Browning downs Columbia Falls for third at Western A girls
HAMILTON — Jerel Whitegrass scored 13 points, 11 during a first-quarter blitz that started Browning past Columbia Falls 56-44 for third place at the Western A Divisional girls basketball tournament.
Both Browning (17-5) and Columbia Falls (15-6) are headed to the State A tournament March 10-12 at the Dahlberg Arena in Missoula. Butte Central claimed the fifth and final berth into state with a 56-32 win over Stevensville.
In the championship game, Dillon rode another dominant second half to a 52-37 win over Hamilton.
Browning 56, Columbia Falls 44
Amari Calfrobe added two 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Indians bolted to a 22-8 lead. Marlo Bullchild, who scored a team-high 14 points, scored six in the third quarter as Browning padded a 28-21 halftime advantage out to 47-34. It was the Indians’ second win in three matchups with Columbia Falls this season.
Hope McAtee scored a game-high 21 for the Wildkats. Grace Gedlaman added 11.
Third place
Browning 22 6 19 9 - 56
C-Falls 8 13 13 10 - 44
BROWNING — Mecca Bullchild 14, Jerel Whitegrass 13, Amarai Calfrobe 9, Lush Spoonhunter 7, Cora Guardipee 4, Natalee St. Goddard 3, Sugar Spoonhunter 2, Kinsley Bird 2, Brailey Racine 2.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Hope McAtee 21, Grace Gedlaman 11, Maddie Robison 6, Kya West 4, Maddy Stutsman 2.
Dillon 52, Hamilton 37
Hamilton forged a 25-21 lead on the Beavers, then was outscored 31-12 in the second half.
Dillon outscored Columbia Falls 38-15 in the second half of Friday’s semifinal, which the Beavers won 56-40.
Lauryn Peterson’s led Dillon with a game-high 18 points.
Dillon 12 9 19 12 - 52
Hamilton 10 15 7 5 - 37
DILLON — Lauryn Peterson 18, Ainsley Shipman 13, Jordyn Walker 7, Halle Fitzgerald 5, Every Hansen 4, Sydney Petersen 2.
HAMILTON — Layne Kearns 15, Taryn Serle 13, Lavana Wetzel 3, taylor McCarthy 2, Mya Winkler 2, Ayda Griffin 2.
Columbia Falls 44, Butte Central 42
Grace Gedlaman scored 15 points, including a bucket to put the Wildkats up 43-42 with 2:30 left.
The only other point from there was a single free throw by Hope McAtee, with 9.8 seconds remaining.
Butte Central missed some opportunities in the final minutes: Columbia Falls committed three turnovers, and the Maroons’ Brooke Badovinac, who hit four 3-pointers, missed two free throws. She’s a 79 percent shooter from the line.
Badovinac scored a game-high 20 points. Maddie Robison and McAtee each had 12 for the Wildkats.
Butte Central 8 12 15 7 - 42
Columbia Falls 14 12 `9 9 - 44
BUTTE CENTRAL — Brenna Foley 3, Payton Hartwick 4, Brooke Badovinac 20, Ella Moodrey 6, Sofee Thatcher 9.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Maddie Robison 12, Grace Gedlaman 15, Hope McAtee 12, Alexis Green 2, Abbie Darsow 3.
Browning 70, Stevensville 47
Mecca Bullchild scored 18 of her 20 points over the middle two quarters as Browning took command. Lush Spoonhunter added 14 off the bench, eight coming while the Indians outscored the Yellowjackets 41-23 in the second half.
Stevensville 11 13 11 12 - 47
Browning 11 18 20 21 - 70
STEVENSVILLE — Claire Hutchinson 20, Cambree Praast 11, Kelli Wandler 4, Hailey Thomas 2, Dawson Brewer 2, Olivia Gray 2, Shilo Lampi 3, Lixy Perez 2, Olivia Cannon 1.
BROWNING — Mecca Bullchild 20, Lish Spoonhunter 14, Sugar Spoonhunter 8, Jerel Whitegass 9, Cara Guardipee 7, Brailey Racine 4, Kalcie Connelly 5, Natalie Goddard 1, Amari Calf Robe 2.