Crusaders take MCAA girls state hoop title

by The Daily Inter Lake
| February 23, 2019 1:40 AM

BOZEMAN — Flathead Valley Homeschool pulled away in the second half to beat Heritage Christian School 58-35 in the girls championship game at the Montana Christian Athletic Association state basketball tournament on Saturday afternoon.

Leading 25-17 at intermission, the Crusaders outscored Heritage Christian, the defending state champs, 33-18 for the 23-point win.

Codi Kenney, 18 points, Elizabeth Buckner, 17, and Makaila Burlingame, 10, powered the Flathead Valley offense.

Kenney had three 3s, all in the first half. Buckner led with seven field goals to go with 3 of 5 free-throw shooting. Burlingame did all of her scoring in the second half.

Flathead Valley finished the season with a 16-4 record. The Crusaders were 3-0 at state.

Flathead Valley placed third last year at state.

Nicole Shepard led Heritage Christian in scoring with 12 points.

Stillwater Christian School defeated Foothills Community Christian School in the third/fourth place game (score not available).

Heritage Christian 10 7 9 9 — 35

Flathead Valley 18 7 19 14 — 58

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL — Taylor Remely 8, McKinlee May 9, Ashley Remely 2, Kailey Smith 4, Nicole Shepard 12.

FLATHEAD VALLEY HOMESCHOOL — Codi Kenney 18, Britney Howery 2, Elizabeth Buckner 17, Corey Connerly 9, Starlyn Davis 2, MaKaila Burlingame 10.

Boys

Third/Fourth Place

Flathead Valley 60,

Stillwater Christian 53

BOZEMAN — Spencer Burden tallied 18 points to lead a balanced attack for Flathead Valley Homeschool in a victory over Stillwater Christian at the Montana Christian Athletic Association state tournament.

Jordan Wininger followed with 16 points and Bubba Loyda added 13.

Nicolas Sulzbacher tallied 16 for Stillwater and Connor Drish followed with 11.

Flathead Valley led 34-20 at halftime.

Stillwater turned in a strong second half, scoring 33points, but fell seven short.

Flathead Valley 17 17 14 12 — 60

Stillwater Christian 10 10 16 17 — 53

FLATHEAD VALLEY HOMESCHOOL — Hans Artyomenko 4, Eli Husted 5, Landon Wininger 2, Lee Artyomenko 2, Bubba Loyda 13, Jordan Wininger 16, Spencer Burden 18.

STILLWATER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL — Josh Venman 7, Nicolas Sulzbacher 16, Elijah Chuang 6, Jeremiah Hooker 7, Colton Johnson 6, Connor Drish 11.