Rachel Chery and Cassi Hashley helped propel the Glacier girls to the Class AA state tournament on Thursday night, but a slow start and monster game by Hellgate’s Tres Tinkle dashed the Flathead boys’ postseason hopes.
Chery scored 12 points, Hashley had 10 and the Wolfpack defeated Helena 43-38 in a playoff game at home. Glacier (17-4) returns to the state tourney for the second year in a row, March 7-9 in Great Falls. The girls bracket remains undetermined as of yet.
The Flathead girls play at home tonight against Missoula Big Sky at 6 p.m. for a ticket to state.
The Braves’ season came to an unfortunate ending last night in Missoula. Tinkle scored 21 points and the Knights defeated Flathead 44-33 to advance to the Class AA state tournament in Great Falls, March 7-9.
Hellgate jumped ahead 25-13 at halftime but Flathead fought back to within 33-31 late in the fourth quarter. Shea Schroeder scored his team-high 12th point of the game to put the Braves down 34-33, but the Knights responded with a 10-0 run to end the game.
Flathead finishes 10-11. Hellgate (17-4) earns the third seed from the West and will play second-seed Billings West (18-3) in the opening round on Thursday, March 7.
After winning the Western conference and earning an automatic ticket to state, Glacier (17-3) opens the tournament against Butte (5-16). On the other side of the bracket, Helena Capital (15-6) faces Great Falls (10-11), and Billings Skyview (17-3) plays Missoula Big Sky (11-10).
Stay Connected with the Daily Roundup.
Sign up for our newsletter and get the best of the Beacon delivered every day to your inbox.