Late surge lifts Big Sky over Braves

MISSOULA — Carson Towe scored 14 points, five coming in a late 10-0 Missoula Big Sky surge that carried the Eagles past Flathead 67-59 Thursday in a Western AA boys basketball game.

Calijah LaRance had a game-high 15 points for Eagles (6-8 overall, 2-7 in the Western AA), who led just 55-54 after Lyric Ersland hit two free throws for the Braves with 4:08 left in the game.

Mason Fulford answered for Big Sky, and then LaRance converted a three-point play at the 3:25 mark.

Towe then hit a 3-pointer and a basket inside and Big Sky led 65-54 with 2:30 left.

Brodee Zahn scored 13 points for Flathead (0-12, 0-8). Ersland and Jordan Griffin added 11 points each for the Braves.

Flathead    14    10    21    14    -    59

Big Sky    19    10    22    16    -    67

FLATHEAD — Stephen Riley 0 3-4 3, Brodee Zahn 5 2-2 13, Lyric Ersland 4 2-2 11, Gabe st. Germain 3 0-0 6, Korbin Eaton 1 0-3 3, Gabe Sims 3 1-2 7, David Moody 1 0-0 2, Jordan Griffin 5 0-0 11, Dustyn Franchini-White 1 0-0 3, Brody Thornsberry 0 0-0 0, Tyler Williams 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 8-13 59.

MISSOULA BIG SKY — Calijah LaRance 5 4-4 15, Colter Ramos 0 2-2 2, Joe Lowery 0 3-4 3, Carson Towe 6 0-3 14, Isaiah Reed 4 1-2 9, Mason Fulford 2 0-1 4, Cormack Batt 2 6-8 10, Colter Jensen 1 0-0 2, Avery Omlid 3 0-1 6, Michael Simonovich 0 0-2 0, Donald Bickle 0 0-0 0, Tyson Tims 0 2-4 2. Totals 23 18-30 67.

3-point goals — Flathead 5 (Eaton, Griffin, Franchini-White, Zahn, Ersland), Big Sky 3 (Towe 2, LaRance). Fouls — Flathead 23, Big Sky 15. Fouled out — Riley, St. Germain.