Dillon, Laurel boys cruise to wins at State A hoops

GREAT FALLS — The Dillon Beavers had 16 points from Jonathan Kirkley and 13 ore from Jace Fitzgerald and held down Hardin 53-32 in a first-round game at the State A boys’ basketball tournament.

The Beavers (17-0) outscored the Bulldogs 28-13 in the second half Wednesday and sent last year’s unbeaten co-champions into the loser’s bracket at Four Seasons Arena.

Hardin (6-8) will face Ronan (12-8) at 9 a.m. Friday.

Dillon takes on Laurel (13-4), which downed Ronan 68-44 in Thursday’s only other boys game, in Friday’s 5:30 p.m. semifinal.

Laurel 62, Ronan 44

Richard Cortese scored 22 points to lead the Locomotives, who also had a strong second half. Ty Barta hit three 3-pointers and added 15 points for Laurel, which broke away from a 24-24 tie.

Leonard Burke led the Chiefs with 12 points. Ruben Couture added nine.

Dillon 53, Hardin 32

Fitzgerald also grabbed eight rebounds to lead Dillon to a 37-21 advantage on the boards.

Hance Three Irons and Bryson Rogers scored nine points each to lead Hardin.

First round

Ronan 11 13 9 11 - 44

Laurel 13 11 15 23 - 62

RONAN — Ruben Couture 4-6 0-2 9, Girma Detwiler 3-7 1-5 7, Zarec Couture 1-9 1-2 3, Elijah Tonasket 2-7 1-2 6, Leonard Burke 4-13 2-2 12, Marlo Tonasket 2-3 0-0- 5, Payton Cates 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 17-49 5-13 44.

LAUREL — Richard Cortese 9-14 4-6 22, Ty Barta 5-8 2-2 15, Jace McNeil 1-4 1-2 3, Colter Bales 3-7 3-6 9, Wylee Schnetter 1-5 4-4 6, Konnor Gregerson 2-2 1-2 5, Kyson Moran 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 22-44 15-22 62.

3-point goals - Ronan 5 (Burke 2, M.Tonasket, E.Tonasket, R.Couture), Laurel 3 (Barta 3). Rebounds - Ronan 23 (R.Couture 7), Laurel 39 (Cortese 12). Fouls - Ronan 17, laurel 12.