Capital boys hold off Flathead, 49-43

Hayden Opitz scored 14 points and Helena Capital used a big third quarter to stay unbeaten Friday, with a 49-43 win over Western AA rival Flathead at the Braves’ gym.

The Bruins, who played without standout guard Brayden Koch, pushed out to a 34-23 lead after three quarters. The Braves got hotter in the fourth: Joston Cripe hit two threes and Gavin Chouinard hit one in a 20-point burst.

Cripe had 14 points, eight in the final frame.

Capital 10 8 16 15 - 49

Flathead 10 10 3 20 - 43

HELENA CAPITAL — Hayden Opitz 4 6-11 14, Trysten Mooney 3 0-0 6, Luke Dowdy 2 0-0 4, Nick Michelotti 3 5-7 12, Jacob Curry 3 4-4 12, Jamey Michelotti 0 1-2 1. Toals 15 16-24 49.

FLATHEAD — Drew Lowry 2 2-3 7, Luca Zoeller 3 0-1 6, Joseph Hansen 3 0-0 6, Joston Cripe 4 4-6 14, Gavin Chouinard 3 0-0 8, Noah Cummings 1 0-0 2. Totals 16 6-10 43.

3-point goals — Capital 3 (Curry 2, N. Michelotti), Flathead 5 (Cripe 2, Chouinard 2, Lowry). Fouls — Capital 15, Flathead 17. Fouled out — Hansen.