Western A divisional hoop tourney in Butte starts Thursday
The Polson boys (11-9 overall) have a little momentum working and would like to see it continue this weekend while the main focus for the Columbia Falls girls (17-3) is to get back on track for the Western A divisional basketball tournament at the Butte Civic Center.
Polson, the Northwest A conference tournament champs, opens play Thursday versus Frenchtown at 5 p.m.
Columbia Falls, the Northwest A conference tournament runner-up, has a first-round test versus Butte Central at 2 p.m.
A victory for Polson and Columbia Falls puts both teams in semifinal action on Friday.
The three-day, loser-out event ends Saturday.
“We had some kids step up (last weekend),” Polson coach Randy Kelley said.
“That happens this time of the year. That’s a good thing. Now we want to take that momentum to the divisional.”
The top four teams from divisionals — Eastern and Western — advance to state play — for the boys March 1-2-3 in Bozeman and for the girls March 8-9-10 in Great Falls.
Robin Erickson, a junior guard, was one of those players who stepped up for Polson last weekend. Averaging just 6.3 points per game, he led Polson with 15 in the championship 63-51 win over Ronan and had 15 again in the 59-50 win over Libby in the semifinals.
Shade Main, a senior post averaging 14.76 points, led Polson against Libby with 17.
“He definitely was the one who gave us the spark on the offensive end,” Kelley said of Erickson.
“He attacked the rim. In the last four, five games, he’s turned it up a little bit.”
Connor Lanier, a point guard, is averaging 12.2 points for Polson.
Polson and Frenchtown met on Dec. 21 with Frenchtown winning 62-47 in Polson. The Broncs outscored Polson 18-5 in the second quarter. The remainder of play was even.
“It was a good game for three quarters,” Kelley said.
Zack Baker led Frenchtown with 20 points. Ethan Pyron had 14 and Cade Baker 10.
Main had 15 and Lanier 11 for Polson.
“They are very athletic,” Kelley said of Frenchtown.
“We will have to come up with some good defensive schemes to slow them down a little bit.”
Columbia Falls came up short against Browning 61-50 in the conference tournament title game last Saturday as Dani Douglas, Hannah Gedlaman and Trista Cowan all had 12 points each.
Browning closed with a strong fourth quarter, outscoring Columbia Falls 15-6 for the 11-point win.
Columbia Falls advanced to the final by romping past Ronan 50-18. Hannah Gedlaman led the way in that one with 14 points.
Browning also beat Columbia Falls in the regular-season finale 51-47.
Western A divisional tournament
Thursday-Saturday
At Butte Civic Center
Boys
Thursday
9:30 a.m. — Hamilton vs. Libby
11 a.m. — Dillon vs. Ronan
3:30 p.m. — Butte Central vs. Browning
5 p.m. — Frenchtown vs. Polson
Friday
Loser-Out Games
9:30 and 11 a.m.
Semifinals
3:30 and 5 p.m.
Saturday
Loser-Out Games
9:30 a.m.
Third/Fourth Place
3:30 p.m.
Championship
6:30 p.m.
Girls
Thursday
12:30 p.m. — Frenchtown vs. Ronan
2 p.m. — Butte Central vs. Columbia Falls
6:30 p.m. — Dillon vs. Libby
8 p.m. — Hamilton vs. Browning
Friday
Loser-Out Games
12:30 and 2 p.m.
Semifinals
6:30 and 8 p.m.
Saturday
Loser-Out Games
11 a.m.
Third/Fourth Place
5 p.m.
Championship
8:30 p.m.