Western A girls: Dillon tips Valkyries
WHITEFISH — Semifinal day at the Western A divisional had a championship feel and it was the Dillon Beavers that came out victorious in a title-caliber matchup against Bigfork.
The Beavers closed the game on an 11-0 run to down the Valkyries 57-49.
“We got a little less aggressive and dropped back and played a little smarter defense,” Dillon coach Josh Keller said. “When we weren’t gambling so much we could contest some of those shots and get in a little better rebounding position.”
In the other semifinal Frenchtown got the early jump, but Columbia Falls battled back until a late spurt put the Broncs back in front for good in a 49-37 victory.
Saturday now features an all-Southwest A championship match, while the early games feature all four Northwest A teams who made the trip.
The two morning winners qualify for the State A tournament next week in Billings, and will meet in Saturday's consolation game; Frenchtown and Dillon are already in.
Dillon 57, Bigfork 49
Kenleigh Graham led the Beavers (19-1) with 25 points — including five 3-pointers — but Bigfork's defense and foul trouble kept her to three points in the final quarter. Kylie Konen and Sage Tash made the difference, though, combining for 13 points in the last eight minutes.
Konen finished with 13 points while Tash had 12.
Keni Wade and Braeden Gunlock led the Valkyries (17-3) with 17 points each, and Paeten Gunlock tallied 13.
“I am very proud of these girls today, they played with a lot of heart,” Bigfork coach Courtnee Gunlock said. “They played like the team that I know they are; we just don’t have the depth that (Dillon) has and we ran out of gas.”
Neither team found much separation until late as Bigfork took their biggest lead of five midway through the third at 34-29 on a Braeden Gunlock triple. Dillon instantly cut it back down to three as Landri Hartman got to the basket.
The Valkyries led 42-41 heading into the fourth quarter and Wade put them up 49-46 midway through the frame, but then they went cold.
Both teams' depth was strained as Graham and Paeten Gunlock went much of the fourth quarter with four fouls. Neither found a fifth.
What Dillon did find was a way to the hoop as Konen drove inside to put the Beavers ahead 51-49. Tash did the same a possession later and the Beavers were up four.
In the final minutes, Konen connected again. After a pair of free throws put Dillon up 57-49, Bigfork called off the dogs.
The Valkyries take on Browning Saturday at 9 a.m. at Columbia Falls High School with the winner advancing to Saturday afternoon’s third-place game.
“We have to get our energy back and get ready to play tomorrow,” Gunlock said. “(Browning) is going to have a lot more rest than us. We have beaten them twice, but it’s hard to beat a team three times.”
Dillon 8 12 21 16 - 57
Bigfork 10 13 19 7 - 49
DILLON — Landri Hartman 2 0-0 5, Kinzy Creighton 1 0-0 2, Kylie Konen 5 3-4 13, Keleigh Graham 9 2-2 25, Sage Tash 5 1-2 12, Cassie Keller 0 0-0 0. Tess Tash 0 0-0 0, Josie Robbins 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-8 57
BIGFORK — Chloe Norred 1 0-3 2, Keni Wade 6 1-2 17, Braeden Gunlock 5 5-6 17, Paeten Gunlock 4 2-3 13, Payton DeSpain 0 0-0 0, Ava Davey 0 0-0 0, Somer Campos 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 8-14 49.
3-point goals — Dillon 7 (Graham 5, Tash, Hartman), Bigfork 9 (Wade 4, P Gunlock 2, B Gunlock 3). Fouls — Dillon 17, Bigfork 10. Fouled out — none.
Frenchtown 49, Columbia Falls 37
The Broncs got a jump early on both ends of the court as Maya Skinner hit from beyond the arc to make it 7-2 late in the first quarter. Columbia Falls only managed the two points in the opening frame, and the Broncs took a 22-13 lead into the half.
Then the Wildkats found their footing. Taryn Borgen opened up the second half with a triple and Alexa Friske made it 22-18 by getting inside. Borgen had 14 points to lead the Wildkats, but exited early after a hard fall late in the fourth.
Columbia Falls tied it up at 28 later in the third as Onnika Lawrence got free inside, abd Borgen gave the Wildkats their first lead on the next possession at 30-28. Lawrence finished with seven pointsn
“Frenchtown is a really tough team, they are coached well and they play aggressive,” Columbia Falls coach Jeremy Grilley said. “I told the girls this is a test for us to see where we are at, and I loved how the girls played them tonight. We played them tough and we gave ourselves an opportunity.”
Frenchtown added the last five of the quarter to take a 33-30 lead into the fourth. In the final frame the Broncs seized control as Bailey Hansen hit from deep to make it 40-33. Later Ryan Lucier laid one in on a back cut feed from Mason Quinn to give the Broncs a double-digit lead at 44-33.
Lucier finished with eight points, while Quinn tallied a game-high 18.
Columbia Falls takes on Ronan Saturday at 9 a.m. at Whitefish High School with the winner earning a spot in the state tournament and advancing to the third-place game later on Saturday.
“We are familiar with them (the Maidens),” Grilley said, we just need to rest up and hydrate up. The girls are in good spirits still, they are ready to go.”
C-Falls 2 11 17 7
Frenchtown 7 15 11 16
COLUMBIA FALLS — Alexa Friske 2 0-0 4, Onnikka Lawrence 1 4-4 7, Addy Bowler 1 2-2 5, Taryn Borgen 5 2-2 14, Kiera Kempainen 1 1-2 3, Rylee Sweeney 1 0-0 2, Emalee Alton 1 0-0 2, Riley Byrd 0 0-0 0, Maddy Barker 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 9-12 37.
FRENCHTOWN — Mason Quinn 5 7-8 18, Jezzy Palmer 0 2-2 2, Ryan Lucier 3 2-2 8, Bailey Hansen 3 1-2 9, Black Hardy 1 0-0 2, Heather Haskins 1 1-4 3, Maya Skinner 3 0-0 7. Totals 16 13-18 49.
3-point goals — Frenchtown 4 (Hansen 2, Quinn, Skinner), Columbia Falls 4 (Borgen 2, Bowler, Lawrence). Fouls — Frenchtown 12, Columbia Falls 20. Fouled out — none.
Ronan 56, Butte Central 30
Neveah Perez scored 11 points and Ronan outscored Butte Central 41-16 in the second half to win a loser out matchup.
Kailyn Marengo and Zailee Hewankorn added eight points each for the Maidens (12-8).
Kenzie McQueary led the Lady Maroons (7-15) with 14 points, Zayonna Otherbull tallied 11.
Butte Central 5 9 5 11 - 30
Ronan 6 9 20 21 - 56
BUTTE CENTRAL — Evyn Smith 2 0-0 5, Kenzie McQueary 3 8-11 14, Zayonna Otherbull 4 1-4 11, M Mansanti 0 0-0 0, R Forbes 0 0-0 0, B Schelin 0 0-0 0, J Maldonado 0 0-0 0, A Stajcar 0 0-0 0, M Boyer 0 0-0 0. Totals 9 9-15 30.
RONAN — Maddy Illig 2 0-0 6, Kailyn Marengo 3 0-0 8, Lauryn Buhr 0 3-4 3, Ally Luedtke 3 1-2 7, Arianna Zepeda 2 0-0 4, Kylee Kelch 3 0-0 6, Natalie Adams 0 3-4 3, Zailee Hewankorn 3 1-2 8, Neveah Perez 5 1-2 11, Bailee Woll 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 9-14 56.
3-point goals — Butte Central 3 (Otherbull 2, Smith), Ronan 5 (Illig 2, Marengo 2, Hewankorn). Fouls — Butte Central 11, Ronan 12. Fouled out — none.
Browning 46, Hamilton 42
Josephine Michael and Shaylee Heavy Runner scored 12 points each as Browning rallied past Hamilton in a loser-out.
Teslin Trombley added 10 for the Indians (13-9), who outscored the Broncs 14-5 in the final quarter.
Ashlynn McKern led the Broncs (5-15) with 16 points.
Browning 4 16 12 14 - 46
Hamilton 10 6 21 5 - 42
BROWNING — Josephine Michael 5 2-4 12, Shaylee Heavy Runner 4 2-2 12, Tashlyn Lazy Boy 1 0-0 3, Peyton Eagle Feathers 0 2-6 2, Teslin Trombley 3 2-4 10, Amani Yellow Owl 1 2-2 5, Zoey Valandra 1 0-0 2, Dianda Tatsey 0 0-0 0, Nyrahae Tatsey 0 0-0 0, Jolena Eagle Speaker 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 10-18 46.
HAMILTON — Annalise Lewis 1 3-6 5, Meryn Leonard 1 0-0 3, Ella Griffin 3 1-6 8, Elise Carroll 0 1-2 1, Ashlynn McKern 5 3-4 16, Tricia Wilson 2 3-3 7, Mariah Domingo 1 0-0 2.
3-point goals — Browning 6 (Heavy Runner 2, Trombley 2, Lazy Boy, Yellow Owl), Hamilton 5 (McKern 3, Griffin, Leonard). Fouls — Ronan 18, Hamilton 16. Fouled out — Trombley, Griffin.
Western A Divisional
March 6-8, Whitefish High School
(4 teams advance to State)
Thursday
Dillon 59, Ronan 29
Bigfork 51, Butte Central 24
Columbia Falls 51, Hamilton 37
Frenchtown 66, Browning 40
Friday
Ronan 56, Butte Central 30, loser out
Browning 46, Hamilton 42, loser out
Dillon 57, Bigfork 49, semifinal
Frenchtown 49, Columbia Falls 37, semifinal
Saturday
Columbia Falls (11-9) vs. Ronan (12-8), 9 a.m., lo
Bigfork (17-3) vs. Browning (12-10), 9 a.m., at Columbia Falls, lo
Morning winners, 3:30 p.m., third
Dillon (19-1) vs. Frenchtown (17-3), 6:30 p.m., championship
More Friday scores
Western AA Play-in
Butte 62, Helena Capital 55
Southern B
Ennis 52, Manhattan 27, loser out
Boulder 51, Lodge Grass 42, loser out
Baker 66, Big Timber 46, semifinal
Huntley Project 65, Shepherd 31, semifinal
Eastern C
Bainville 49, Savage 32, loser out
Circle 52, Richey-Lambert 44, loser out
Bainville 54, Circle 49, third place
North Country 31, Scobey 29, championship
Southern C
Harlowton 37, Custer-Hysham 34, loser out
Terry 46, Bridger 43, loser out
Melstone 61, Jordan 21, semifinal
Plenty Coups 68, Ekalaka 56, semifinal