The Corvallis Blue Devils will be heading to Billings in two weeks for the Class A State basketball tournament. It is only the second time they have been to the state tournament. The first time was four years ago when some of these same players were freshmen. After having to earn a chance to play at the divisional tournament by defeating Butte Central last Monday night, the Blue Devils continued to fight their way to the championship game.
Corvallis had to play arch rival Hamilton for the championship. Corvallis is senior laden while the Lady Broncs are quite young with only three seniors on the team and none of them are starters. Corvallis was also playing without starter Hannah Martin, who is finished for the year due to an injury. Another starter, Madeline Gilder, had an ankle injury and didn’t play in their first game and saw limited time in the other two games.
Corvallis went on an early run in the championship game and led by eight points. Hannah Hutchison got in a couple long shots to pull the pressure off Isabel Evans inside on offense. Even though Evans loomed over Hamilton’s Magdalena Ringer, Ringer pulled down her share of the rebounds.
At halftime, Hamilton coach Richard Griffin made some changes to his original game plan. They stepped up their defense even more. Although Layne Kearns was in foul trouble and had to sit out, Ringer started hitting her shots and Katelyn Dickemore stepped up her game.
“We’re a young team,” said Griffin. “We had to be intense on our defense and we finally started that in the second half.”
But Corvallis wasn’t giving up. They fought back and kept the ever diminishing lead. Ashlyn Nixon, one of the captains of the team and the floor general of the team, stepped up her scoring and hit three treys in the game and finished with 14 points.
“My team got me the ball where I needed it and where I could hit the shots,” said Nixon.
Hamilton continued to hammer away at the lead and with just over a minute left in the game, tied the ballgame up when Dickemore hit the second of two free throws after Gilder fouled out. They missed another shot and the chance for the lead in their next possession. Nixon was fouled by Taryn Searle and hit the front end of two free throws to give the Blue Devils then point lead and the win.
“We struggled with the press,” said Corvallis coach Andy Knapp. “Hamilton played their defense well and we had to fight all night. But we got it done!”
Corvallis 44, Hamilton 43, championship
Corvallis – Ashlynn Nixon 14, Isabel Evans 13, Hannah Hutchison 7, Brooke Powell 6, Hadli Lords 2, Madeline Gilder 1, Jenna Jordan 1.
Hamilton – Taryn Searle 12, Katelyn Dickemore 9, Layne Kearns 7, Magdalena Ringer 7, Abbie Johnson 7, Brynnli Poulsen 1.
Corvallis opened against perennial powerhouse Columbia Falls on Thursday at the Western A. Corvallis had a lead early in the game but Columbia Falls came back and only trailed by one point at the quarter. Neither Martin nor Gilder were suited up for the game.
Knapp was pleased with how his team stepped up without two starters. “I’ve said all along that some of the kids on my bench could start on other teams. Jenna Jordan really did well with 10 points today and nine rebounds.”
Corvallis continued to pressure the WildKats and pour on the offense. They went on to win, 50-32. Evans led all scorers with 12 points.
Corvallis 50, Columbia Falls 32
Corvallis – Isabel Evans 12; Hannah Hutchinson 11; Jenna Jordan 10; Brooke Powell 9; Ashlynn Nixon 4; Hadli Lords 2; Bree Lewis 2.
Columbia Falls – LaKia Hill 10; Josie Windauer 8; Maddie Robison 6; Hannah Schweikert 4; Madysen Hoerner 2; Graceanne Sevesind 2.
Corvallis played Whitefish in the semi finals. Knapp said that although the score didn’t reflect it, Whitefish played a tenacious defense that gave Corvallis some problems. Corvallis won, 41-23, and advanced to the championship.
Corvallis 41, Whitefish 23
Whitefish – Hope Brown 8; Jadi Walburn 7; Erin Wilde 3; Gracie Smyley 2; Kali Brubaker 2; Mikenna Ells 1.
Corvallis – Hannah Hutchinson 15; Isabel Evans 11; Jenna Jordan 9; Brooke Powell 4; Bree Lewis 2.
Hamilton opened against Ronan, the No. 3 seed from the Northwest. Ronan came out and quickly built up a lead as the young Lady Broncs seemed a little shell-shocked. They trailed by 10 points at the end of the first quarter. After the break however, Hamilton shrugged off the nerves and went to work. A steal and a shot by freshman Searle and then a shot by Kearns got the Hamilton team going. Although Hamilton didn’t catch the Maidens at the half, they took control of the game in the third quarter and tied the game up on a couple of free throws by Searle right at the end of the third quarter. Searle hit a bucket early in the fourth quarter to give Hamilton the lead and they went on to win, 45-37.
“They showed their youth,” said Griffin. “But they shook it off and came back.”
Hamilton 45, Ronan 37
Hamilton – Taryn Searle 17, Abbie Johnson 6, Rylee Brockman 2, Layne Kearns 8, Magdalena Ringer 5, Katelyn Dickemore 2.
Ronan – Analeta Yellowbird 3, Lexi Wirz 2, Kieaunna DeRoche 3, Jaeleigh Gatch 4, Regan Clairmont 12, Danielle Coffman 3, Ari Burke 2, Jaylea Lunceford 8.
Hamilton defeated Frenchtown in the semi final game, 43-39.
The state Class A girls tournament will be in Billings on March 12-14. Hamilton will play Havre, the No. 3 seed from the East at noon on Thursday. Corvallis will play Livingston, the No. 4 seed from the East, at 8pm, Thursday.