With only three weeks until tournament, the Florence Falcons have to adjust to a new line up, one without spark plug Marcus Zeiler. The speedy junior suffered a season-ending injury two weeks ago. But the good news is, just as Zeiler went out, Tyce Pederson came back. Pederson is also pretty speedy, and was out with a broken leg he sustained in football. But he’s back, and picking up the slack.
Florence jumped out to an early lead against the Mission Bulldogs. They were up by 11 points at the end of the first quarter but then the Bulldogs came back in the second quarter to tie the game. They battled back and forth throughout the second and third quarters before Florence pulled ahead when Pederson hit two free throws off a technical. The Falcons went on to win, 51-40.
Florence 51, St. Ignatius 40
St. Ignatius– Matt 4, Linsebingler 1, Cahoon 19, McClure 9, Alexander 7.
Florence – Tyce Pedersen 10, Brendon Bailey 6, Ethan Stensrud 2, Brent Stroppel 10, Cody Liles 13, Dillon Christopherson 9, Carson Katen 1.
Corvallis had a 21 point fourth quarter to power past Florence in non-conference action on Saturday. The two were tied at the end of three quarters before the Blue Devils pulled ahead. Tylor Nixon drilled 23 points for the Blue Devils. Brent Stroppel has 12 points to lead Florence.
Corvallis 52, Florence 42
Florence – Tyce Pedersen 11, Brent Stroppel 12, Cody Liles 7, Dillon Christopherson 8, Carson Katen 4.
Corvallis – Ridge Albright 4, Caeson Jessop 3, Tylor Nixon 23, Justin Catanach 11, Zach Jessop 4, Kobe Jessop 7.
Corvallis fell to Anaconda, 83-74, in non-conference action. The Blue Devils were unable to contain Anaconda’s Braxton Hill who scored 36 points. Although the Blue Devils were only down by three at the end of the first quarter, the Copperheads came back in the second to lead by 11. A late charge was not enough for the Blue Devils. Ridge Albright had 20 points for Corvallis.
Anaconda 83, Corvallis 74
Corvallis – Ridge Albright 20, Kolton Mahan 6, Tylor Nixon 23, Justin Catanach 9, Zach Jessop 8, Kobe Jessop 8.
Anaconda – Kopp 10, Kellegher 6, Mikalatos 21, Byrne 5, Stetzner 5, Hill 36.
Hamilton took on Butte Central on Saturday in a battle of the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the Southwest A conference. Hamilton went into the match with a conference record of 3-1 in conference play. But the Maroons had something to prove. Their defense proved to be too much for the Broncs and Hamilton fell, 48-38, to the Butte Central team.
Butte Central 48, Hamilton 38
Butte Central – Johnston 10, Simkins 8, Kump 10, McGree 15, Heaphy 3, Holter 2.
Hamilton – Ky Burch 2, Hunter Omlid 10, Jaylen Taggart 2, Tanner Goligoski 10, Carter Kearns 14
Stevensville ran over Columbia Falls, 62-30, on Saturday. The Yellowjackets held the Wildcats scoreless in the second quarter and limited them to 10 points in each of the other quarters. Jarod Kingsbury buried 25 points to lead the ‘Jackets. James Fry added 16.
Stevensville 62, Columbia Falls 30
Stevensville – Jarod Kingsbury 25, James Fry 16, Dalton Bragg 8, Chayse Richards 3, Alex Gavlak 3, Luis Estrada-Ortiz 7.
Columbia Falls – Green 6, Stephens 11, Panasuk 2, Bechtel 2, Bridwell 7, Morrison 2.
Darby split their games over the weekend. Darby fell to Valley Christian, the leader of District 13C, on Friday and then defeated Two Eagle on Saturday. The Valley Christian Eagles shut down Darby’s Dylan Parks to only two points. Valley Christian won, 71-43.
Valley Christian 71, Darby 43
Valley Christian – Colwell 11, Brewer 2, Reimer 4, Becker 4, Kelly 9, Woods 17, Baugher 14, Klein 8, McKay 2.
Darby – Zach McCrossin 16, Zack Kline 17, Dylan Parks 2, Andy Smith 4, Aaron Hansen 2, John Beckers 2.
Darby came from behind to take the lead and went on to defeat Two Eagle, 76-68. Parks came back to score 22 points and Zach McCrossin finished with 20 points.
Darby 76, Two Eagle River 68
Two Eagle River – Curley 23, McDonald 2, I. Mathias 14, Z. Mathias 11, Larios 2, Bransen 4, Schaak 12.
Darby – Zach McCrossin 20, Zack Kline 11, Dylan Parks 22, Andy Smith 9, Aaron Hansen 6, John Beckers 8.
Hot Springs got the best of Victor in a non-conference game on Friday. The Savage Heat topped Victor, 84-60, behind the scoring of Trevor Paro who had 39 points. Victor sophomore Mason Agee finished with 20 points to lead the Pirates.
Hot Springs 84, Victor 60
Hot Springs – Paro 39, Gaurdemann 6, B. Knudsen 2, T. Knudsen 13,B. Carr 14, Mueller 5, Degel 2, T. Carr 3.
Victor – Mason Agee 20, Jerod Halley 12, Cameron Moore 2, Logan McKinley 11, Skyler Webberson 6, Jayce Allred 4, Waylon Barta 5.
Victor lost to Lincoln, 77-49. Agee had 16 points to lead the Pirates and Waylon Barta added 12 more.
Lincoln 77, Victor 49
Victor – Mason Agee 16, Jerod Haley 4, Cameron Moore 2, Logan McKinley 4, Skyler Webberson 5, Jayce Allred 6, Waylon Barta 12.
Lincoln – Brown 21, Petersen 25, Fitzgerald 9, Trump 3, Kamps 1, Vossler 2, Fuit 16.