Frenchtown tips Bigfork in 3OT; Ronan edges C-Falls

Those who slept in on Saturday morning might have missed the best game of the Western A Divisionals.

Cooper Michaud’s put-back gave Frenchtown the lead for good in the second overtime, and the Broncs eventually beat Bigfork 60-59 in an important loser-out game at Columbia Falls High School. 

The win clinched a berth into next week’s State A tournament for Frenchtown.  

Over in Whitefish there was another tense finish: Ronan edged Columbia Falls 55-54 on Chad Higgins’ put-back with 16 seconds left to also clinch a state berth. 

The Broncs and Chiefs moved into Saturday’s consolation game. 

Frenchtown 60, Bigfork 59 3OT

In Columbia Falls, Michaud scored 17 points, and his offensive rebound and basket put the Broncs up 58-57 for the ninth lead change of the game. 

Bigfork led 11-5 midway through the first quarter and then trailed 27-20 on Michaud’s dunk at 7:05 of the third quarter. After Austin Savik’s basket tied it 34-34 going to fourth, the Vikings kept the pressure on. 

Bigfork led 47-45 on Alex Ochs’ three-point play with 1:09 left in regulation; Hank Smith, who had 22 points for Frenchtown, hit a 15-footer moments later to set up the first overtime. 

Savik hit a fadeaway with 15 seconds left in that first extra period to tie the game 54-all; that came after Smith’s three and Leighton Cyr’s put-back had put the Broncs (16-5) in front. 

Savik hit a three at 3:16 of the second OT to put his team up 57-56; then came Michaud’s pivotal bucket, then a low-post basket from Smith for a 60-57 Frenchtown lead. 

Ochs hit a jumper with 1:05 left and the Vikings — thanks to Frenchtown missing two free throws — had two chances at the win. They missed a three, then had the final shot blocked. 

Savik had a game-high 23 points for Bigfork, which ended up 9-14. He hit five 3-pointers. Tamret Savik added 14 points and Ochs had 12 for the Vikings. 

Bigfork    14    6    14    13    7    5    -    59 

Frenchtown    10    13    11    13    7    6    -    60 

BIGFORK — Quinn Herring 1 3-4 5, Jack Lucke 1 0-0 2, Treker Hickey 1 0-0 3, Austin Savik 8 2-2 23, Alex Ochs 5 2-3 12, Tamret Savik 6 2-3 14, Grady Campbell 0 0-0 0.  Totals 21 9-12 59. 

FRENCHTOWN — Leighton Cyr 8 0-2 16, Jaxon Haynes 0 0-0 0, Hank Smith 9 1-2 22, Cooper Michaud 6 3-4 17, Konnor Klimpel 1 0-2 2, Brooks Day 1 0-0 3, Jason Smith 0 0-0 0, Brayden Ricci 0 0-0 0, Cole Pfahler 0 0-0 0. Totals 25 3-10 60. 

3-point goals — Bigfork 6 (A. Savik 5, Hickey), Frenchtown 3 (Michaud 2, Day). Fouls —Bigfork 15, Frenchtown 13. Fouled out — Hickey.  

Ronan 55, Columbia Falls 54 

In Whitefish, Jhett McDonald poured in all 14 of his points in Ronan’s fourth-quarter comeback, which was capped when Higgins rebounded a miss by Tayan Edmo and scored with 16.6 seconds left. 

Columbia Falls had two final shots at the win — a Reggie Sapa 3-pointer and a follow shot from Grady Hutton — but both hit back iron and fell away.  

Easton Brooks had 11 points for the Wildcats, who after taking a 16-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, didn’t trail again until Higgins’ put-back. Cooper Ross added 10 points off the bench for Columbia Falls, which ended up 16-5.  

Kolby FInley led Ronan (15-6) with 16 points; Wade Qualtier added 11. Higgins scored four points. 

C-Falls    16    14    11    13    -    54 

Ronan    13    10    10    22    -    55 

COLUMBIA FALLS — Easton Brooks 4 2-2 11, Jory Hill 3 2-2 9, Grady Hutton 2 1-2 7, Bjorn Pedersen 2 2-2 7, Reggie Sapa 1 1-3 3, Nico Young 2 1-2 7, Cooper Ross 4 0-2 10, Silas Ypma 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 9-15 54. 

RONAN — Tayan Edmo 3 2-4 8, Kolby Finley 7 2-2 16, Laurance Lozeau 1 0-0 2, Wade Qualtier 5 1-3 11, Sean Small 0 0-0 0, Jhett McDonald 5 1-2 14, Chad Higgins 2 0-1 4, Theodore Spotted Eagle 0 0-0 0. Totals 23 6-12 55. 

3-point goals — Columbia Falls 9 (Young 2, Ross 2, Hutton 2, Brooks, Hill, Pedersen), Ronan 3 (McDonald 3). Fouls — Columbia Falls 13, Ronan 16.