Johnson hits 1,000 career points as Flathead topples Sentinel, 65-62
Flathead's Tyler Johnson flies under the basket for a layup against Great Falls defender Hunter McKinney in the first quarter. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead's Tyler Johnson lays in two points over Helena Capital's Mark Northey on Friday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead's Tyler Johnson drives to the hoop in the final minute against Glacier defenders Caden Harkins (2) and NIck Whitman (25) during a 59-56 crosstown victory for the Braves Thursday night at Glacier High School. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Flathead's Tyler Johnson lays in two points in the first quarter against Butte. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
The Daily Inter Lake
MISSOULA — Saturday was quite a day for Tyler Johnson.
The 6-foot-3 Flathead senior scored 24 points, and in doing so joined elite company with 1,000 points in his high school career. He went basket-for-basket with the best scorer in Class AA, Sam Beighle.
But most importantly for his team, Johnson’s performance lifted the Braves to a 65-62 conference win and a season sweep over Missoula Sentinel, the Western AA champion.
Sam Elliott and Dawson Smith complimented Johnson’s performance with 14 points apiece, and Eric Seaman threw in 11 for Flathead, which ended its regular season with two road victories in three days.
The Braves (12-6 overall, 8-4 Western AA) led 32-26 at halftime, but they needed 21 points in the fourth quarter to overcome an 18-12 disadvantage in the third.
Beighle posted 24 points for Sentinel (15-3, 10-2), whose only losses in conference play came against Flathead. Brayden Danzinger tallied 14, and Gaige DeShazer notched 10.
Flathead, which clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western AA conference with a 59-56 win over crosstown rival Glacier on Thursday night, will face Helena High in the first round of the divisional tournament next Thursday in Helena.
Flathead 15 17 12 21 — 65
Sentinel 13 13 18 18 — 62
Flathead: Tyler Johnson 24, Sam Elliott 14, Dawson Smith 14, Eric Seaman 11, Anthony Jones 2.
MISSOULA Sentinel: Sam Beighle 24, Brayden Danzinger 14, Gaige DeShazer 10, Trey Kolb 7, Elias DeWaters 3, Nick Germer 2, Scott Malkie 2.
Girls
Missoula Sentinel 46, Flathead 29
Missoula Sentinel hit double digits before Flathead cracked the scoreboard in a lopsided Western AA contest.
Clara Vandenbosch matched her best scoring performance in conference play with 17 points in the Bravettes’ regular-season finale. She also scored 17 against Helena Capital earlier this month. Her season-high total is 20 against Timberlake (Idaho) back in December.
The Spartans led 12-0 after eight minutes of play and were up 21-4 at halftime. They extended the lead to 38-14 after the third quarter, but Flathead cut into the big lead with a 15-8 advantage in the fourth.
The Bravettes have lost five of their last six games.
Flathead returns to action on Thursday at the divisional tournament in Helena. It will face crosstown rival Glacier in the first round.
Sentinel 12 9 17 8 — 46
Flathead 0 4 10 15 — 29
Missoula Sentinel: Lauren Bingham 2, Shelby Schweyen 7, Emma Blakely 3, Grace Stayner 2, Kylie Frohlich 11, Jordyn Schweyen 8, Kayla Daily 1, Emma Krebsbach 4, Lexi Deden 5, Challis Deden 2.
Flathead: Sadie Wilson 1, Mary Heaton 3, Clara Vanderbosch 17, Jenna Johnson 4, Taylor Henley 4.