Ersland’s buzzer beater lifts Braves over Bozeman

BOZEMAN — Lyric Ersland capped off a career high 30-point evening with a buzzer beating 3-pointer to give Flathead a 57-56 victory over Bozeman Friday. 

Ersland hit six threes on the night, but none more important than his last. After Smith Schuyler knocked down a pair of free throws to put the Hawks up 56-54 with 5.1 seconds remaining, the Braves pushed the ball down the court and Brodee Zahn found Ersland who nailed a 25-footer falling to his right. 

Korbin Eaton finished with nine points for Flathead (2-1), who led 43-37 after three quarters. 

Cristian Malloy finished with 13 points for Bozeman (0-2) — including three 3-pointers — while Mason and Smith Schuyler added 10 each. 

Flathead    14    11    18    14    -    57 

Bozeman    7    15    15    19    -    56

FLATHEAD — Dustyn Franchini-White 0 0-0 0, Cam Wells 1 0-0 2, Ben Reichner 0 0-0 0, Lyric Ersland 12 0-0 30, Gabe St. Germain 1 2-3 4, Eli Coopman 0 0-0 0, Boston Case 1 1-3 3, Noah Sonju 1 0-0 2, Brodee Zahn 1 3-3 5, Colin Smith 1 0-0 2, Korbin Eaton 2 4-5 9. Totals 20 10-14 57. 

BOZEMAN — Evan Hughen 3 1-3 7, Kash Embry 4 1-1 9, Braxton Black 2 1-2 7, Mason Schuyler 3 2-2 10, Cristian Malloy 4 2-4 13, Smith Schuyler 3 2-2 10, Jackson Lanford 0 0-0 0, Henry Johnson 0 0-0 0, Warner LeFeber 0 0-0 0, John Benne 0 0-0 0, Macrae Engler 0 0-0 0, Will Benne 0 0-0 0, Jack Oberly 0 0-0 0, Logan Humphrey 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 9-14 56 

3-point goals — Flathead 7 (Ersland 6, Eaton), Bozeman 9 (Malloy 3, Black 2, M. Schuyler 2, S. Schuyler 2). Fouls — Flathead 22, Bozeman 19, Fouled out — St. Germain, Sonju.