 57
CORVALLIS — Caleb Powell 9, Jacob Geary 2, Tylor Nixon 20, Justin Catanach 6, Chase Jessop 17, Danner Miller 5, Dillon Lewis 6, Tannon Allred 4.
STEVENSVILLE — Liam LeCoure 7, Jarod Kingsberry 4, James Fry 28, Dalton Bragg 14, Bryce Torrey 3, Keanu Miwa-Vogan 1.
GIRLS
Columbia Falls 51, Dillon 45
The Columbia Falls girls fought off a strong game from Dillon to advance to the divisional finals and secure a spot in the state tournament.
Columbia Falls led big early, pulling out to a 13-6 lead after the first quarter and a 22-10 lead at halftime. Dillon ground out the final 16 minutes, but couldn’t score quite enough in the second half to knock off the Wildkats.
Peyton Kehr scored 19 points, Ellie Johnson had 14 points and Kiara Burlage netted 12 points to lead Columbia Falls.
Brynley Fitzgerald had a game-high 22 points for Dillon and Alex Rouse had 14 points.
The Wildkats will play Butte Central tonight at 8:30 for the championship.
Dillon 6 4 18 17 — 45
C. Falls 13 9 15 14 — 51
DILLON — Alex Rouse 14, Kylie Christiansen 2, Rachael Nye 3, Bailey Berriochoa 2, Brynley Fitzgerald 22, Paige Rouse 2.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Cydney Finberg 4, Ellie Johnson 14, Peyton Kehr 19, Kiara Burlage 12, Sydney Hovde 2.
Bu. Central 17 7 35 4 — 63
Frenchtown 10 5 5 8 — 28
BUTTE CENTRAL — Kloie Thatcher 20, Mollie Peoples 14, Sierra Pica 9, Kailee Murphy 6, Emily St. John 2, Kate Ossello 4, Tricia Joyce 2, Taylor Wall 3, Megan Michelotti 3.
FRENCHTOWN — Megan Delaney 3, Alivia Williams 2, Callana Bagnell 4, Kylie Willett 3, Sydney Channer 3, Emilie Hinrichs 8, Allison Hochhalter 2, Adeline Richardson 3.
Loser-out
Hamilton 62, Polson 35
Hamilton pulled away in the second quarter and never slowed down, ending Polson’s season on the third day of tournament play.
The Broncs outscored Polson by 13 points in the second quarter on the way to a 27-point victory.
Lauren Lefthand and Nichole Lake each had nine points to lead the Pirates.
Kloie Nye had 12 points for Hamilton.
Hamilton 10 23 11 18 — 62
Polson 9 10 5 11 — 35
HAMILTON — Baylie Duce 4, Kloie Nye 12, Reilly Rostad 11, Caitlin Gillespie 4, Jordan Bauder 9, Tristan Searle 11, Kara Nye 1, Mallory McGill 2, Kailan Rocheleau 2, Rachael Ringer 6.
POLSON — Marlee Congdon 6, Lauren Lefthand 9, Brenna Clarke 4, Nichole Lake 9, MaKenna Weltz 2, Kaelyn Smith 4, Mollie Fisher 1.
Corvallis 37, Whitefish 35
Whitefish held a lead for most of its game against Corvallis, but couldn’t find the net late, giving up the final eight points in a season-ending loss.
Corvallis outscored the Bulldogs 18-7 after halftime to erase Whitefish’s nine-point halftime lead.
Allie Schulz finished with 11 points and Cailyn Ross had 10 points for Whitefish.
Corinne Sanderson had a game-high 14 points to lead the Blue Devils.
Corvallis 10 9 6 12 — 37
Whitefish 16 12 2 5 — 35
CORVALLIS — Taia Tully 8, Corinne Sanderson 14, Penny Jessop 6, Genesis Keith 1, Calla Haldorson 5, Tayler Wright 3.
WHITEFISH — Dani Douglas 5, Coral Schulz 4, Allie Schulz 11, Haley Nicholson 5, Cailyn Ross 10.