The Lady Broncs will play another week, this time in front of their home crowd, after taking second place at the Southwest A district tournament in Butte. The Lady Broncs lost to Butte Central in a hard fought game, 43-40. Hamilton was coming on at the end of the fourth quarter but just fell short in the game.
Hamilton controlled the boards with Lauren Ryter pulling down nine boards alone. Hamilton had 34 total rebounds to the Maroons 17. But they couldn’t stop Tricia Joyce and Sophie Thatcher who kept the Maroons in the lead. Hamilton was led by Mariola Tesoro’s 12 points and five rebounds. Kaitlin Dickemore had eight, Ryter had six, Jorden Taggart had 5, Abby Johnson had 3, and Ani Mason, Maggie Ringer, and Sophie Doyle had two points each.
Hamilton defeated Frenchtown, 37-27, in their first game of the tournament. Tesoro and Taggart each had seven points to lead the Lady Broncs.
Hamilton upset Corvallis in the semi finals, 48-44. Corvallis was the No. 1 seed in the tournament and had a first round bye. The Lady Broncs were focused and ready to play and built up a four point lead at the end of the first quarter. The Blue Devils erased one point in the second quarter and appeared to be gaining until the fourth quarter when Hamilton came back in the close game. Trailing on the scoreboard, Dickemore found an open lane and sliced to the rim for a lay up to give the Lady Broncs the lead. A pair of free throws and Hamilton had the game and moved on to the championship. Ryter had 17 points for Hamilton while Lainie Albright had 11 points to lead Corvallis.
Hamilton 48, Corvallis 44
Corvallis – Lainie Albright 11, Hannah Martin 8, Calla Haldorson 8, Ashlynn Nixon 6, Madeline Gilder 6, Lilly Berry 3, Denali Smith 2.
Hamilton – Lauren Ryter 17, Mariola Tesoro 7, Katelyn Dickamore 7, Abby Johnson 7, Maggie Ringer 4, Sophia Doyle 3, Jorden Taggart 3.
After losing to Hamilton, Corvallis had to play Stevensville in loser out action. The scoring was spread across the book for the Blue Devils with Haldorson leading all scorers with 14 points. Maddie Sims had nine points for Stevensville.
Corvallis 46, Stevensville 33
Corvallis: Hannah Martin 12, Ashlynn Nixon 7, Calla Haldorson 14, Lainie Albright 7, Madeline Gilder 4, Hannah Hutchison 2.
Stevensville: Angel Richards 7, Kennedy Praast 3, Maddie Weber 7, Evynne Alexander 4, Syd Paul 3, Maddie Sims 9.
With a trip to divisionals secured, Corvallis still had to play Frenchtown for third place later Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils were tough in the first quarter and held a three point lead into the half. But they fell behind in the third quarter and lost, 56-52. Seniors Haldorson and Albright had 17 and 15 points respectively. Ashlynn Nixon had seven, Madeline Gilder had five, Hannah Hutchison and Hadli Lords each had three points and Hannah Martin had two.
Stevensville lost to Dillon, 64-33, in their opening game. Kennedi Praast had 11 points to pace Stevensville.