by Scott Sacry
The Hamilton boys basketball team traveled to Stevensville last Tuesday to battle their Bitterroot neighbors to the north. Hamilton proved to be too much for Stevensville as they rolled to a 48-18 victory. Stevensville started out strong with a couple quick baskets by TJ Brown and held a 9-7 lead after the first quarter. But stifling defense by the Broncs (who had 13 total steals) and cold shooting by the ‘Jackets, told the story for the rest of the game. The Broncs outscored the ‘Jackets 41-9 in the final three quarters, including a 11-0 run to start the third quarter. Brown led the ‘Jackets with 8 points. The Broncs were led by Asher Magness with 11 points and Colter Kirkland with 10.
The Broncs finished out the week with a 56 to 52 win over Polson. Once again Asher Magness led with 17 points and Cole Dickemore added nine. Tyson Rostad grabbed 11 rebounds and added five assists. The Stevensville boys went to Frenchtown on Saturday where they lost, 57-21. Cole Olson and Lorenzo Grazzano led the scoring with six each.
The Stevensville girls basketball team hosted the Hamilton Lady Broncs last Tuesday in front of a packed Bitterroot Valley crowd. Hamilton controlled the game with aggressive defense and efficient offense and soundly defeated Stevensville, 55-21. Led by point guard Taryn Searle, the Lady Broncs’ offense attacked the basket, got to the free throw line, and made their freethrows. And on defense, Hamilton’s full court press flustered the Lady ‘Jackets, causing turnovers and making them take quick shots.
The Stevensville girls traveled to Frenchtown on Saturday and were narrowly beaten, 39-35. The Lady ‘Jackets went down by 10 points early in the game and couldn’t come back. Kelti Wandler led Stevensville with nine points and Lexy Perez added eight. The Hamilton girls hosted Polson on Thursday and won convincingly, 53-29. Mya Winkler led with 13 points and Taryn Searle added 11.
In other basketball news, the Corvallis girls went to Dillon last Tuesday and lost, 51-25. Madeline Gilder led with 12 points and six rebounds. On Friday night, they hosted Whitefish and fell, 33-29, with Tylin Sorenson scoring 10 and Erika Jessop scoring nine. The Corvallis boys also went to Dillon on Tuesday and lost, 73-62. Donovan Potter led Corvallis with 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds. On Friday, they traveled to Whitefish and lost, 52-78. Donovan Potter led with 15 points and Dillon Potter added 11 points.