Senior night can be a tough, emotional night for the players. On Friday night at Corvallis, there was only one senior basketball player that walked out onto the court, Tayler Wright. It was only fitting then, that Wright scored the first five points for Corvallis. Corvallis scored another basket before Florence’s Rilee Mangun finally put a short jumper up and in.
Corvallis continued to run the score with Wright sinking a long trey and Calla Haldorson putting in a couple of shots. By the end of the first quarter, Corvallis had a five point lead. However Florence, who has only lost one game all season, is a seasoned team and didn’t panic. Behind the play of Danielle Zahn and Makenna Liles, the team pulled to within two points at the end of the first half.
Two of the top players in the valley, Haldorson and Zahn, both juniors, matched up against each other and gave each other a run for their money. But it was Zahn’s speed and quickness in the third quarter that turned the game around for Florence. Florence’s tough defense led to some turnovers which led to points for the Lady Falcons. By the middle of the third quarter, Florence took the lead and although it was close, they held on to win, 58-53. Haldorson finished with 15 points for the Blue Devils and Wright and Lainie Albright each had 12 points.
Florence 58, Corvallis 53
Corvallis – Calla Haldorson 15, Hannah Martin 8, Hadli Lords 2, Lainie Albright 12, Tayler Wright 12, Lilly Berry 4.
Florence – Emma Stensrud 9, Joey Janetski 4, Rilee Mangun 8, Makenna Liles 15, Danielle Zahn 22.
Corvallis went to Butte Central on Saturday to take on the No. 2 seeded Maroons. The first quarter was close but then Butte Central tightened up their defense in the second quarter, allowing only two points by Corvallis. Butte Central went on to win, 72 – 35.
Butte Central 72, Corvallis 35
Corvallis – Hannah Hutchison 6, Haldorson 10, Martin 3, Ashlynn Nixon 1, Albright 3, Wright 6, Berry 2, Bree Lewis 1, Sydney Powell 2.
Butte Central – Thatcher 13, Bolton 11, Strizic 5, Sorini 2, Michelotti 19, Murphy 2, Keeley 3, Joyce 11, Bolton 2, Riordan 2, Kump 2.
The Lady Broncs continued to win, topping Stevensville and Dillon in their final games of the regular season. The swarming defense of Hamilton was no match for Stevensville as the Lady Broncs won, 65-30. Cariann Kunkel had 14 points to lead Hamilton and Mallory McGill added 12 more. Stevensville was led by Angel Richards’ eight points.
Hamilton 65, Stevensville 30
Hamilton -Tessa Della Silva 9, Tristy Searle 1, Abby Johnson 5, Ani Mason 3, Kara Nye 8, Jorden Taggart 6, Mallory McGill 12, Madi Drake 1, Cariann Kunkel 14, Lauren Ryter 6.
Stevensville – Maddie Sims 4, Maddie Weber 2, Maddie Paul 1, Megan Pendergast 5, Kennedy Praast 2, Angel Richards 8, Haley Kampka 2, Kayla Schmiedeke 6.
Saturday’s game between Hamilton and Dillon was more of the same for the Lady Broncs. They held the Lady Beavs to only 16 points in the first three quarters and went on to win, 54-27.
Hamilton 54, Dillon 27
Dillon – Fitzgerald 14, Rouse 4, Petersen 4, McKay 2, Larson 2, Jones 1.
Hamilton – Kunkel 15, Della Silva 11, Ryter 10, McGill 9, Searle 4, Nye 3, Taggart 2.
Stevensville lost to Frenchtown, 55-37, in their final game. Pendergast had 14 points to lead the Lady Yellowjackets.
Frenchtown 55, Stevensville 37
Stevensville – Pendergast 14, Weber 5, Schmiedeke 4, Kampka 4, Richards 4, Praast 3, Sims 3
Frenchtown – Willett 19, Williams 18, Bagnell 7, Channer 7, Shelton 3, Delaney 1.
The Lady Tigers lost a close game to Seeley-Swan, 48-45. After a slow start, Darby closed the gap in the fourth quarter but couldn’t pull out the win. Casey Ehmann finished with 14 points to lead Darby.
Seeley-Swan 48, Darby 45
Seeley – Bertsch 12, Kovatich 15, Good 3, Hoag 2, Mercer 9, Dilree 1, Robins 6.
Darby – Gracie Lang 2, Casey Ehmann 14, Peyton Muir 2, Shianne Kauk 6, Kimber Schlapman 6, Makenzie Clark 6, Mackenzie Smith 9.
The combined team of Alberton and Superior, otherwise known as Clark Fork, is the top team in District 13C. They showed their muscle against Darby, the No. 2 seed, with a 61-24 win on Saturday. Ehmann and Peyton Muir each had six points to lead the Lady Tigers.
Clark Fork 61, Darby 24
Darby – Lang 2, Ehmann 6, Muir 6, Kauk 1, Schlapman 2, Clark 1, Hailey Frey 2, Mackenzie Smith 4.
Clark Fork – Lommen 15, Krutilla 4, Mueller 9, Kelly 5, Baughman 5, Mask 19, Parkin 4.
Victor lost to Philipsburg, 69-24. Ashley Hopper had 10 points and Zussette Cruz added seven for the Lady Pirates. Victor also lost to Seeley-Swan, 52-10.