Late Spartan 3 sinks Flathead boys

MISSOULA — Brady Rupert hit his fourth 3-pointer with 23 seconds left, lifting Missoula Sentinel to a 40-38 win over Flathead Friday in Western AA boys basketball.

Rupert finished with 12 points for the Spartans (2-2 overall, 1-0 in league games), while Riley Allen scored a team-high 13.

Noah Cummings had 13 points and Josh Eagleton followed with 11 for the Braves (0-5 overall, 0-1 in league), who led the Spartans 38-34 with 1:47 left. A breakaway dunk and then a layup by Cummings broke a 34-34 tie.

Allen hit two free throws to draw the Spartants to 38-37 with 1:07 remaining. After Rupert’s go-ahead three, Flathead was called for over-and-back and — after a missed Sentinel free throw — Eagleton got off a three that was just long, all in the last 11 seconds.

Flathead will play at Butte Saturday.

Flathead 5 9 12 12 - 38

Sentinel 11 9 12 8 - 40

FLATHEAD — Josh Eagleton 4 2-3 11, Gabriel Sims 1 6-6 8, Noah Cummings 6 1-2 13, Brody Thornsberry 1 2-2 4, Michael Manningt 1 0-0 2, Slate Burrington 1 0-2 0, Lyric Ersland 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 11-15 38.

SENTINEL — Brady Rupert 4 0-1 12, Eli Iverson 1 1-1 3, Riley Allen 5 3-4 13, Patrick Sale 1 3-5 5, Vincent Lemelin 0 0-2 0, Holter Schweyen 2 1-4 5. Totals 14 9-17 40.

3-point goals — Flathead 1 (Eagleton), Sentinel 4 (Rupert 4). Fouls — Flathead 11, Sentinel 17. Fouled out — Thornsberry.