Bulldogs roll by Ronan, 59-34
Whitefish's Lee Walburn (44) shoots over Ronan defenders Ruben Couture (4) and Aidan Birdinground (15) at Whitefish High School on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Lee Walburn (44) drives to the basket against Ronan defenders Terrell Stump (2) and Girma Detwiler (14) at Whitefish High School on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Mark Anderson (11) releases a shot between Ronan defenders Bubba Bush (23) and Aidan Birdinground (15) at Whitefish High School on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Bodie Smith (2) drives to the hoop against Ronan at Whitefish High School on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Dillon Botner (55) goes to the hoop over Ronan's Aidan Birdinground (15) at Whitefish High School on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Lee Walburn (44) drives to the basket against Ronan's Ruben Couture (4) at Whitefish High School on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Dillon Botner (55) goes to the hoop against Ronan at Whitefish High School on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Whitefish's Dillon Botner (55) releases a shot over Ronan's Aidan Birdinground (15) at Whitefish High School on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
WHITEFISH — Whitefish held Ronan to six first-half points in posting a 59-34 Northwest A boys basketball victory on Tuesday.
Whitefish (11-4 overall, 7-2 league) held a 26-6 edge at the half.
“Defensively we played pretty good basketball,” Whitefish coach Scott Smith said of the first half.
“Second half, we got a little lethargic.”
Ryan Kemm led a balanced Whitefish attack with 12 points. Lee Walburn added 11 and Justin Conklin 10. Jacob Gatch tallied 10 for Ronan.
Ronan 3 3 16 12 — 34
Whitefish 14 12 14 19 — 59
RONAN — Randy Finley 2, Dallas Durheim 3, Leonard Burke 5, Jacob Gatch 10, Aidan Birdinground 3, Zarec Couture 2, Bubba Bush 9.
WHITEFISH — Jayce Cripe 2, Bodie Smith 4, Justin Conklin 10, Mark Anderson 4, Daniel Davis 2, Sam Menicke 6, Ryan Kemm 12, Lee Walburn 11, Dillon Botner 8.
Polson 57, Columbia Falls 45
POLSON — Polson defeated Columbia Falls in Northwest A play.
The Pirates (7-7, 2-6) trailed 16-12 after the first quarter and outscored the Wildcats 19-5 to take a 10-point lead at the half.
Polson scored 18 points in the fourth to seal the win.
Polson’s Ryker Wenderoth led all scorers with 12 points. Micah Askan and Robin Erickson had 10 points each. For Columbia Falls (3-12, 2-7), Sam Hovde scored a team-high 10 points.
Columbia Falls 16 5 13 11 — 45
Polson 12 19 8 18 — 57
COLUMBIA FALLS – Dillon Wanner 5, Drew Morgan 8, Dillon Shipp 2, William Dyon 9, Logan Bechtel 7, Brad Nevis 4, Sam Hovde 10.
POLSON – Keyan Dalby 2, Ryker Wenderoth 12, Robin Erickson 10, Trevor Schultz 9, Parker Toth 4, Bo Kelley 3, Colton Graham 3, Trevor Lake 4, Micah Askan 10.
Girls
Columbia Falls 69, Polson 18
COLUMBIA FALLS — Ryley Kehr and Trista Cowan sparked the offense early as Columbia Falls rolled past Polson in Northwest A play.
Cowan scored 12 of her 16 points in the opening quarter and Kehr was next with 10 of her game-high 18. Cowan also had a team-best 12 rebounds.
Josie Windauer added to the scoring parade for the Wildkats with 15. Karly Lawson had seven points to pace Polson.
Polson 7 6 5 0 — 18
Columbia Falls 21 24 16 8 — 69
POLSON — Karly Lawson 7, Mahala Buffalo 5, Natasha Gravelle 2, Sharmaine Zempel 2, Olivia Perez 2.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Ryley Kehr 18, Trista Cowan 16, Josie Windauer 15, Savvy Ellis 9, Lakia Hill 9, Graceanne Sevesind 2, Peyton Rhodes 1.
Ronan 43, Whitefish 38
RONAN — A fast start by Whitefish (4-11, 2-6) did not hold up as Ronan rebounded to claim a Northwest A victory.
Whitefish jumped out to a 15-3 lead, but Ronan tied it up at halftime at 21-all.
Ronan then outscored Whitefish by five in the second half.
“We did really well, took care of the pressure, moved the ball around got some nice baskets,” Whitefish coach Bob Bolam said of the first eight minutes.
“Second quarter, turned the ball over, lost our lead and it was tied at halftime.”
Payton Kastella led Whitefish offensively with 10 points.
Jaylea Lunceford topped Ronan, and all scorers, with 16 points.
Whitefish 15 6 7 10 — 38
Ronan 3 18 12 10 — 43
WHITEFISH — Kaiah Moore 8, Hope Brown 4, Claire Carloss 2, Jasmine Matern 2, Gracie Symley 4, Payton Kastella 10, Marlee Bender 8
RONAN — Aislyn Baker 1, Tiana Ulutoa 8, Jaeleigh Gatch 8, Regan Clairmont 7, Kieauna DeRoche 3, Jaylea Lunceford 16.