Bengals bite Wolfpack girls, earn State berth

HELENA — Glacier battled to the buzzer but in the end, Helena was too much. 

The Bengals used a 13-3 fourth quarter advantage to take a 51-36 victory Thursday and clinch a berth at the AA State Basketball Tournament March 13-15 in Bozeman. 

Lauryn Lieberg led the way for Helena with 19 points, Madi Todorovich added 16. 

Glacier finishes its season 9-11 overall, while Helena moves to 12-8 with the victory. The Bengals advanced to the State AA Tournament next week in Bozeman. 

Karley Allen kept the Wolfpack close with a 3-pointer — Glacier’s only make from beyond the arc — late in the third quarter to close the Wolfpack deficit to 37-33.  

Allen led the Wolfpack with 11 points. Reese Ramey tallied 10 for Glacier. Madi Stevens had eight. 

After Allie Krueger made it a 42-36 game from the line Glacier went cold, not scoring again in the final 3:49.  

The Bengals went on a 9-0 run including back-to-back baskets from Todorovich that put Helena ahead by double digits, 46-36.  

Lieberg sealed it at the free throw line, going 3-for-4 in the final minute. 

Glacier    10    9    14    3    -    36 

Helena    9    15    14    13    -    51

GLACIER — Rylee Bigelow 0 0-0 0, Gracie Winkler 0 0-0 0, Karley Allen 4 2-2 11, Allie Krueger 2 1-4 5, Madi Stevens 3 2-2 8, Reese Ramey 3 4-6 10, Olivia Warriner 0 0-0 0, Cazz Rankosky 1 0-1 2. Totals 13 9-15 36. 

HELENA — Addi Roush 0 0-0 0, Morgan Koch 0 0-0 0, Madi Todorovich 7 1-4 16, McKenna Pipinich 1 0-2 2, Dakota Lieberg 1 0-0 3, Lauryn Lieberg 6 5-9 19, Cassidy Smith 1 4-4 6, Grace Murgel 2 0-0 5. Totals 18 10-19 51. 

3-point goals — Glacier 1 (Allen), Helena 5 (L. Lieberg 2, Todorovich, D. Lieberg, Murgel). Fouls — Glacier 16, Helena 12.