Polson boys make title game
BUTTE — Colton Graham scored 22 points, eight in overtime, and Polson outlasted Frenchtown 51-45 to make the Western A Divisional boys’ basketball championship Friday.
The Pirates, 15-1, will take on unbeaten Dillon at 8 p.m. Saturday the Civic Center. The Beavers (16-0) beat Butte Central 58-48 in Friday’s late game.
Frenchtown (12-6) fell into a loser-out game with Ronan (10-7).
In Friday’s early games Ronan broke through in its third game with Columbia Falls this season, winning 57-49 in overtime, and Hamilton ousted Libby 53-35.
Polson 51, Frenchtown 45 OT
Darian Williams hit four 3-pointers for the Pirates, including one that knotted the score at 39-all with 1:46 left in regulation.
Brandon Finley scored in the lane to get Frenchtown in front with 45 seconds left, before Polson went back to Graham down low, and he muscled in the OT-inducing shot at the :25 mark.
Frenchtown’s Carson Shepard got a good look from the baseline with four seconds left, but it rattled out.
Graham gave Polson the lead for good with a basket at 2:50 of overtime, and after Shephard hit one free throw, Williams, who had 14 points, hit two throws for a 45-42 Polson advantage.
Under a minute remained, and the Broncs misfired on two straight possessions, then fouled, Graham hit four straight free throws for a 49-42 lead with 22 seconds left.
Finley scored 16 points for Frenchtown. Shepard had 13 points to go with 10 rebounds. Graham had nine boards.
Polson played at Dillon on Jan. 26, losing 54-46.
Semifinal
Frenchtown 17 8 10 6 4 - 45
Polson 13 12 8 8 10 - 51
FRENCHTOWN — Wyatta Hayes 8, Brandon Finley 16, Devin Shelton 6, Carson Shepard 13, Jeff Jacobs 2.
POLSON — Xavier Fisher 3, Jarrett Wilson 5, Darian Williams 14, Colton Graham 22, Trevor Lake 5, Braunson Henriksen 2.
Dillon 58, Butte Central 48
Jace Fitzgerald hit five 3-pointers and scored 19 points for Dillon, which never trailed.
Connor Curnow had 12 rebounds to go with four points and Cole Truman checked in with 11 points.
Dougie Peoples scored a game-high 23 for the Maroons (11-7).
Ronan 57, Columbia Falls 49 OT
Ruben Couture’s baseline jumper forced overtime, and Mario Tonasket’s three at the 3:00 mark put the Chiefs ahead for good, 50-48.
A basket by Girma Detwiler pushed the gap to 52-48, and after Jace Hill hit a free throw for the Wildcats, Ronan salted the game away at the line, going 6-for-10 in the final 2:00.
Alihn Anderson’s 17 points led Columbia Falls (7-11), which led 48-47 early in OT on Cade Morgan’s three. Morgan added 12 points. Mason Peters snared 13 rebounds. Hill and Allec Knapton both had nine points and eight boards.
Leonard Burke had 14 points to lead Ronan, which lost to the Cats 67-57 and 56-55 during league play. Elijah Tonasket added 12 and Mario Tonasket finished with 10. Detwiler had seven points and 15 rebounds.
Loser-out
Ronan 9 5 11 20 12 - 57
C. Falls 8 10 167 10 4 - 49
RONAN — Ruben Couture 6, Girma Detwiler 7, Zarec Couture 7, Elijah Tonasket 12, Leonard Burke 14, Payton Cates 1, Mario Tonasket 10.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Mason Peters 2, Jace Hill 9, Allec Knapton 9, Cade Morgan 12, Alihn Anderson 17.
Hamilton 53, Libby 35
Hamilton raced out to a 19-5 lead after one quarter, and put three players in double figures. Tyler Burrows had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Broncs.
Caden Williams scored 10 points to lead Lbby, which ended up 9-8. Jay Beagle had two 3-pointers and scored six points for the Loggers.
Loser out
Hamilton 19 9 14 11 - 53
Libby 5 6 10 14 - 35
HAMILTON — Tanner Hanson 5, Austin Drake 13, Liam O’Connell 12, Eli Taylor 3, Tyler Burrows 12, Colter Kirkland 8.
LIBBY — Ryder Davis 5, Jay Beagle 6, Caden Williams 10, Ryker McElmurry 2, Keilen Rausch 2, Cy Stevenson 3, Colton Halvorson 2, T.J. Anderson 5.