Schweikert, Robison lead Wildkats into Western A semifinals
BUTTE — Hannah Schweikert scored 18 points, Maddie Robison added 16 and Columbia Falls downed Frenchtown 54-40 in the first round of the Western A girls’ basketball divisional Thursday.
The Wildkats, 17-0, advanced to today’s 4 p.m. semifinal against Browning (10-5), which beat Dillon 50-31 in Thursday’s early game at the Maroon Activity Center.
Schweikert and Robison combined on five 3-pointers; Robison was 7-for-14 from the floor. Schweikert’s third three made it 44-28 early in the fourth quarter. Frenchtown (7-10) got no closer than 12 from there.
In the afternoon session, Hamilton knocked Whitefish into the loser’s bracket with a 45-38 victory.
The top four teams advance to next week’s State A tournament in Great Falls, so two wins would get the Bulldogs (11-5) to Four Seasons Arena. They play either Ronan or Butte Central today in a 1 p.m. loser-out game.
Frenchtown 11 6 6 17 - 40
Columbia Falls 11 13 17 13 - 54
FRENCHTOWN — Maddy Eggers 11, Cassidy Bangell 2, Lauren Demmons 3, Demi Smith 8, Sadie Smith 13, Shelby Smith 3.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Maddie Robison 16, LaKaie Hill 7, Hannah Schweikert 18, Lauren Falkner 4, Madysen Hoerner 3, Clarissa Erb 2, Grace Gedlaman 4.
Browning 50, Dillon 31
Abby Bull Calf made all five of her field goal attempts and scored 13 points for Browning, while Walker Running Crane added 10 points.
Browning lost its regular-season matchups with Columbia Falls by scores of 56-41 and 62-46 — the latter being its only loss in nine games.
Dillon 6 7 5 13 - 31
Browning 8 12 10 20 - 50
DILLON — Ainsley Shipman 12, Madalen Shipman 5, Jordyn Walker 6, Sydney Petersen 2, Halle Fitzgerald 4, Hailey Powell 2.
BROWNING — Chalissa Kipp 3, Mecca Bull Child 1, Amari Calf Rope 2, Jarel White Grass 6, Tatum Running Crane 3, Arena Matt 6, Mishayla Croff 3, Walker Running Crane 10, Brailee Racine 4, Abby Bull Calf 12.
Hamilton 45, Whitefish 38
Rylee Brackmann scored 12 points for Hamilton (12-5), hitting two second-quarter threes to help the Broncs to a 26-16 lead.
Brook Smith scored twice and Erin Wilde hit a three as Whitefish closed to 33-29 after three quarters, and Smith scored five straight points to bring the Bulldogs to 39-34 with 3:46 left in the game.
They got no closer, managing just two Gracie Smyley free throws the rest of the way.
Smith had 18 points. Smyley finished with eight.
Hamilton 12 14 7 12 - 45
Whitefish 8 8 13 9 - 38
HAMILTON — Rylee Brackman 12, Layne Kearns 11, Magdalena Ringer 10, Mya Winkler 6, Katelyn Dickemore 6.
WHITEFISH — Brooke Smith 18, Gracie Smyley 8, McKenna Ells 2, Ashton Ramsle 5, Erin Wilde 5.
Ronan 61, Butte Central 43
Jaylea Lunceford scored 17 points and snared eight rebounds, and the Maidens surged to a 16-5 lead and never looked back.
LaReina Cordova added 11 for Ronan. Brooke Badovinac scored 12 points off the bench to lead the Maroons.
Ronan 16 16 15 14 - 61
Butte Central 1 5 19 10 9- 43
RONAN — LaReina Cordova 11, Danielle Coffman 5, Areanna Burke 8, Madeline McCrea 4, Jaylea Lunceford 17, Margaret Cordova 2, Leina Ulutoa 7, Jaeleigh Gatch 7.
BUTTE CENTRAL — Amira Bolton 4, Delaney Hasquet 7, Maddi Kump 7, Sofee Thatcher 4, Taylor Harrington 1, Avery Kelly 8, Brooke Badovinac 12.