With the last games of the regular season in the books, Class B and C basketball teams now focus on the post season. This year will bring a new format to both the 6B and 13C conferences. The conferences were realigned when Darby and Valley Christian moved to Class C and District 13C from District 6B.
District 13C will have a traditional eight team bracket with the top two advancing to the Western C Divisional along with the top two teams from 14C and four teams from Districts 11 and 12. The District 13C tournament will be in Frenchtown.
Although Ronan and St. Ignatius moved into 6B, the conference only has five teams in it. There are also only five schools in District 7B. The Western B Divisional features eight slots in the bracket, four from 6B and four from 7B. The bottom two teams will have a play in game on Tuesday night to determine who will attend the ‘seeding’ tournament on Friday and Saturday. For the boys’ teams, the play in game will be in Ronan where the No. 4 team, Ronan, will host the Mission Bulldogs. The girls will play in St. Ignatius where No. 4 Mission will host Ronan.
The seeding tournament will be in Hamilton on Friday and Saturday. The winner of the boys’ play in game will play Florence, the conference winner, at noon. Loyola will play the winner of the girls’ play in game at 2 pm. At 5 pm, Loyola and Deer Lodge will pair off and then the girls will have the nightcap when Florence will meet Deer Lodge. Saturday will feature the winners playing each other.
Florence only had one game this weekend. The boys traveled to Bigfork to take on the 13-3 Vikings who won the regular season for 7B. Although Florence held the lead at the end of the first quarter, Bigfork came back to win, 47-46.
“We didn’t shoot as well as we can,” said coach Sam Baerlocher who went on to say he felt his team was ready for the post season.
Bigfork 47, Florence 46
Florence – Mike Finlay 10, Aaron Ward 15, Riley Phillips 8, Sage Hansen 8, Ryne Baerlocher 3, Chantz Hotsinpiller 2.
Bigfork – Ian Lorang 12, Chris Landon 10, Cody Dopps 8, Jackson Boese 9, Connor Coleman 4, Austin Jordt 3, Dillon Fraley 1.
While the boys were in Bigfork, the Florence girls were hosting Bigfork. Bigfork is the conference winner in 7B with an overall record of 14-2. Florence finished in second place with a record of 10-7 overall.
Florence’s swarming defense and unrelenting pressure gave them a 60-58 win. The Lady Falcons came back from an eight point deficit in the first quarter to take the win.
Florence 60, Bigfork 58
Bigfork – Taylor Peck 5, Melissa Vanderveer 23, Tessa Robertson 18, Mckinze Shults 3, Shelby Scoggins 3, Riley Coleman 6.
Florence – Courtney Byrne 11, Cody Miller 2, Carli O’Brien 2, Kyndall Hoff 9, Rosie O’Brien 21, Megan Byrne 7, Cassandra Skeers 3, Ava Kollman 1, Hailey Huot 2, Margaret Finley 2.
Darby finished up their regular season with two home game sessions on Friday and Saturday. Seeley-Swan came to town Friday. The Seeley-Swan girls’ team, currently No. 2 in the conference, defeated Darby, 66-38. Lauren Dolcater had 12 points to lead the Lady Tigers.
Seeley-Swan 66, Darby 38
Seeley-Swan – Shelby Holmes 6, Hope Crowell 7, Tiffany Wendel 11, Kelsey Linford 9, Keanna Conley 10, Summit Parcell 3, Miranda Dupree 12, Brittney Birdsbill 8.
Darby – Keely Ehmann 6, Halie Rennaker 9, Lacey Dolcater 2, Lauren Dolcater 12, Julie Abrahamsen 4, Brianna Massey 5.
The Darby boys prevailed against the Seeley Blackhawks, 44-37. After trailing at the half, Darby rallied on defense and roared back to win. Jeremy Campbell had 12 points to lead the Tigers.
Darby 44, Seeley-Swan 37
Seeley-Swan – Cole Henrekin 7, John Parcell 5, Christian Cahoon 10, Jacob Casebolt 2, Skyler Lee 4, Morgan Talon 2, Conor Marlatt 7.
Darby – Ryan McCrossin 2, Matt Robbins 1, Jeremy Campbell 12, Dylan Leidner 3, Joe Caicedo 7, Dylan Knox 6, Devin Thomas 11, Storm Wanstrath 2.
Saturday night saw Alberton in Darby. The Lady Tigers came out strong and cruised to a 45-31 victory after holding Alberton scoreless in the first quarter. Julie Abrahamsen had 15 points for Darby who finished the regular season with a conference record of 7-5 and overall record of 8-8. The Lady Tigers will play Valley Christian at 12:30 on Thursday.
Darby 45, Alberton 31
Alberton – Krsita Henley 2, Ryan Vicek 8, Delaney Hanley 7, Sam Bestwick 12, Mariah Turnbull 2.
Darby – Keely Ehmann 8, Halie Rennaker 8, Lacey Dolcater 3, Lauren Dolcater 3, Julie Abrahamsen 15, Brianna Massey 8.
Although Darby controlled the lead for most of the game, Alberton came back in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to take the 39-34 13C win. The Panthers took advantage of the middle after Darby’s Devin Thomas went down with an injury. Although he returned, the momentum had shifted to Alberton. Jeremy Campbell led the Tigers with 13 points.
Darby finished the season with a record of 5-7 in conference play and 7-9 overall. They will play Valley Christian at 2:30 on Wednesday.
Alberton 39, Darby 34
Alberton – Todd Myrstol 3, Jack Lehl 7, Jake Thompson 17, Brandon Lehl 5, Dayton Hudson 2, Andrew Lowman 5.
Darby – Dylan Leidner 2, Ryan McCrossin 2, Garrett McCormack 2, Joe Caicedo 5, Matt Robbins 2, Devin Thomas 8, Jeremy Campbell 13.
Victor took on Philipsburg and Seeley-Swan for their final games of the season. The Pirates have been gaining speed and swept their games. They defeated Philipsburg, 50-24, with a balanced attack. Kyle Ball had 17 points and Corey Deering finished with 15 points.
Victor 50, Philipsburg 24
Philipsburg – Jerry Metesh 6, Phil Shields 4, Cole Van Fossen 2, Tayber Goff 12.
Victor – Kyle Ball 17, Corey Deering 15, Matt Kittel 6, Tanner Sacks 3, Randy Miller 6, Derrick Cavill 3.
Victor controlled the game against Seeley-Swan from the beginning in their 68-36 victory. The Pirates held the Blackhawks to only 12 points in the first half. Ball had 29 points to lead all scorers.
Victor 68, Seeley-Swan 36
Victor – Kyle Ball 29, Corey Deering 12, Kurt Manely 3, Tanner Sacks 2, Randy Miller 6, Michael O’Leary 2, Matt Kittel 7, Nate Bishop 2, Derrick Cavill 3.
Seeley-Swan – Conor Marlatt 10, Christian Cahoon 11, John Parcell 4, Jacob Casebolt 9, Skyler Lee 2.
Victor finished the season with a record of 11-3 in conference play and 12-6 overall. They will open against Alberton on Wednesday at 6pm.
The Lady Pirates split their games, defeating Philipsburg and losing to Seeley-Swan. They relied upon a 20 point third quarter and followed up with an 18 point fourth quarter to top Philipsburg, 52-48. Shai Scheffer and Haley Tillotson each had 11 points to pace the Lady Pirates.
Victor 52, Philipsburg 48
Philipsburg – Liz Graham 8, Maddy Donlan 4, Anna Pence 19, Shanna Johnson 16, Karissa Ogden 1.
Victor – Shai Scheffer 11, Ryanne Tracy 9, Sarah Krout 4, Rachel Borowiec 7, Skye Mitcham 10, Haley Tillotson 11.
The Lady Pirates struggled against Seeley-Swan. Scheffer had seven points to lead them in a 61-21 loss. Victor finished with a record of 3-8 in conference and 3-11 overall. They will begin their tournament play against Lincoln at 4 pm on Thursday in Frenchtown.
In Class A action, the Stevensville Lady Yellowjackets defeated No. 1 ranked Frenchtown, 52-37. Alycia Sims had 16 points and Kayla Paulsen added 11. The Stevensville boys rolled over Frenchtown, 79-29. Zach Gavlak had 23 points and Josh Schultz had 22 in the win.
Corvallis came from behind to defeat the Polson Pirates, 54-50. Riley Bradshaw sparked the win with 28 points. The girls’ team lost to Polson. Butte Central defeated the Blue Devils, 55-42. Bradshaw had 23 points. The Corvallis girls lost to Butte Central, 76-29.
The Hamilton Broncs lost to Dillon, 77-47. The Lady Broncs topped Dillon, 34-26. Rebecka Hood had 9 points to lead Hamilton.