Braves OT loser in league opener

Flathead faltered in the fourth quarter, allowing Helena Capital to spoil the Braves’ Western AA conference boys basketball opener in overtime 53-51 at Flathead High School on Friday evening.

Flathead entered the final period leading 42-34 but lost the fourth 13-5, forcing an extra period that the Bruins won 6-4.

Tyler Johnson scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Braves. Sam Elliott added 11.

Capital 11 10 13 13 6 — 53

Flathead 14 14 14 5 4 — 51

HELENA CAPITAL: Matt McGinley 4 2-3 12, Parker Johnston 1 2-2 4, Cade Kidder 1 0-0 2, Bridger Grovom 8 0-0 20, Michael Nettleton 1 0-0 2, Mark Northey 2 0-2 5, Shane Haller 2 0-2 4, Peyton Koch 2 0-1 4.

FLATHEAD: Stephen Bridges 1 0-0 3, Tyler Johnson 10 2-2 25, Sam Elliott 5 1-1 11, Anthony Jones 3 1-3 8, Dawson Smith 2 0-1 4.

Glacier 52, Helena High 44

Glacier head boys basketball coach Mark Harkins offered a reminder to his team before its conference and home opener.

Nothing about the group’s 1-4 record mattered anymore. Only what it would do from this point on would count toward the Wolfpack’s postseason goals.

Glacier indeed looked like a different team entirely, leading wire-to-wire in a win over visiting Helena to kick off Western AA play.

“I was very pleased,” Harkins said. “I thought the kids played very, very well defensively tonight.”

Kody Jarvis and Nick Whitman paced the Wolfpack on the other end of the floor with 12 points apiece. Jarvis scored eight of Glacier’s 13 first-quarter points to provide an early spark.

“Both of them played great,” Harkins said. “They were aggressive offensively.”

Glacier hosts Helena Capital at 2 p.m. today.

Helena 10 13 8 13 — 44

Glacier 13 16 15 8 — 52

HELENA: Trey Tintinger 2 2-3 6, Dawson Tedesco 2, 1-2 7, Caleb Ferguson 1 0-0 2, Hayden Ferguson 2 3-4 7, Alex Johnson 1 2-2 4, Connor Murgel 5 1-3 15, Holden Sampson 1 1-1 3.

Glacier: Caden Harkins 2 0-0 6, Collin Kazmier 1 0-0 3, Kody Jarvis 4 2-3 12, Drew Engellant 3 1-2 7, Alex Whitman 4 0-0 9, Nick Whitman 5 1-2 12, Bret Michaels 1 0-0 3.

Ronan 64, Frenchtown 58

RONAN — Ronan opened a large lead early and fended off a second-half comeback in a Class A victory against Frenchtown.

The Chiefs led 24-10 after the first quarter and 40-25 by halftime. The Broncs outscored them 33-24 in the second half.

Anthony Camel poured in a game-high 27 points for Ronan. Zeke Misa pitched in 10 for the Chiefs.

Frenchtown 10 15 17 16 — 58

Ronan 24 16 11 13 — 64

Frenchtown: Ethan Pyron 3, Cade Baker 21, Brock Rugg 3, Ty Hoppie 4, Zach Baker 4, Adam Botkin 11, Hank Rugg 7, Brock Diehl 2, Dawson Leishman 2.

Ronan: Zeke Misa 10, Randy Finley 6, Nate Dennis 7, Zarec Couture 3, Dallas Durheim 11, Anthony Camel 27.

Girls

Helena 43, Glacier 39

HELENA — Glacier was unable to overcome a rough third quarter and 23 points from Jamie Pickens, the state’s second-leading scorer, in a defeat at the hands of Helena.

“Helena High’s a great team, and you’ve got to play a great game to beat them,” Glacier head coach Bill Sullivan said. “In the end, they just made a few more plays than we did.”

The Wolfpack led its conference opener 19-17 at halftime but was outscored 13-7 in the third.

Anna Schrade scored 17 points, a season-high for any Glacier player, and Alivia Atlee chipped in 10.

Glacier 14 5 7 13 — 39

Helena 13 4 13 13 — 43

GLACIER — Ellie Stevens 3, Kali Gulick 5, Cadie Williams 2, Aubrie Rademacher 2, Anna Schrade 17, Alivia Atlee 10.

HELENA — Vanessa Walsh 3, Kamden Hilborn 12, Abby Marcille 5, Jamie Pickens 23.

Helena Capital 46,

Flathead 21

HELENA — Flathead struggled offensively in a loss to Helena Capital to open conference play.

Clara Vandenbosch scored 11 points for the Bravettes, but no other player exceeded four.

Capital led 25-10 at the half.

Capital 15 10 11 10 — 46

Flathead 5 5 4 7 — 21

CAPITAL: Ayanna Syvrud 1, Megan Lindbo 2, Katie Culver 5, Kacie Gross 8, Taylor Sullivan 5, Aryanna Ridlon 2, Sydney Sheridan 13, Emily Kidder 2, Dani Bartsch 4, Nicole Ames 4

FLATHEAD: Mary Heaton 2 Clara Vandenbosch 11, Jenna Johnson 4, Taylor Henley 1, Emily Lembke 3.

Polson 40, Stevensville 37

POLSON — Polson put together a strong two quarters of play to come back and beat Stevensville despite being held scoreless in the second quarter.

Stevensville built a healthy, 22-13 lead thanks to a strong defensive half, but Polson outscored the Yellowjackets 27-15 in the second half to roar back for a narrow win.

Jaycee Frydenlund and Kaelyn Smith each scored 14 points to pace the Pirates.

Stevensville 15 7 9 6 — 37

Polson 13 0 15 12 — 40

Stevensville: Haley Kampka 10, Angel Richard 8, Evynne Alexander 7, Maddie Paul 4, Maddie Sims 3, Kennedy Praast 3, Kayla Schmiedeke 2.

Polson: Jaycee Frydenlund 14, Kaelyn Smith 14, Quinn Motichka 6, Aislyn Baker 2, Alex Pierre 2, Natasha Gravelle 2.

Frenchtown 42, Ronan 31

FRENCHTOWN — Ronan couldn’t overcome a lethargic performance in the first half of a loss to Frenchtown.

Micalann McCrea scored a team-high 11 points, and Louetta Conko Camel netted nine for Ronan, which trailed 24-13 by halftime.

Meg Delaney scored 17 points to lead the victors.

Ronan 9 4 10 8 — 31

Frenchtown 13 11 11 7 — 42

RONAN: Micalann McCrea 11, Gabby Wirz 5, Regan Clairmont 2, Jaelynn Askan 2, Louette Conko Camel 9, Kianna Finley 2.

FRENCHTOWN: Meg Delaney 17, Liv Williams 10, Callie Bagnell 2, Kylie Willett 8, Syd Channer 1, Kiya Shelton 2, Hailey Arthur 2.