BASKETBALL: Glacier wins Les Schwab Shootout; Burns wins dunk contest

Kyler Burns played in 17 varsity basketball games for Columbia Falls this winter.

But he was never as nervous as he was Thursday night at Flathead High School.

“It’s pretty nerve-wracking,” Burns said. “I’m shaking right now.”

That was 10 minutes after the senior won the dunk contest at the 15th annual Les Schwab Shootout, taking home the title with a 38-point dunk — out of a possible 40 points — in the final round. He took off from the baseline cradling the basketball and his ferocious windmill dunk brought the loudest roar of the night from the crowd, including Burns’ personal cheering section.

“I heard my mom and my sister and everyone yelling at me,” he said. “(Before the dunk) everyone’s telling me to calm down. I was really nervous going in.”

The dunk contest win added $100 to Columbia Falls’ total haul, part of $7,100 in total payouts awarded by Les Schwab Tires of the Flathead Valley.

Glacier won the event, although when the team scores were first announced they came in second, an error that was corrected minutes later. Team scores were compiled based on four competitions, a boys and girls free throw contest and a boys and girls 3-point shooting contest.

The Wolfpack totaled 110 points, seven more than Flathead, to take home $2,000 for the athletic department. Glacier’s Blayne Bailey won the boys free throw contest with 27 makes in 60 seconds, and his counterpart on the girls side, Taylor Salonen, matched his 27 free throws to finish second.

“It’s been a wonderful plan from Les Schwab that they put together to take care of the Valley schools and bring a little bit of fun to it,” Glacier Activities Director Mark Dennehy said. “It’s a great night and tonight was even better.”

Six schools participated, with each winning at least $500. Whitefish finished third with 101 points, with Columbia Falls, Stillwater Christian and Bigfork rounding out the field.

Flathead’s Kelsey Gillespie won the girls free-throw contest with 28 makes, more than any competitor, boy or girl. Whitefish’s Dani Douglas and Jacob Henry each made 17 3-pointers in 60 seconds to win their respective contests.

15th Annual Les Schwab Shootout

At Flathead High School

Team Scores

1. Glacier 110

2. Flathead 103

3. Whitefish 101

4. Columbia Falls 100

5. Stillwater Christian 80

6. Bigfork 73

Free Throw Contest

Girls

1. Kelsey Gillespie, Flathead 28

2. Taylor Salonen, Glacier 27

3. Cydney Finberg, C. Falls 23

4. Miranda Campbell, Bigfork 21

5. Haley Nicholson, Whitefish 14

6. Dori Smith, Stillwater 6

Boys

1. Blayne Bailey, Glacier 27

2. Wyatt Potter, Flathead 25

3. Isaac Neumann, Stillwater 24

4. Tyler Murphy, C. Falls 23

5. Jansen Anderson, Whitefish 19

6. Adam Jordt, Bigfork 14

3-point Contest

Girls

Two points awarded per made shot

1. Dani Douglas, Whitefish 34

2. Serena Koch, Stillwater 32

3. Peyton Kehr, C. Falls 30

t-4. Hailey Ruggles, Glacier 24

t-4. Tiana Johnson, Flathead 24

6. Katie Thomas, Bigfork 14

Boys

Two points awarded per made shot

1. Jacob Henry, Whitefish 34

2. Jake Norberg, Glacier 32

3. Tyler Johnson, Flathead 26

t-4. Joseph Potkonjak, Bigfork 24

t-4. Nathan Riley, C. Falls 24

6. Clayton Hashley, Stillwater 18

Dunk Contest

Totals out of 40 points

Did not count toward team scores

First Round

1. Torin Bowden, Glacier 37

2. Tyler Johnson, Flathead 35

t-3. Isaac Neumann, Stillwater 33

t-3. Kyler Burns, C. Falls 33

5. Garrett Beville, Bigfork 30

Final Round

1. Kyler Burns, C. Falls 38

2. Torin Bowden, Glacier 37

3. Isaac Neumann, Stillwater 35

4. Tyler Johnson, Flathead DQ