The Battle of the Bitterroot lived up to the hype on Friday night in Hamilton. The Lady Broncs and the Blue Devils of Corvallis took to the floor to grind out a game of whoever made the last shot, wins. It was a by Hamilton’s Rachel Ringer that gave Hamilton the 37-36 win, even though Corvallis had two more chances but couldn’t convert.
“They all will be like this,” said Hamilton coach Mark Albert after the game.
Hamilton, who doesn’t have a returning starter from last year’s state champion team, squared off against Corvallis. The Blue Devils have two seasoned players in Taia Tully and Kira Doyle.
Corvallis jumped out to an early lead and led by four at the end of the first quarter. Hamilton took the lead at the end of the half on a three-point basket from Tristy Searle. The two battled back and forth but a temporary loss of focus by Corvallis allowed the Lady Broncs to increase the lead. Tully and Doyle came back on the floor and a trey by Doyle put Corvallis up by two. A flurry of shots at the end of the quarter put points on the board and another shot by Searle put Hamilton up by one point going into the fourth quarter. The physical game continued right through the buzzer. Corvallis was ahead with one minute to go but a turnover put the ball in Hamilton’s hands. Ringer made the winning basket and a free throw with just less than 35 seconds remaining. Corvallis had their chance but couldn’t convert the shot.
Hamilton 37, Corvallis 36
Corvallis – Taia Tully 6, Kira Doyle 9, Corinne Sanderson 6, Penny Jessop 7, Calla Haldorson 2, Genesis Keith 2, Tayler Wright 4.
Hamilton – Tristy Searle 5, Breanne Duce 7, Baylie Duce 5, Kloie Nye 11, Reilly Rostad 4, Rachel Ringer 5.
Hamilton picked up another win on Saturday against Polson. The Lady Broncs played tough defense throughout the game and won, 36-27. Reilly Rostad had 10 points to lead Hamilton.
Hamilton 36, Polson 27
Polson – Congdon 8, Lefthand 7, Smith 2, Lundeen 2, Lake 5, Sampson 3.
Hamilton– Bre Duce 6, Ba Duce 8, Nye 4, Rostad 10, Ringer 3, Caitlin Gillespie 1, Jordan Bauder 4.
The Lady Falcons of Florence also picked up a couple of wins. They topped archrival Loyola, in Missoula, 62-48. Second year coach Duane Zeiler said his team is really coming together and freshman Danielle Zahn has had a big impact on the team.
The Lady Falcons jumped out to an early lead and never let up against Loyola. A 20-point third quarter sealed the win for Florence. Chloe Arthur finished with 18 points to lead her team.
Florence 62, Loyola 48
Florence – Alexis Taulbee 5, Kourtney Kohlman 7, Autumn Round 11, Ally Rust 6, Jewel Zeiler 3, Rilee Mangun 3, Danielle Zahn 8, Chloe Arthur 18, Meghan St. Germain 4.
Loyola –Schneider 2, Burke 17, Jacobson 10, Hollenback 10, Kolar 3, Haran 6.
Thompson Falls came to town on Saturday. Florence jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in the 56-40 win. Arthur had 11 points and Zahn added 11 more.
Florence 56, Thompson Falls 40
Thompson Falls – Jacobs 5, Laws 1, Nelson 5, Wilson 11, Hannum 12, Morgan 6.
Florence –Taulbee 7, Kohlman 6, Janetski 2, Round 1, Rust 8, Mangun 9, Zahn 10, Arthur 11, St. Germain 2.
The Lady Pirates split their games. They topped Two Eagle River School, 44-35, but then lost to Drummond, 50-11. In the game against Two Eagle River School, Victor came back from a four-point deficit at the end of the first half to win. Jamie Burdett pounded in 18 points and Krissy Kuettel added 13 more. Hailey Kay had nine points and Ashley Hopper finished the scoring with four points. Kuettel had eight points against Drummond, Hopper had four and Kay had two points.
Philipsburg defeated Darby, 43-29. Although the Lady Tigers were only behind by six points at the half, a strong Philipsburg defense kept them scoreless in the third quarter. Brianna Brickey had 10 points to lead Darby. Casey Ehmann had nine, Kylie Fisher finished with six. Peyton Muir had two points and Lily Lang finished with one point.
Stevensville lost to Butte Central, 55-27. Butte Central, who didn’t lose a player to graduation last year, came out strongly and never looked back. Mariah Hinson led the Yellowjacket scoring with 10 points. Angel Richards had five points, Megan Pendergast and Payton Tillotson each had four points and Makayla Davids added two.