It’s no secret the Stevensville Yellowjackets are having a difficult time this season, between getting in sync with new head coach Joey Wark, a starter transferring to another school and other issues. So when they came out looking tough on Saturday afternoon against Butte Central, the faithful were happy. The team looked confident and executed their plays well. At the end of the first quarter, Stevensville had a one-point lead.
But the second place Butte Central team is tough and not one to back down. They came back at Stevensville in the second quarter and took a small lead as the clock ticked down. Chris Bergman stepped back and hit a trey to tie the game at 21 all. The ‘Jackets’ defense was well executed but they were having trouble getting their shots to fall.
Stevensville went on a run in the third quarter. Jared Schultz got the scoring started and hit a trey midway through the quarter. By the time the buzzer rang, Stevensville was up by five. That was the largest spread of the game.
It looked like the ‘Jackets were going to sustain their lead as the fourth quarter started but foul trouble got the best of them. The Maroons had a two point lead with six minutes left in the game and extended it to a four point lead and then Kale Guldseth sank the front end of a one-and-one free throw to put Butte Central up by five points. A bucket by Bryce Torrey narrowed the gap. The Maroons went to the free throw line three more times and never sank a shot while Stevensville pulled within one point when Bergman sliced to the basket and sank it. An intentional foul on Stevensville put Butte Central at the line once more and they went on to win, 49-46.
Butte Central 49, Stevensville 45
Butte Central – Cal Hollow 2, Kale Guldseth 11, Chad Petersen 6, Dalton Sessions 7, Marcus Ferriter 9, Nate Bolstad 14.
Stevensville – Chris Lords 1, Chris Bergman 2, Jace Omlid 5, Chance Coleman 5, Zach Gavlak 11, Jared Schultz 18, Bryce Torrey 3.
Stevensville played Big Sky on Thursday in Missoula. The two teams were tied at the end of the first half at 21 all. Big Sky outscored the ‘Jackets in the second half and went on to win, 55-50. Zach Gavlak had the hot hand with 24 points. Chance Coleman added 12 more.
Big Sky 55, Stevensville 50
Stevensville – Bergman 3, Omlid 3, Coleman 12, Gavlak 24, Schultz 8.
Big Sky – Alex Mustard 2, Stanley Underwood 11, Jesson Preston 27, Cory Diaz 5, Colin Bingham 2, Ben Chelini 4, Nick Simmons 2, Seamus Lucostic 2.
Corvallis played Sentinel in a non-conference game on Friday. The two teams battled closely in the first quarter and the final half but the second quarter proved to be the defining moment for the Blue Devils. Sentinel outscored the Blue Devils by seven points in that period and went on to win, 49-46. Corvallis was closing the gap at the end of the game but time ran out on them. Jace Gilder had 13 points and Andrew Leopold added 10 more.
Sentinel 49, Corvallis 46
Sentinel– Zaccheus Darko-Kelly 8, Jeff Krstulich 2, Matt Warren 6, Kagen Khameneh 8, Austin Violette 6, Chase Walker 9, Travis Zander 10.
Corvallis – Alma Powell 8, Jayce Gilder 13, Chaney Waldo 7, Brigham Parrish 4, Austin Bankston 4, Andrew Leopold 10.
Hamilton also played Sentinel. The Broncs never found their rhythm and fell, 57-34 to the Spartans. Kameron Kohn finished with 10 points for Hamilton.
Sentinel 57, Hamilton 34
Hamilton – Josh Bauder 3, Kameron Kohn 10, Josh Heath 8, Ty Burt 2, Kris Cleveland 3, Bret Huxtable 3, Ky Burch 2, Casey Ryter 3.
Sentinel – Chase Walker 15, Kagen Khameneh 8, Zacheus Darko-Kelly 10, Quaizon Walker 4, Austin Violette 11, Matt Warren 5, Travis Zander 2, Jeff Krustlich 1, Jackson King 1.
Florence picked up a conference win over Ronan and a non-conference win over Thompson Falls. The Falcons led by 13 points at the end of three quarters and then held off the Chiefs to take the 45-37 win. Levi Clagett had 17 points and Brad Schaff added 16.
Ronan– Cedric Earthboy 10, Colton McCray 5, Tim Woll 1, Alex Quequesah 6, Jeremiah North Piegan 4, Kollin Wrobleski 11.
Florence – Brandon Johnson 3, Brady Pickering 2, Levi Clagett 17, Travern Smith 1, Ryan Mangun 6, Brad Schaff 16.
Florence defeated Thompson Falls, 44-29, on Saturday. The Falcon defense shut the Bluehawks down in the second half. Levi Clagett and Ryan Mangun had 12 and 10 points respectively.
Florence 44, Thompson Falls 29
Florence– Levi Clagett 12, Ryan Mangun 10, Brad Schaff 6, Brandon Johnson 6, Travern Smith 5, Brady Pickering 5.
Thompson Falls – Travis Hoisington 9, Tanner Laws 8, Dylan Vaught 4, Joe Lundberg 3, Dalton Hooten 3, Tanner Laws 2
Darby picked up a couple of wins over the weekend. The Tigers topped Lincoln, 62-43. Joe Caicedo paced the Tigers with 23 points and Zach McCrossin added 15 more. Darby was down by four points at the end of the first half but then doubled the Lynx’ scoring in the third quarter to take the lead.
Darby 62, Lincoln 43
Lincoln– Rhett Jorgenson 13, Sam Brady 8, Jon Sherrod 3, Greg Nick 8, Blake Eisenzimer 11.
Darby – Zach McCrossin 15, JJ Horvath 2, Rope Rennaker 4, Druex Kuntz 6, Joe Caicedo 23, William Westfall 3, Dawson Jakober 9.
Victor jumped out to a nine-point lead in their game against Darby on Saturday. The two teams battled and by the end of the first half, the Pirates were up by 10 points. However, Darby came out on fire and closed the gap. Caicedo made a steal and put up a shot to give the Tigers the lead. McCrossin hit two free throws in the finals seconds to give Darby the 60-57 win. The Tigers moved to 5-4 in conference play while Victor fell to 5-4 in conference play with their loss to Darby and to Drummond on Friday night.
Darby 60, Victor 57
Victor – Austin Lewis 8, Kolton Benish 6, Nate Bishop 16, Terrell Sherrill 2, Brady Tuttle 14, Michael O’Leary 6, Jack Pederson 1, GP Monta 4.
Darby – Zach McCrossin 21, Rope Rennaker 6, Druex Kuntz 1, Joe Caicedo 23, William Westfall 5, Dawson Jakober 4.
Drummond defeated Victor, 77-38. Brady Tuttle had 13 points to lead the Pirates.