Columbia Falls Girls Finish Second in Western A Divisional Tournament

Butte Central held off Columbia Falls to capture the Western A divisional title in Butte on Saturday.

Kloie Thatcher scored a game-high 17 points and the Maroons defense did not allow the Wildkats a single double-digit scorer en route to a 51-41 victory.

Columbia Falls (19-2) still advances to the Class A state tournament in Belgrade, March 10-12.

Ellie Johnson and Kiara Burlage paced the Wildkats with nine points apiece.

On the boys side, Dillon needed overtime to defeat Polson, 71-67, in the boys divisional chipper.

Polson’s Julian Jones hit a buzzer-beater layup to force OT. Jones finished with 26 points and Matthew Rensvold had 20 for the Pirates (16-5), who still advance to the Class A state tournament in Missoula, March 3-5.

Hamilton eliminated Whitefish in the consolation bracket Saturday, 61-43. Butte Central beat Hamilton in the consolation final, 45-42.

Saturday’s Box Scores

BOYS

Championship

Dillon 71, Polson 67 (OT)
Polson  10  14  12  19  12  –  67
Dillon  20  4  16  15  16  –  71

POLSON – Wyatt DuCharme 4, Payton Lefthand 11, Tanner Wilson 6, Matthew Rensvold 20, Julian Jones 26.
DILLON – Carson Hritsco 14, Nate Simkins 25, Payton Falfrentz 5, Troy Anderson 20, Tanner Haverfield 5, Logan Wilson 2.

***

Third place

Butte Central 45, Hamilton 42

Hamilton  13  6  10  13  –  42
Central  11  5  8  21  –  45

HAMILTON – Josh Heath 4, Bret Huxtable 4, Ky Burch 5, Hunter Omlid 8, Carter Kearns 15, Bridger Bauder 2, Jaylen Taggart 4.
BUTTE CENTRAL – Sam Johnston 5, Nate McGree 10, Cole Harper 18, Tanner Kump 8, Riley Richardson 2, Cade Holter 2.

***

Loser out

Hamilton 61, Whitefish 43

Whitefish  10  19  7  7  –  43
Hamilton  17  13  16  15  –  61

WHITEFISH – Derek Kastella 21, Jacob Henry 13, Luke May 6, Jansen Anderson 3.
HAMILTON – Josh Heath 5, Bret Huxtable 4, Ky Burch 15, Hunter Omlid 17, Carter Kearns 15, Tyler Chouinard 2, Jaylen Taggart 3.

***

Loser out

Butte Central 57, Corvallis 42
Central  15  14  13  15  –  57
Corvallis  1  14  10  17  –  42

BUTTE CENTRAL – Sam Johnston 5, Nate McGree 11, Cole Harper 13, Tanner Kump 17, Cade Holter 8, Dan McCloskey 3.
CORVALLIS – Dillon Lewis 5, Caleb Powell 6, Tylor Nixon 6, Chase Jessop 21, Spencer Jessop 4.

GIRLS

Championship

Butte Central 51, Columbia Falls 41

Columbia Falls  15  15  8  3  –  41
Central  8  17  10  16  –  51

COLUMBIA FALLS – Sydney Grilley 2, Cydney Finberg 4, Ellie Johnson 9, Peyton Kehr 7, Kiara Burlage 9, Allyson Gimbel 4, Sydney Hovde 6.
BUTTE CENTRAL – Kloie Thatcher 17, Mollie Peoples 9, Sierra Pica 10, Kailee Murphy 8, Emily St. John 5, Kate Ossello 2.

***

Third place
Dillon 42, Frenchtown 30

Dillon  10  8  9  15  –  42
Frenchtown  10  5 4  11 –  30

DILLON – Alex Rouse 8, Kylie Christiansen 1, Rachael Nye 9, Bailey Berriochoa 12, Brynley Fitgerald 10, Kathleen Tatarka 2.
FRENCHTOWN – Megan Delaney 4, Alivia Williams 10, Kylie Willet 8, Emilie Hinrichs 4, Lexi Statelen 2, Adeline Richardson 2.

***

Dillon 52, Hamilton 41
Loser out

Hamilton  7  10  8  16  –  41
Dillon  12  12  13  15  –  52

HAMILTON – Kloie Nye 6, Reilly Rostad 12, Caitlin Gillespie 5, Jordan Bauder 8, Tristan Searle 1, Breann Duce 6, Mallory McGill 2, Rachael Ringer 1.
DILLON – Alex Rouse 13, Kylie Christiansen 4, Rachael Nye 9, Bailey Berriochoa 5, Brinley Fitzgerald 17, Paige Rouse 3, Kathleen Tatarka 1.

***

Loser out

Frenchtown 37, Corvallis 34

Frenchtown  5  11  13  8  –  37
Corvallis  15  6  11  2  – 34

FRENCHTOWN – Megan Delaney 5, Kylie Willet 5, Allie Moe 6, Alivia Williams 10, Lexi Statelen 9, Sydney Channer 2.
CORVALLIS – Taia Tully 4, Kira Doyle 10, Corinne Sanderson 8, Penny Jessop 4, Genesis 3, Calla Haldorson 2, Tayler Wright 2.