The championship game between Dillon and Stevensville was just after the boys’ championship and the Dillon fans were chomping at the bit to add more hardware to their trophy case. Stevensville came out strongly and quickly built a lead while holding the Beavs to only five points. Alycia Sims hit a trey and that was followed by another three pointer by Kyla Paulson. Kayla Peterson and Sims then went inside to make short jumpers and propel the Lady ‘Jackets to the lead. Sims had control of the boards and made sure she got the rebounds.
Stevensville continued to roll in the first half and had a six-point lead over the Beavs at the half.
Dillon had to make a decision at half time. Did they go to a defense that would stop Sims and take a chance that Paulsen and Peterson wouldn’t get hot on the outside? After considering all options, Dillon adjusted their offense to a ‘box-in-one’ defense that had three or four players on Sims at all times. The effects were immediately felt by the Lady ‘Jackets. They scored only three points in the third quarter and five in the fourth. Dillon went on to win, 38-32. Peterson hit a bucket with a little more than four minutes to go in the game but Dillon came back held Stevi scoreless for three and a half minutes. Sims finished with 16 points to lead the Lady Yellowjackets.
Dillon 38, Stevensville 32
Stevensville –Baylee Bergman 1-6 0-0 2, Alycia Sims 16, Kyla Paulson 6, Britney Chilcott 4, Kayla Peterson 3.
Dillon – Linder 13, Suenram 4, King 5, Hahnkamp 13, Parke 2,
Stevensville played Butte Central in Anaconda on Tuesday night in a challenge game. The winner of that game will advance to the state Class A tournament in Butte. That tournament will begin March 8th.
Stevensville had a first round bye and didn’t play until Friday night in the semi finals against Anaconda. Coach Brandon Day attributed his teams first quarter to first game nerves and was pleased that after the first quarter, his team settled down. Baylee Bergman, a senior, kept her team going with a couple of key baskets. By the end of the first quarter, the Lady ‘Jackets had crawled back into the game and only trailed by five points.
Another unknown in the game was how Alycia Sims was going to be able to play on her injured ankle. (She sprained her ankle in the last regular season game last Saturday.) Sims was a bit tentative at the beginning but soon was dominating inside.
“I’m amazed at Alycia’s heart,” said Day. “She played 28 minutes out of 32 minutes, sometimes with tears in her eyes.”
The entire Stevensville team stepped up at different times on either offense or defense. Bergman kept Anaconda’s ace shooter, Courtney Moodry from going on any scoring runs. Kayla Peterson hit three outside shots to pull defenders off Sims and open her up inside. Their total defense stepped up in the second half and held the Lady Copperheads to only 10 points in the half. Stevensville went on to win, 45-33 and advance to the championship game.
Stevensville 45, Anaconda 33
Stevensville – Bailey Vercruyssen 4, Baylee Bergman 4, Alycia Sims 10, Kyla Paulsen 8, Britney Chilcott 8, Kayla Peterson 10.
Anaconda – Stergar 10, Courtney Moodry 13, Abby Stanberry 6, Jacqueline Verlanic 2, Julia Peterson 2.
Corvallis opened their tournament against Anaconda on Thursday. Although the Blue Devils stayed with the Lady Copperheads three of the four quarters, the second quarter proved to be the difference. Anaconda doubled Corvallis in that quarter and then went on to win, 66-44. Sadi Henderson had three treys and finished with 17 points to lead the Blue Devils.
They then went up against Butte Central, the 2011 state champions, in loser out action on Saturday morning. Dillon had upset Butte Central on Friday night. The Maroon quickly took the lead and went on to win, 56-17.
Hamilton took on Dillon in their first game. The Lady Broncs were only two points behind at the end of the first quarter but then the Dillon defense went to work and held Hamilton to four points in the next two quarters. Dillon went on to win 35-28. Taylor Goligoski had nine points to lead the Lady Broncs.
Hamilton then moved to Saturday morning where they battled Anaconda. Foul trouble and a minor injury to Rebecka Hood slowed the Lady Broncs as they fell, 50-43. Hood missed part of the second and third quarter after hitting the floor. Goligoski had 12 points in the loss.
“I was pleased with their effort,” said Hamilton coach Don Faris who is resigning his coaching position. “I thought all 10 girls really stepped up.”
Serena says
It was Bailey Vercruyssen who defended Courtney Moodry not Baylee Bergman. People don’t see the whole picture of the team, what she does for the team is not seen on paper by any stat. Vercruyssen breaks the press, runs the offense and plays extremely tight defense on her opponent. I have watched several games and have seen this girl play. Sitting in the stands, people comment on what a great player she is. Let’s give credit where credit is due.