Eagles soar past Bravettes

Kadynce Couture and Ava Malmin both scored almost half of their team’s points. The difference was Couture scored 24 and Malmin scored 15.  

Big Sky (9-5 overall, 7-3 in Western AA) controlled the game from the second quarter on and picked up a 50-30 win over the Flathead Bravettes (2-11 overall, 1-7 in Northwest AA) Thursday night.  

It was part of an Eagles’ sweep: The boys held off the Braves 52-45 in the nightcap. 

At the end of the first quarter, the Eagles held a 14-13 lead behind Couture’s eight points. They opened up the second quarter on a 7-0 run and continued to build their lead the rest of the game.  

“I think in the second quarter we were still getting good looks at the basket; we just weren’t connecting on some of those,” Flathead coach Kaylee Fox said. “When that happens, we have to pick up our intensity on defense to create better opportunities for us on offense.” 

Between the second and third quarters, the Bravettes offense hit a wall. After their 13-point first quarter, Couture outscored them 10-8 heading into the fourth quarter and the Bravettes were looking at a 42-21 deficit.  

“Kadynce has been one of the better players in this conference for a couple years and what makes her special is her court vision and how she involves her teammates,” Fox said. “She can score as needed for them, but she is a pretty special player and does a lot of things for Big Sky.” 

The Bravettes scored more in the final frame than the previous two quarters combined, and it was all Malmin. She made three 3-pointers and finished with five. A  her points coming from beyond the arc.  

Mattie Thompson was the only Bravette besides Malmin to record multiple field goals, finishing the game with five points. Big Sky’s zone defense forced Flathead to score from the 3-point line as the hosts with six 3-pointers out of nine field goals. 

Grace Gall was held to just 3 points after scoring 25 points in the last two contests, but her presence was felt on defense, recording a game-high three blocks. 

“I do think we are playing our best basketball of the season right now,” Fox said. “We missed some shots tonight and gave up too many offensive boards, but I think we have been learning how to compete and that will continue to be a growing experience for them.” 

Flathead will look to get back on track when they travel to Butte on Saturday for a 3 p.m. tipoff. 

Big Sky    14    15    13    8    -    50 

Flathead    13    4    4    9    -    30 

BIG SKY — Kyler Latrielle 1 0-0 3, Lilly Johnson 0 0-0 0, Tanya Kirilovich 2 2-3 7, Tina Kirilovich 2 0-2 4, Kadynce Couture 11 1-2 24, Kenzi Schmitz 4 3-4 12. Totals 20 6-11 50. 

FLATHEAD — Teagen Flint 0 0-0 0, Tayler Greene 0 0-0 0, Caitlin Converse 1 1-2 4, Sami Dalager 0 3-4 3, Ava Malmin 5 0-0 15, Grace Gall 1 1-2 3, Mattie Thompson 2 1-2 5. Totals 9 6-10 30. 

3-point field goals — Big Sky 4 (Latrielle, Tanya Kirilovich, Couture, Schmitz) Flathead 6 (Malmin 5, Converse) Fouls — Big Sky 12, Flathead 8. Fouled out — none.  

Big Sky boys 52, Flathead 45 

Isaiah Reed scored 20 points for Big Sky, and Mason Fulford hit a big, second-chance 3-pointer as the Eagles prevailed. 

Flathead (2-12 overall, 0-9 in Western AA games) drew to 42-41 on Lyric Ersland’s basket with 4:00 left in the game and had several chances to get ahead.  

The Braves missed two shots and had a turnover before Eli Kasberg converted an offensive rebound into a three-point play and a 45-41 lead with 1:55 left. 

After Ersland hit a free throw, Big Sky missed but retained possession, and Fulford hit a shot clock-beating three for a 48-42 lead with 1:00 remaining. 

Jordan Grriffin hit a three for Flathead, but the Eagles (9-5, 6-4) closed it out with free throws. 

Ersland had 18 points and Griffin had 12 off the bench. 

Big Sky    14    10    12    16    -    52 

Flathead    8    9    14    14    -    45 

MISSOULA BIG SKY — Isaiah Reed 8 0-0 20, Mason Fulford 1 3-4 6, Tyson Tims 1 2-4 4, Cole Sil 3 0-0 8, Elli Kasberg 2 3-45 7, Brady Williams 0 0-0 0, Colter Jensen 0 0-0 0, Aidan Towe 3 1-2 7. Totals 18 9-15 52. 

FLATHEAD — Korbin Eaton 0 0-0 0, Noah Sonju 3 2-3 8, Lyric Ersland 6 6-7 18, Dustyn Franchini-White 0 0-0 0, Cameron Wells 0 0-0 0, Jordan ‘Griffin 4 2-3 12, Ben Reichner 1 0-0 3, Gabe St. Germaine 1 0-0 2, Brodee Zahn 1 0-0 2, Colin Smith 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 10-13 45. 

3-point goals — Big Sky x, Flathead 3 (Griffin 2, Reichner). Fouls — Big Sky xx, Flathead 13. Fouled out — St. Germaine. 

    Flathead's Ava Malmin (21) shoots from the corner in the third quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Flathead HIgh School on Thursday, Feb. 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Flathead's Grace Gall (23) works for a shot in the fourth quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Flathead HIgh School on Thursday, Feb. 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Flathead's Caitlin Converse (13) brings the ball upcourt in the fourth quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Flathead HIgh School on Thursday, Feb. 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Flathead's Mattie Thompson (24) looks for her shot in the third quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Flathead HIgh School on Thursday, Feb. 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Flathead's Ava Malmin (21) drives to the basket in the second quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Flathead HIgh School on Thursday, Feb. 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider   

    Flathead's Grace Gall (23) shoots in the second quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Flathead HIgh School on Thursday, Feb. 13. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider