Divisional Basketball C-Falls, Libby girls win Western A openers

HAMILTON — Ryley Kehr tallied a game-high 29 points in leading Columbia Falls (20-1) to a 65-57 first-round victory over Corvallis on Thursday morning at the Western A Divisional girls basketball tournament.

Kehr had 15 points in the first half as Columbia Falls held a 32-21 lead.

Lainie Albright kept Corvallis competitive with a 25-point performance. Calla Haldorson added 18 points for the Blue Devils.

Columbia Falls moves on to semifinal play today to face Libby at 3:30 p.m.

The Wildkats have won 10 straight games.

Corvallis has a loser-out contest versus Hamilton at 9:30 a.m. in the double-elimination event.

The top four teams advance to state, March 7-9 in Great Falls.

Corvallis 6 15 20 16 — 57

Columbia Falls 13 19 16 17 — 65

CORVALLIS — Lainie Albright 25, Calla Haldorson 18, Hadli Lords 5, Hannah Hutchison 4, Ashlynn Nixon 2, Madeline Gilder 2, Lilly Berry 1.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Ryley Kehr 29, Trista Cowan 9, Madysen Hoerner 8, LaKai Hill 7, Josie Windauer 6, Hannah Schweikert 4, Maddie Robison 2.

Libby 34, Hamilton 29, OT

HAMILTON — Alli Collins made five throws in overtime as Libby pulled out the victory.

Collins, who finished with a game-high 13 points, connected on two charity shots with just under 20 seconds to play for a 33-29 Libby lead.

Libby’s Emma Gruber tied the game at 27 to force overtime with a 3-point play, a layup followed by a free throw when fouled on her drive to the basket.

Neither team scored in the final 1:39 of the fourth quarter.

Libby moves on to semifinal play today versus Columbia Falls at 3:30 p.m.

Hamilton drops into loser-out action at 9:30 a.m. versus Corvallis.

Libby 4 9 6 8 7 — 34

Hamilton 4 5 14 4 2 — 29

LIBBY — Alli Collins 13, Emma Gruber 8, Jayden Winslow 5, Sammee Bradeen 4, McKenzie Proffitt 4.

HAMILTON — Lauren Ryter 11, Jorden Taggart 8, Maggie Ringer 4, Abby Johnson 4, Mariola Tesoro 2.

Browning 39, Hamilton 29

HAMILTON — Browning needed a big fourth quarter to pull away from Hamilton.

Browning trailed 25-23 after three quarters, but outscored Frenchtown 16-4 after that.

Taylor Jordon and Cha’slin Kipp topped Browning in scoring with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

Kiya Shelton had 13 points to lead Frenchtown.

Browning advances to semifinal play today at 5 p.m. against Butte Central.

Frenchtown moves to loser-out action at 11 a.m. versus Ronan.

Frenchtown 8 8 9 4 — 29

Browning 8 9 6 16 — 39

FRENCHTOWN — Kiya Shelton 13, Lauren Demmons 5, Cassidy Bagnell 4, Faith Rebich 2, Cassidy Moen 2.

BROWNING — Taylor Jordon 12, Cha’slin Kipp 10, Walker Running Crane 4, Cha’slin Kipp 3, Veronica Reed 3, Danaiya Polk 2, Kelsey Mad Plume 2, Lacy Goss 1, Tatum Running Crane 1, Dulci Skunkcap 1.

Butte Central 57, Ronan 54

HAMILTON — Down by 15 points at the end of the first quarter, Butte Central rallied to edge Ronan.

Butte Central outscored Ronan 26-10 in the second quarter to go on top 32-31 at the half.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair.

Jaylea Lunceford netted a team-high 15 points for Ronan. Tiana Ulutoa followed with 12 and Regan Clairmont added 11.

Tricia Joyce and Amira Bolton topped Butte Central with 23 and 12 points, respectively.

Butte Central was the lone team from the Southwest to win on opening day. Northwest teams won the other three matchups.

Butte Central moves on to the semifinal round today at 5 p.m. versus Browning.

Ronan has a loser-out contest at 11 a.m. with Frenchtown.

Butte Central 6 26 10 15 — 57

Ronan 21 10 7 16 — 54

BUTTE CENTRAL — Tricia Joyce 23, Amira Bolton 12, Sophie Thatcher 8, Madison Kump 6, Delaney Hasquet 6, Emma Keeley 2.

RONAN — Jaylea Lunceford 15, Tiana Ulutoa 12, Regan Clairmont 11, Kieauna DeRoche 7, Madeline McCrea 4, Madison Clairmont 3, Ari Burke 2.

Boys

Browning 67, Frenchtown 30

HAMILTON — Browning (20-1) bolted to a 21-5 first-quarter lead and never looked back in whipping Frenchtown in first-round action at the Western A Divisional tournament.

Browning enjoyed a 39-17 lead at the half and outscored Frenchtown 28-13 in the second half.

Tyree Whitcomb paced Browning, and all scorers, with 20 points. Ethan Running Crane was next with 15.

Frenchtown was led offensively by Cade Baker with 12.

Semifinal play tonight at 6:30 is next for Browning versus Butte Central while Frenchtown has a 12:30 p.m. loser-out game today with Libby.

Frenchtown 5 12 4 9 — 30

Browning 21 18 17 11 — 67

FRENCHTOWN — Cade Baker 12, Ben Larson 7, Jared Cole 4, Devin Shelton 4, Zack Baker 2, Hank Rugg 1.

BROWNING — Tyree Whitcomb 20, Ethan Running Crane 15, Latrell Bullchild 8, Blayne DeRoche 6, CJ Smith 6, Riley Spoonhunter 6, Derek Sharp 2, Deion Mad Plume 2, Justin Bird 2.

Butte Central 66, Libby 29

HAMILTON — Libby never recovered from a slow start as Butte Central (17-4) rolled to an easy first-round victory.

Butte Central led 18-4 and 32-7 after the first two quarter stops.

Dylan Sestrich, 15 points, and Cade Holter, 12, led a balanced Butte Central attack.

Ryggs Johnston netted 14 points for Libby. Only four Loggers figured in the scoring.

Butte Central advances to semifinal play today at 6:30 p.m. versus Browning.

Libby slips into loser-out play today at 12:30 p.m. versus Frenchtown.

Butte Central 18 14 24 10 — 66

Libby 4 3 15 7 — 29

BUTTE CENTRAL — Dylan Sestrich 15, Cade Holter 12, Trevor Neumann 9, Braden Harrington 9, Matt Simkins 8, Gator Yelenich 4, Luke Heaphy 4, Patrick Dolan 3, Jared Simkins 2.

LIBBY — Ryggs Johnston 14, Caden Williams 7, Keith Johnson 6, Ryder Davis 2.

Dillon 81, Polson 34

HAMILTON — Dillon outscored Polson 45-11 in the middle two quarter to take charge of the easy opening-round victory.

Dillon tallied 46 points in the final half for good measure.

Michael Haverfield led a balanced Dillon attack with 18 points. Justus Peterson added 15 and Dylan Cervelli 12.

Ryker Wenderoth topped Polson with 12.

Up next for Dillon is semifinal play tonight at 8 versus Hamilton. Polson falls into loser-out action today at 2 p.m. against Whitefish.

Dillon 16 19 26 20 — 81

Polson 11 6 5 12 — 34

DILLON — Michael Haverfield 18, Justus Peterson 15, Dylan Cervelli 12, Braden Anderson 8, Warren DeMark 7, Alfred Peterson 6, Cole Johnston 6, Bradley Rakich 5, Cole Truman 4.

POLSON — Ryker Wenderoth 12, Micah Askan 8, Bo Kelley 7, Parker Toth 4, Colton Graham 3.

Hamilton 62, Whitefish 51

Hamilton — Hamilton knocked off Whitefish in the final game on opening day.

No scoring results were available.

The Hamilton victory gave teams from Southwest A a 3-1 record versus Northwest A at the tournament.

Hamilton advances to face Dillon in semifinal play tonight at 8.

Whitefish has a loser-out game at 2 p.m. versus Polson.