Although the original intent of the Tip Off Tournament has gone by the wayside somewhat, the event is still a great way to kick off the basketball season. Originally the tournament was designed to give teams a chance to play teams they wouldn’t see until possibly the state tournament or at the very least, at divisional tournaments. However restructuring of the districts and in some cases, reclassifications of teams have changed the format. When the Western A division split into the Northwest A and Southwest A about 12 years ago, this tournament was created to give teams a chance to look at teams in the other division. This year, the division was put back together with ‘sub’ divisions in it. The old Northwest and Southwest A divisions are now all part of the Western A. But the teams in the north and the south will not play every team in the conference so the Tip Off tournament will help in scouting the teams. Also, Libby and Anaconda have dropped from Class A to Class B. Those two teams, along with Bigfork and Ronan who moved down a couple of years ago, also competed in the tournament. This was the second year that the tournament was held at the University of Montana at the Adams Center and at the Auxiliary Gym.
The Stevensville Yellowjackets split their games in the tournament. They opened against Whitefish on Friday. After a close first half, Stevi pulled away in the third quarter and went on to win, 74-48. Sophomore Dalton Bragg hit eight field goals and was 2-for-3 at the free throw line to pace the ‘Jackets with 18 points. Bryce Torrey added 14.
Stevensville 74, Whitefish 48
Whitefish – Anderson 6, Kastella 19, Sampson 7, Kemm 6, Walburn 4, Wold 3, Henry 2, Brewer 1.
Stevensville – Liam LeCoure 3, Jarrod Kingsbury 6, James Fry 13, Cody Coleman 6, Bryce Torrey 14, Dalton Bragg 18, Jordan Thomas 11, Richard Hardy 1, Chase Richards 2.
Bright and early Saturday morning, the Yellowjackets took on the Libby Loggers in their second game of the tournament. Stevensville had a one point lead at the end of the first quarter and continued to hold the lead throughout most of the game, although they never led by more than a couple of baskets. Stevensville played a tough defensive game and controlled the tempo but the Loggers never quit. With 4.8 seconds remaining in the game, Libby tied the game at 49 all. An over the back call on a Stevensville player put Ryggs Johnston on the line where he sank both shots. Libby won, 51-49.
Libby 51, Stevensville 49
Stevensville – Liam LeCoure 4, Jarrod Kingsbury 2, James Fry 13, Dalton Bragg 12, Jordan Thomas 2, Cody Coleman 2, Bryce Torrey 14.
Libby – Cielak 10, R. Johnston 15, A. Johnson 5, Brent 2, Maloney 2, Lauer 17.
The Corvallis boys met up with a tough Polson team for their first game of the tournament. The Blue Devils took an early lead but ran into a tough defense in the second quarter. Polson took the in that quarter and went on to win, 75-60. Chase Jessop had 24 points to pace the Blue Devils.
Polson 75, Corvallis 60
Corvallis – Chase Jessop 24, Tyler Nixon 15, Tannon Allred 5, Luke Jessop 2, Justin Catanach 2, Ridge Albright 1, Jacob Geary 8, Caleb Powell 2, Danner Miller 1.
Polson – Jones 20, Lefthand 15, Niemeyer 4, Wilson 10, Smith 2, Main 8, Rensvold 14, Smith 2.
Corvallis played Whitefish on Saturday. Although they only scored three points in the third quarter after leading throughout the first half, the Blue Devils went on to win, 50-42. Jessop had 23 points and Tylor Nixon added 10 more.
Corvallis 50, Whitefish 42
Corvallis – Danner Miller 3, Caleb Powell 3, Jacob Geary 4, Tyler Nixon 10, Justin Catanach 3, Chase Jessop 23, Tannon Allred 4.
Whitefish – Kastella 13, Anderson 3, Henry 7, Wold 6, May 5, Silliker 8.
Hamilton opened against Columbia Falls and handily beat them for their opening game. The Broncs dropped in 52 points in the first half alone and went on to win, 82-45. Bridger Bauder and Carter Kearns each had 14 points for Hamilton. Freshman Hunter Omlid added 13 and Josh Heath had 12 points.
Hamilton 82, Columbia Falls 45
Hamilton – Josh Heath 12, Bridger Bauder 14, Bret Huxtable 7, Ky Burch 7, Hunter Omlid 13, Jaylon Taggart 10, Tanner Goligoski 5, Carter Kearns 14.
Columbia Falls – Riley 6, Stephens 8, Green 5, Morden 7, Murphy 12, Decamp 5, Morrison 2.
Hamilton took on the tough Bigfork Vikings on Saturday. The Broncs led throughout the first half and took a seven-point lead into the break. Bigfork came back in the third and then dropped in 25 points to take the 64-57 win. Hamilton’s Heath had 15 points to lead the Broncs.
Bigfork 64, Hamilton 57
Hamilton – Heath 15, Bauder 8, Huxtable 6, Burch 2, Chouinard 3, Omlid 4, Taggart 11, Kearns 8.
Bigfork – Epperly 2, Jordt 18, Potkonjak 5, Landon 27, Spanogle 5, Gibson 7.