Youth may have reared its head on Thursday morning at the Montana State Class A tournament in Billings. Hamilton has only three seniors on the team and none of them are starters. Abby Johnson is the sixth man, and Olivia Walker is usually the seventh man in the rotation. The Lady Broncs took on the Havre Blue Ponies in their first game and fell, 62-33.
Havre began slowly but more than doubled the Lady Broncs scoring the first three quarters of the game. Hamilton shot a dismal 25 percent on two point field goals, although they did shoot very well from the charity stripe. Freshman Layne Kearns led all scorers with 13 points and was seven of eight from the free throw line. Magdalena Ringer had six rebounds for Hamilton.
Havre 62, Hamilton 33
Havre – Samantha Oliver 4, Kyndall Keller 13, Kylie Walker 2, Loy Waid 5, Avery Carlson 2, Kadia Miller 12, Jessa Chvilicek 6, Sadie Filus 8, Katie Wirtzberger 5, Quinn McDonald 3, Yelena Miller 2.
Hamilton – Taryn Searle 9, Rylee Brackman 5, Layne Kearns 13, Magdalena Ringer 1, Brynnli Paulsen 3, Katelyn Dickemore 2.
Later on Thursday, Corvallis battled Park County, the No. 4 seed from the East. The Blue Devils were still playing without Hannah Hutchison but Madeline Gilder was back from an injury.
The two teams battled back and forth throughout the game with neither team leading by more than two points throughout the first two quarters. Livingston (Park County) went on a run in the middle of the third quarter when a Livingston player hit a three point shot and then Ryleah Floyd hit another field goal. Gilder made an inside shot but turnovers plagued the Blue Devils in the third quarter.
Corvallis came back to take the lead when Jenna Jordan sank two free throws early in the fourth quarter. But with Isabel Evans and Ashlyn Nixon both in foul trouble, they were limited in their defense. The Blue Devils were down by six points with just under two minutes remaining in the game when they made a run at the Rangers. Gilder sank a shot and then hit the free throw on the ensuing foul to narrow the gap to three points. Hannah Hutchison sank the final trey of the Blue Devils’ season. Final score, Livingston 51, Corvallis 48.
Evans finished with nine points and 10 rebounds. Gilder had 13 points with three rebounds.
Livingston 51, Corvallis 48
Corvallis – Isabel Evans 9, Hannah Hutchison 11, Madeline Gilder 13, Brooke Powell 3, Jenna Jordan 4, Ashlyn Nixon 6, Bree Lewis 2.
Livingston – Taylor Young 10, Ryleah Floyd 4, Bobbi Lima 7, Shania Johnson 2, Kodie Vondra 9, Sylvie Schoenen 2, Shannon Nelson 2, Skylar Higgs 2, Rainna Floyd 3, Abby Kokot 10.
With Hamilton’s loss on Thursday, they had to play Dillon in loser out action. With both teams being from the Southwest A conference, they had already played each other twice in the regular season with Dillon coming away the victor each time. Hamilton got off to a very slow beginning in this game, scoring only one point in the first quarter. Although they were playing catch up all game, the Lady Broncs did narrow the gap to only six points at the end of the game, losing to the Beavs, 45-39.
Dillon 45, Hamilton 39
Dillon – Lauryn Peterson 15, Tylia DeJohn 13, Ainsely Shipman 7, Madalen Shipman 5, Jordyn Walker 3, Kylee Pittman 2.
Hamilton – Layne Kearns 11, Abby Johnson 7, Olivia Walker 6, Maggie Ringer 5, Brynnli Poulsen 4, Taryn Searle 2.
The Corvallis Blue Devils had to play Browning in loser out action on Friday. Browning came out playing their running style of basketball and quickly outdistanced the Blue Devils. Corvallis was able to claw their way back into the game but time ran out before they could take the lead. Browning won, 48-41.
Browning 48, Corvallis 41
Corvallis – Isabel Evans 14, Madeline Gilder 11, Jenna Jordan 6, Brooke Powell 5, Hannah Hutchinson 3, Haley Lords 1, Ashlyn Nixon 1.
Browning – Tatum Running Crane 11, Tamika Guardipee 10, Dulci Skunkcap 9, Chalissa Kipp 6, Kelsey Mad Plume 5, Abby Bullcalf 4, Mecca Bull Child 3.
The state tournaments were suspended on Saturday across the state prior to the championship games. The winners of the semi finals games who would normally play for the championship were named co-champions. Here is the list of co-champions: Class AA boys – Hellgate and Billings Skyview; Class AA girls – Billings West and Helena Capitol; Class A boys – Hardin and Butte Central; Class A girls – Billings Central and Hardin; Class B boys – Lodge Grass and Fairfield; Class B girls – Loyola and Forsyth; Class C boys – Scobey and Fairview; Class C girls – Melstone and Roy/Winifred. Hellgate, Hardin, and Loyola all were undefeated.