BASKETBALL: Columbia Falls girls, Polson boys finish 2nd at Western A divisional
BUTTE — It was a strong start, but a bad ending for the Columbia Falls girls basketball team.
The Wildkats (19-2) took an early 15-8 lead on Butte Central, but struggled down the stretch to lose 51-41 in the championship game of the Western A divisional tournament Saturday evening at the Butte Civic Center.
Columbia Falls held a 30-25 lead at the half, but could muster just 11 points after that.
Kiara Burlage led Columbia Falls on offense with nine points. She also had 10 rebounds.
Kloie Thatcher had 17 points for Butte Central. Sierra Pica chipped in 10.
Butte Central held an edge at the free-throw line hitting 16 of 21. Columbia Falls was just 7 of 11.
Butte Central outrebounded the Wildkats 34-25.
Both teams turned it over 14 times.
The top four teams advance to the state tournament. The boys play Thursday through Saturday at Missoula while the girls are at Belgrade March 10-12.
Columbia Falls 15 15 8 3 — 41
Butte Central 8 17 10 16 — 51
COLUMBIA FALLS – Sydney Grilley 2, Cydney Finberg 4, Ellie Johnson 9, Peyton Kehr 7, Kiara Burlage 9, Allyson Gimbel 4, Sydney Hovde 6.
BUTTE CENTRAL – Kloie Thatcher 17, Mollie Peoples 9, Sierra Pica 10, Kailee Murphy 8, Emily St. John 5, Kate Ossello 2.
Consolation Final
Dillon 42, Frenchtown 30
BUTTE — Bailey Berriochoa and Brynley Fitzgerald carried the offensive load for Dillon, scoring 12 and 10 points, respectively to claim third place.
After a 10-all tie to complete the opening quarter, Dillon took an 18-15 lead to the locker room at the half.
Dillon then outscored Frenchtown 24-15 in the second half.
Alivia Williams tallied 10 points to lead Frenchtown.
Dillon 10 8 9 15 — 42
Frenchtown 10 5 4 11 — 30
Dillon — Alex Rouse 8, Kylie Christiansen 1, Rachael Nye 9, Bailey Berriochoa 12, Brynley Fitzgerald 10, Kathleen Tatarka 2.
Frenchtown — Megan Delaney 4, Alivia Williams 10, Kylie Willet 8, Emilie Hinrichs 4, Lexi Statelen 2, Adeline Richardson 2.
Loser Out
Dillon 52, Hamilton 41
BUTTE — Brynley Fitzgerald knocked down a game-high 17 points to push Dillon past Hamilton and advance to the consolation final.
Dillon, up 24-17 at the half, outscored Hamilton 13-8 in the third quarter to take a 37-25 lead.
Reilly Rostad topped Hamilton with 12 points.
Hamilton 7 10 8 16 — 41
Dillon 12 12 13 15 — 52
HAMILTON – Kloie Nye 6, Reilly Rostad 12, Caitlin Gillespie 5, Jordan Bauder 8, Tristan Searle 1, Breann Duce 6, Mallory McGill 2, Rachael Ringer 1.
DILLON – Alex Rouse 13, Kylie Christiansen 4, Rachael Nye 9, Bailey Berriochoa 5, Brynley Fitzgerald 17, Paige Rouse 3, Kathleen Tatarka 1.
Frenchtown 37, Corvallis 34
BUTTE — Frenchtown rallied from an early 10-point deficit to edge Corvallis and move on to the consolation final.
Corvallis jumped out to a 15-5 lead and led 21-16 at the half.
Frenchtown held Corvallis to two points in the fourth quarter to net the victory.
Alivia Williams had 10 points for Frenchtown.
Kira Doyle totaled 10 points for Corvallis.
Frenchtown 5 11 13 8 — 37
Corvallis 15 6 11 2 — 34
FRENCHTOWN — Megan Delaney 5, Kylie Willet 5, Allie Moe 6, Alivia Williams 10, Lexi Statelen 9, Sydney Channer 2.
CORVALLIS — Taia Tully 4, Kira Doyle 10, Corinne Sanderson 8, Penny Jessop 4, Genesis 3, Calla Haldorson 2, Tayler Wright 2.
BOYS
Championship
Dillon 71, Polson 67 (OT)
BUTTE — Polson forced the overtime, but Dillon prevailed in the end.
Dillon led 55-53 and had a chance to pad its lead, but missed two free throws with five seconds remaining. That was enough time for Polson’s Julian Jones to hit a buzzer-beater and force the extra session.
Dillon outscored Polson 16-12 in overtime.
Jones finished with a game-high 26 points. Matthew Rensvold added 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Payton Lefthand netted 11 points for the Pirates.
Nate Simkins had 25 for Dillon and Troy Anderson followed with 20.
Polson 10 14 12 19 12 — 67
Dillon 20 4 16 15 16 — 71
POLSON – Wyatt DuCharme 4, Payton Lefthand 11, Tanner Wilson 6, Matthew Rensvold 20, Julian Jones 26.
DILLON – Carson Hritsco 14, Nate Simkins 25, Payton Falfrentz 5, Troy Anderson 20, Tanner Haverfield 5, Logan Wilson 2.
Consolation Final
Butte Central 45,Hamilton 42
BUTTE — Butte Central roared back in the fourth quarter to slip by Hamilton in the third-place game.
Hamilton entered the final eight minutes of play leading 29-24.
Cole Harper totaled 18 points for Butte Central. Teammate Nate McGree added 10.
Carter Kearns scored 15 points to pace Hamilton.
Hamilton 13 6 10 13 — 42
Butte Central 11 5 8 21 — 45
Hamilton — Josh Heath 4, Bret Huxtable 4, Ky Burch 5, Hunter Ornlid 8, Carter Kearns 15, Bridger Bauder 2, Jaylen Taggart 4.
BUTTE CENTRAL — Sam Johnston 5, Nate McGree 10, Cole Harper 18,Tanner Kump 8, Riley Richardson 2, Cade Holter 2.
Loser Out
Hamilton 61, Whitefish 43
BUTTE — Whitefish struggled through a rough second half in falling to Hamilton.
Hamilton held a 30-29 lead at the half, but outscored Whitefish after that 30-14 to advance to the consolation final against Butte Central.
Whitefish’s Derek Kastella led all scorers with 21 points. Jacob Henry added 13 for the Bulldogs, who only had four players score.
Hunter Omlid had 17 for Hamilton. Ky Burch and Carter Kearns were next with 15 each.
Whitefish 10 19 7 7 — 43
Hamilton 17 13 16 15 — 61
Whitefish — Derek Kastella 21, Jacob Henry 13, Luke May 6, Jansen Anderson 3.
Hamilton — Josh Heath 5, Bret Huxtable 4, Ky Burch 15, Hunter Omlid 17, Carter Kearns 15, Tyler Chouinard 2, Jaylen Taggart, 3.
Butte Central 57, Corvallis 42
BUTTE — Butte Central raced out to a 15-1 lead after eight minutes of action and never looked back in knocking out Corvallis.
Butte Central held a commanding 29-15 lead at intermission.
Nate McGree led Butte Central in scoring with 10 points.
Corvallis’ Chase Jessop led all scorers with 21 points.
Butte Central 15 14 13 15 — 57
Corvallis 1 14 10 17 — 42
Butte Central — Sam Johnston 2, Nate McGree 10, Cole Harper 5, Tanner Kump 5, Riley Richardson 2, Cade Holter 7, Archie Petritz 2.
Corvallis — Dillon Lewis 5, Caleb Powell 6, Tylor Nixon 6, Chase Jessop 21, Spencer Jessop 4.