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Title Chase Heats Up as Hoops Season Winds Down

Bigfork teams travel to Class B state tournaments; Columbia Falls girls chasing Class A title

By Dillon Tabish
Senior Joseph Potkonjak celebrates after hitting a three-pointer. Bigfork defeated Florence 65-54 to win the Western B Divisional trophy on Feb. 27, 2016. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

For the basketball teams still standing after a nearly five-month journey, the chase for a state championship is arriving at its final destinations.

The Bigfork boys and girls teams are in Butte, March 10-12, for the combined Class B state tournament.

The Columbia Falls girls are in Belgrade, March 10-12, for the Class A tournament.

Here’s a breakdown of the postseason action with a recap from last weekend’s Class A boys state tournament.

Bridger Johnson (20) boxes out Pat O'Connell. The Glacier Wolfpack eliminated the Flathead Braves 52-37 in a Class AA playoff basketball game on March 1, 2016. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Bridger Johnson (20) boxes out Pat O’Connell. The Glacier Wolfpack eliminated the Flathead Braves 52-37 in a Class AA playoff basketball game on March 1, 2016. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Class AA

For the first time since 2004, Kalispell has neither a boys or girls team playing at the Class AA state basketball tournaments.

For the local squads, it proved to be a challenging season.

On the girls side, Glacier’s streak of four straight state tournament appearances ended. The Missoula Big Sky girls rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Glacier 47-42 in a playoff game on March 3 in Kalispell.

Glacier’s season ended at 12-9 overall. Senior Hailee Bennett capped her all-state prep career with 12 points and Taylor Salonen netted nine. Anna Schrade had eight points and Nikki Krueger had five. Courtney Mitchell, Kali Gulick and Brynn McChesney each scored two for the Wolfpack.

Bennett, who has committed to play at Seattle Pacific next year, averaged 15.3 points per game, four rebounds and four assists her senior year.

Krueger averaged 8 ppg and 4.6 rebounds and Salonen averaged 6.4 ppg and five rebounds.

The Helena Capital Lady Bruins defeated the Flathead Bravettes 53-34 on March 1 in Helena. The defeat ended the Bravettes season at 4-17 overall. Tiana Johnson scored a game-high 15 points for Flathead, Kylie Meredith had eight and Cadelyn Nunn added six.

Johnson, a junior, averaged 14.3 ppg and 6.2 rebounds this season. Gillespie, a junior, averaged 6.2 points and Sierra Siblerud averaged 3.6 ppg and four rebounds.

In the opening round at this week’s state tournament, Great Falls (16-4) will play Missoula Big Sky (12-8); Missoula Sentinel (19-1) will play Billings Senior (12-9); Helena (13-7) will take on Bozeman (13-8); and Billings West (16-4) will play Helena Capital (13-9).

Helena Capital defeated Bozeman 63-55 in last year’s title game.

On the boys side, this will be the second year in a row a Kalispell team failed to advance to the state tournament.

Helena Capital shot 60 percent from the floor and defeated Glacier 45-28 in a playoff game in Helena on March 4.

Glacier’s season ended at 7-15 overall. Noah Lindsay had 10 points to lead the Wolfpack, Tadan Gilman had eight and Blayne Bailey added five.

Gilman, a junior, led the Pack in scoring this season with 11 ppg. Lindsay averaged 7.7 ppg and 5.4 rebounds. Bailey averaged 6.6 ppg and Dylan Ruggles averaged 5.5 ppg.

Bailey scored 12 points, Ruggles scored nine and the Glacier Wolfpack eliminated the Flathead Braves 52-37 in a March 1 playoff game.

Tuesday’s victory avenged a loss against Flathead two weeks ago, Glacier’s first crosstown defeat since 2012, and ended the Braves season at 7-14.

Matt Marshall paced Flathead with 12 points. Tyler Johnson had 10 points and Bridger Johnson had nine points and six rebounds.

Tyler Johnson, a sophomore, averaged 11 ppg this season and Marshall, a senior, averaged 10.4 ppg. Bridger Johnson, a junior, averaged 6.4 ppg and Kye Auclaire, a senior, averaged 6.2 ppg.

In the first round of this week’s state tournament, Billings Skyview (17-3) will play Helena Capital (12-9); Missoula Hellgate (17-3) will play Great Falls High (13-8); Helena (12-8) will play Billings West (16-5); and Bozeman (18-2) will take on Missoula Big Sky (12-8).

Billings Skyview defeated Billings West 62-56 in last year’s title game.

The Columbia Falls Wildkats hold the top seat from Northwest Montana going into the Western Class A Divisional Tournament in Butte on Feb. 24 to 27. Justin Franz | Flathead Beacon
The Columbia Falls Wildkats hold the top seat from Northwest Montana going into the Western Class A Divisional Tournament in Butte on Feb. 24 to 27. Justin Franz | Flathead Beacon

Class A

The Polson Pirates brought home a third-place trophy from the boys state tournament in Missoula.

The Pirates defeated Havre 66-65 in overtime of the consolation final on Saturday, capping their season at 19-6 overall. Matthew Rensvold and Jeremiah North Piegan each scored 18 points and Payton Lefthand had 11 for Polson. Tanner Wilson added nine points and Julian Jones had five. Havre’s Dane Warp had 32 points.

Lefthand scored the game-winning point from the free throw line with no time remaining in loser-out action against Hamilton. Lefthand was fouled shooting a three-pointer with the game tied and the Pirates held on 51-50.

Rensvold had 27 in that game and the Pirates went on to defeat Hardin 64-56 and advance to the consolation final. Rensvold had 20 against Hardin, Lefthand had 14 and Wilson had 13.

Dillon defeated Billings Central 66-61 to win the championship.

On the girls side, the Columbia Falls Wildkats are hoping to cap another remarkable season with a state championship. The last time the Columbia Falls girls basketball team hoisted a championship trophy, current head coach Cary Finberg was a senior in high school in 1983.

The Wildkats (19-2) play Havre (14-8) at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, in the opening round of the Class A girls championship tournament.

Browning (17-4) plays Frenchtown (14-8) at 1 p.m., Thursday. Billings Central (19-2) takes on Dillon (15-7) at 7 p.m. and Butte Central (21-0) plays Lewistown (7-15) at 8:30 p.m.

Senior Adam Jordt goes up for a shot over Florence defenders. Bigfork defeated Florence 65-54 to win the Western B Divisional trophy on Feb. 27, 2016. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon
Senior Adam Jordt goes up for a shot over Florence defenders. Bigfork defeated Florence 65-54 to win the Western B Divisional trophy on Feb. 27, 2016. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Class B

The well-traveled Bigfork fans are invading Butte this week as both the boys and girls teams chase state trophies.

The Viking (22-1) are riding a momentous winning streak dating all the way back to January that includes claiming the Western B divisional trophy. The boys open up action against Broadwater at 6:30 p.m., Thursday.

Jefferson plays Florence at noon. Choteau takes on Missoula Loyola and Sweet Grass plays Shelby at 8 p.m.

Bigfork’s girls team clinched a trip to Butte the hard way. After falling in the divisional opener to Missoula Loyola, Bigfork rallied back to win three consecutive loser-out games to secure the third seed from Western B.

The Valkyries (19-5) open tournament action against Malta at 10:30 a.m., Thursday. Shepherd plays Loyola at 9 a.m. Ronan takes on Saint Labre at 3:30 p.m. and Forsyth plays the winner of Choteau and Fairfield, who played in a Monday night challenge game after the Beacon went to print.

Follow Flatheadbeacon.com throughout the week for updates from the state tournaments.