The Corvallis Blue Devils may have lost several players to graduation last year but the momentum that took them to the state tournament last year seems to still be in place. With only one senior, Tayler Wright, on the team, the young team showed poise and talent in their debut at the Tip Off Tournament in Missoula over the weekend.
Calla Haldorson, a 5’7” junior, saw considerable time on the court as a freshman and became a starter last year. She brings experience and a nice long shot that can open up the defense. Lainie Albright, another junior, has speed and can hit the long ball as well. Wright is a force underneath as is 6’3” sophomore Isabell Evans. As Evans gains experience, she will be a force in the paint. Ashlynn Nixon, a sophomore, is the floor general and already has a good floor sense. Add in Hannah Hutchison, Hadli Lords and Lilly Berry and the Blue Devils could be a strong force in the Southwest A.
The Blue Devils topped Polson in their opening game at the Tip Off Tournament. Although they led throughout the game, Corvallis had to hold off Polson in the third quarter when the Lady Pirates made a run. Corvallis went on to win, 50-40.
Corvallis 50, Polson 40
Polson – Smith 13, Motichka 2, Pierre 4, Perez 5, Frydenlund 9, Grabelle 7.
Corvallis – Isabelle Evans 16, Hannah Hutchison 5, Calla Haldorson 14, Ashlynn Nixon 2, Hadli Lords 2, Lainie Albright 3, Tayler Wright 6, Lilly Berry 2.
Corvallis went up against a tough Ronan team on Saturday. Ronan has one of the most talented players in the West in Micalann McCrea. She is a threat from anywhere on the court. Ronan held the lead throughout the first half but then the Blue Devils defense went to work. They held the Maidens to only four points in the third quarter and then edged them by three points in the fourth quarter to win, 51-49.
Corvallis 51, Ronan 49
Corvallis – Haldorson 12, Evans 10, Albright 8, Hutchison 5, Martin 4, Lords 4, Wright 4, Nixon 2, Berry 2.
Ronan – McCrea 21, Finley 10, Camel 6, Ulutoa 5, Askan 5, Clairmont 2.
The Lady Yellowjackets took on the Ronan team in their first game of the Tip Off Tournament Stevensville has three seniors: Maddy Paul, Megan Pendergast and Kayla Schmiedeke. All three are seasoned players but Stevensville has some younger players that will make teams take notice. Angel Richards, Hannah Fry and Haley Kampka are all good shooters. Kampka and Richards are also tough underneath the basket. And then there are a couple of freshmen that are spark plugs. Maddie Weber and Maddie Sims bring speed and a court sense that belies their youth.
In the first game, Weber came off the bench to spark the Lady ‘Jackets against Ronan. Weber scored 13 points to lead her team. Richards added 12 points in the 56-45 loss.
Ronan 56, Stevensville 45
Stevensville – Maddie Weber 13, Angel Richards 12, Megan Pendergast 7, Haley Kampka 5, Maddie Paul 5, Evynne Alexander 2, Maddie Sims 1.
Ronan – McCrea 17, Conko-Camel 17, Askan 8, Finley 6, Ulutoa 4, Clairmont 2, McCrea 2.
In their second game of the tournament, Stevensville bounced back to defeat Libby, 47-29. Three Lady ‘Jackets scored double figures. Pendergast finished with 15 to lead all scorers. Evynne Alexander, a sophomore, finished with 11 and Richards added 10.
Stevensville 47, Libby 29
Libby – Gruber 2, Collins 4, Walker 2, Bradeen 3, Hageness 5, Proffitt 3, Reny 2, Rainer 8.
Stevensville – Weber 7, Pendergast 15, Alexander 11, Richards 10, Schmiedeke 4.
Coach Mark Albert of Hamilton likes his team’s dynamics this year. Returning players Tessa DellaSilva, Mallory McGill, Kara Nye, Lauren Ryter and Tristy Searle are all speedy and athletic and had quite a bit of playing time last year. The addition of Cariann Kunkel is icing on the cake. The Kansas native brings another scoring threat and height to the Lady Broncs.
Kunkel dropped in 20 points in the Lady Broncs’ 44-32 win over Libby. They came back from a three-point deficit at the half to score 18 points in the fourth quarter for the win. Their tough defense in that frame held Libby to only four points.
Hamilton 44, Libby 32
Hamilton – Cariann Kunkel 20, Lauren Ryter 10, Kara Nye 6, Tessa Della Silva 3, Mallory McGill 2, Abby Johnson 2, Tristy Searle 1.
Libby – Winslow 13, Reny 7, Hayeness 4, Collins 3, Gier 2, Rainer 2, Brodeen 1.
Hamilton held off Browning for a 53-50 win in their second game of the Tip Off Tournament. The game was close throughout. Kunkel dropped in 21 points to lead all scorers.
Hamilton 53, Browning 50
Hamilton – Kunkel 21, Della Silva 9, Searle 7, McGill 7, Nye 5, Jordan Taggert 2, Ryter 2.
Browning – Jordon 17, Hall 14, Guardipee 6, Skunkcap 4, Polk 4, Goss 3, Reed 2.
The Lady Falcons of Florence flexed their muscle this weekend at the Choteau tournament. In their first game, Florence topped Cut Bank, 64-41. Danielle Zahn dropped in 19 points while Rylee Mangun added 16 and Makenna Liles finished with 11 points.
The Lady Falcons also defeated Shepherd, 55-37. Zahn dropped in 24 points to lead Florence’s scoring. Mangun added 10 and Liles had 15 points.
Florence-Carlton 64, Cut Bank 41
Florence-Carlton – Emma Stensrud 4, Jewel Zeiler 14, Rylee Mangun 16, Makenna Liles 11, Danielle Zahn 19.
Cut Bank – Raemaker 2, RidesAtTheDoor 2, Spotted Bear 15, Black 11, Anato 3, Molenda 2, Seifert 6.
Florence 55, Shepherd 37
Shepherd – Kinsey 4, Kern 3, Dietz 8, Franzel 4, Murdock 18.
Florence – Stensrud 2, Zeiler 4, Mangun 10, Liles 15, Zahn 24.
Darby defeated Lincoln, 61-49 in Class C action. Casey Ehmann scored 31 points to power the Lady Tigers to the win. Peyton sir added 11. On Saturday, Plains defeated Darby, 55-38. Muir had 13 points and Ehmann added 11.
Victor lost to Philipsburg, 60-12. Madison Allred has seven points for Victor. The Lady Pirates also lost to Charlo on Saturday