Western A Divisional Butte Central girls knock off Columbia Falls

The Daily Inter Lake

BUTTE — A strong finish by Butte Central carried the Maroons to a 46-42 victory over Columbia Falls during first-round action of the Western A divisional girls basketball tournament Thursday afternoon at the Butte Civic Center.

Columbia Falls held a 34-25 advantage heading into the final eight minutes of play, but was outscored 21-8 after that to fall four points short.

The game was tied six times and there were five lead changes.

Butte Central’s largest lead of the game was the final score. Columbia Falls led by nine with 33 seconds left in the third quarter.

Ryley Kehr had a double-double for Columbia Falls with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Trista Cowan led the Wildkats in scoring with 15 points.

Tricia Joyce had 15 points for Butte Central, which had four players score. Kloie Thatcher followed with 15, Megan Michelottie had 11 and Olivia Bolton six.

Butte Central was 4 of 18 from 3-point range and went 16 for 22 at the free-throw line. Columbia Falls was 0 for 9 on threes and 10 of 12 at the charity stripe.

Columbia Falls had 20 turnovers to 13 for Butte Central.

Thatcher had six of Butte Central’s 11 steals.

Dani Douglas and Cowan fouled out.

Butte Central moves to semifinal play tonight at 6:30 versus Frenchtown.

Columbia Falls (17-4) slips into loser-out action today at 12:30 p.m. versus Ronan. The Wildkats have lost three of their last four games.

Butte Central 4 16 5 21 — 46

Columbia Falls 9 12 13 8 — 42

BUTTE CENTRAL (18-5) — Kloie Thatcher 14, Olivia Bolton 6, Megan Michelotti 11, Tricia Joyce 15.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Dani Douglas 4, Hannah Gedlaman 6, Ryley Kehr 11, Trista Cowan 15, Josie Windauer 3, Diana Vasquez 3.

Frenchtown 41, Ronan 26

BUTTE — Frenchtown had 11 point first, second and third quarters en route to a 15-point win over Ronan.

Ronan, on the other hand, had alternating four and nine point quarters.

Micalann McCrea led Ronan offensively with 13 points.

Alivia Williams dropped in 20 points to power Frenchtown.

Frenchtown moves on to semifinal play today at 6:30 p.m. versus Butte Central.

Ronan has a loser-out date at 12:30 p.m. against Columbia Falls.

Ronan 4 9 4 9 — 26

Frenchtown 11 11 11 8 — 41

RONAN (8-15) — Micalann McCrea 13, Gabby Wirz 3, Tiana Ulutoa 1, Jaelyn Askan 2, Kianna Finley 5, Kieauna DeRoche 2.

FRENCHTOWN (13-9) — Megan Delaney 6, Alivia Williams 20, Kylie Willet 6, Kiya Shelton 9.

Dillon 44, Libby 37

BUTTE — Libby held a tight 8-7 edge after the first eight minutes, but Dillon stayed in front from there on out for the victory.

Brynley Fitzgerald led Dillon’s offense with 17 points. Jordyn McKay added 10.

Shannon Reny had 12 for Libby and Jayden Winslow followed with 11.

Dillon cashed in at the free-throw line, making 15 of 17 attempts. Libby only had two shots and made both.

Libby 8 9 9 11 — 37

Dillon 7 15 12 10 — 44

LIBBY (14-9) — Ali Collins 4, Jayden Winslow 11, Shannon Reny 12, Brooklyn Rainer 4, Khalyn Hageness 6.

DILLON (12-10) — Paige Rouse 9, Jordyn McKay 10, Kyndall Petersen 4, Brynley Fitzgerald 17, Josey James 4.

Hamilton vs. Browning

Results not available by press deadline.

Boys

Hamilton 71, Libby 45

BUTTE — Hamilton pulled away after a close first quarter to upend Libby.

Hamilton, up 12-9 after eight minutes of play, led 32-21 at the half and 54-33 after three quarters.

Carter Kearns tallied 16 points to lead Hamilton and all scorers.

Ryggs Johnston topped Libby in scoring with 15 points. Keith Johnson added 12.

Undefeated Hamilton moves into semifinal action today at 3:30 p.m. versus Dillon. Libby falls into the loser-out bracket with a 9:30 a.m. contest with Ronan.

Hamilton 12 20 22 17 — 71

Libby 9 12 12 12 — 45

Hamilton (21-0) — Cam Rothie 3, Tyler Chouinard 12, Hunter Omlid 8, Tanner Goligoski 15, Carter Kearns 16, Carson Rostad 4, Bridger Bauder 10, Drew Brackman 3.

Libby (13-10) — Brian Peck 5, JJ Davis 2, Ryggs Johnston 15, Logan Christiansen 2, Nik Jones 3, Chandler Bower 2, Jay Beagle 4, Keith Johnson 12.

Dillon 67, Ronan 60

BUTTE — Dillon outscored Ronan 17-9 in the third quarter to get the needed edge to topple Ronan.

Ronan led 14-12 and 26-25 after the first two quarter stops. Both teams tallied 25 points in the final frame.

The game was tied four times and there were four lead changes.

Coby King, 18 points, was one of four double-figure scorers for Dillon.

Ezekiel Misa had 27 points for Ronan.

Dillon faces Hamilton in a semifinal contest today at 3:30 p.m.

Ronan moves to loser-out play at 9:30 a.m. today versus Libby.

Dillon 12 13 17 25 — 67

Ronan 14 12 9 25 — 60

Dillon (12-10) — Jake Ferris 5, Coby King 18, Braden Andersen 4, Bradley Rakich 13, Clay Allison 11, Dillon Cerevilli 11, Cole Truman 2, Justice Peterson 6, Jayce Fitzgerald 5.

Ronan (9-12) — Ezekiel Misa 27, Bubba Bush 8, Dallas Dureim 8, Anthony Camel 8, Randy Finley 3, Zarec Couture 2, Jacob Gatch 3.

Butte Central 61,

Browning 54

BUTTE — A strong first half carried Butte Central to a victory over Browning.

Butte Central led 32-21 at intermission.

Luke Heaphy led Butte Central, and all scorers, with 20 points. Dylan Sestrich followed with 14 and Cade Holter chipped in 13.

Nathaniel Stiffarm and Brandon Aimsback shared scoring honors for Browning with 17 each.

Aimsback also had a team-high 13 rebounds.

Butte Central advances to semifinal play today at 5 p.m. versus Frenchtown.

It’s loser-out play next for Browning at 11 a.m. against Polson.

Browning 10 11 11 22 — 54

Butte Central 17 15 8 21 — 61

BROWNING (16-6) — Nathaniel Stiffarm 17, Derek Loring 6, Justin Burd 3, Tyree Whitcomb 6, Brandon Aimsback 17, James Gilham 2, Deion Mad Plume 3.

BUTTE CENTRAL ­(15-6) — Jared Simkins 6, Luke Heaphy 20, Dylan Sestrich 14, Cade Holter 13, Aaron Richards 2, Matt Simkins 2, Braden Harington 4.

Frenchtown 55, Polson 53

BUTTE — Just like the last time these two teams met, the second quarter was the deciding one.

Frenchtown outscored Polson 22-8 in the second for a 35-21 halftime lead and held on from there to to net the two-point win.

Polson outscored Frenchtown in the second half, 32-20.

Back on Dec. 21 in Polson, Frenchtown outscored the Pirates 18-5 in the second quarter and went on to win 62-47.

Jared Cole led Frenchtown in scoring with 14 points while Cade Baker, Zach Baker and Adam Botkin had 10 points each.

Connor Lanier topped Polson with 16. Robin Erickson was next with 12.

Adam Botkin had nine rebounds to lead Frenchtown. Lanier had a team-best seven for the Pirates.

Frenchtown was 8 of 22 from 3-point range to Polson’s 3 of 12.

The game was tied once and there were seven lead changes.

Frenchtown led by 19 at the 7:27 mark of the third quarter.

Frenchtown moves to semifinal play today at 5 p.m. versus Butte Central.

Polson (11-10) has a loser-out test with Browning at 11 a.m.

Frenchtown 13 22 10 10 — 55

Polson 13 8 14 18 — 53

FRENCHTOWN (15-8) — Ethan Pyron 2, Cade Baker 10, Zach Baker 10, Adam Botkin 10, Hank Rugg 9, Jared Cole 14.

POLSON (11-10) — Connor Lanier 16, Shade Main 6, Weston Danley 8, Ryker Wendeoth 3, Robin Erickson 12, Parker Toth 4.