Braves bounce Bengals, 57-50
Flathead senior Cade White celebrates after the Braves defeated Helena 57-50 at home Thursday to earn a trip to the state tournament in Great Falls. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead post Sam Elliott floats up a shot in the key against Helena at Flathead on Thursday. Elliott led the Braves with 20 points. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead cashed in at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to pull out a 57-50 Western AA division boys basketball state tournament play-in game Thursday evening at Flathead High School.
The Braves were eight for eight from the charity stripe in the final eight minutes, making six in the last 43 seconds to pull away.
“Guys making plays at the end,” Flathead coach Ross Gustafson said of what was the difference.
“Guys stepping up.”
Bridger Johnson nailed both his shots to put Flathead on top 53-50, followed by two more from Tyler Johnson and Sam Elliott.
Tyler Johnson had a huge steal with 25 seconds left and was fouled, which put him at the line.
The Braves were led by Elliott, who topped all scorers with 20 points.
Tyler Johnson added 19.
Taylor England tallied 19 points and seven rebounds for Helena (6-15). Connor Murgel chipped in 12 points.
The Braves and Bengals split during the regular season.
Flathead (12-9) led by as many as nine points in the third quarter of this one before Helena rallied to make for a wild finish.
“Credit to them, they hit some tough 3s,” Gustafson said.
“We were giving them the outside shot and they hit some.”
Helena led 10-8 after the opening quarter, but Flathead held the edge from the second quarter on.
Flathead outrebounded Helena 29-19. Elliot pulled down a team-high seven.
Eric Seaman had 10 assists for Flathead.
“The guys were really excited,” Gustafson said of the atmosphere in the locker room after the game.
“None of these guys have ever been to state. Flathead hasn’t been to state in five years.”
The Braves, winners of six straight, head for the Class AA state tournament in Great Falls, which begins March 9.
“You always want to play well at the end of the season,” Gustafson said.
“We seem to be doing that now.”
Helena High 10 12 14 14 — 50
Flathead 8 17 16 16 — 57
HELENA HIGH — Keair Adjerson 2 1-1 6, Taylor England 5 8-10 19, Brian McMahon 2 0-0 5, Caleb Ferguson 0 0-1 0, Emmett Buckley 2 0-0 4, Alex Johnson 2 0-2 4, Connor Murgel 4 0-0 12. Totals: 17 9-15 50.
FLATHEAD — Wyatt Potter 1 0-0 2, Bridger Johnson 3 2-2 8, Eric Seaman 2 0-0 4, Tyler Johnson 7 2-2 19, Sam Elliott 8 4-4 20, Dawson Smith 2 0-0 4. Totals: 23 8-10 57.
Eastern AA
State Tournament Play-In Game
At Billings West
Butte 12 15 12 8 — 47
Billings West 17 11 14 17 — 59
Butte (9-12): Kash Kelly 13, Evan Anderson 3, Ryson Lovshin 9, Travis Williams 6, Brock Powell 15, Austin Lee 1.
Billings West (12-7): Jesse Owens 11, Bryson Deming 12, Braydon Deming 11, Jake Bell 1, Cleveland Harvey 6, DJ Peretti 7, Calvin Tyson 9, Kaleb Martin 2.