Western A Tip-Off Tournament results

by Scott Sacry, Sports Editor

The boys and girls basketball teams from Corvallis, Hamilton and Stevensville were in Frenchtown on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 for the annual Western A Basketball Tip-Off Tournament. In total, 14 Class A schools competed in the two-day event. 

Hamilton

The Hamilton girls are a young team, as leader Ashlynn McKern is the only senior, but this is a spirited group who should have a solid team this year. The Hamilton girls had a successful two days in Frenchtown. They played Ronan on Friday and won 36-33, then on Saturday they played Browning and won 40-37.

The Hamilton boys lost two close games to start the season and have a deep group of players looking to make their mark this year. The Broncs played Ronan on Friday and won 61-53. For Hamilton, Jake McCarthy led with 20 points, Trevyn Bakken had 13, Cash Lockhart had 10, Taylor Doleac had 6, Kaeden Gum had 5, Cartier Ferguson had 4, and Cooper Weston added 3.

Then on Saturday, the Hamilton boys played Browning and lost 49-56. 

Earlier in the week on Tuesday, December 9, the Hamilton boys and girls hosted Bigfork. The Hamilton girls lost 38-64 to a tough Bigfork squad. 

The boys game was evenly matched, but the Hamilton boys lost 47-49 in overtime. The game ended with fireworks. Late in overtime, Hamilton’s Jake McCarthy hit a three-pointer to give Hamilton a 47-46 lead with 14 seconds to play. Bigfork inbounded the ball and drained a three-pointer of their own to take a two-point lead. Hamilton had to go the length of the floor to score, but they failed to get a shot off and lost 47-49. 

For Hamilton, Jake McCarthy led the way with 15 points, Cartier Ferguson had 7, Trevyn Bakken, Taylor Doleac, and Cooper Weston each had 6, Kaeden Gum had 4, and Landon Ekin added 3.

Corvallis

The Corvallis girls don’t have a lot of height, as they don’t have a player over 5’8”, but they are scrappy, and seniors Ava Loren and Ella Varner hope to lead the team to a strong season. In Frenchtown, Corvallis played Whitefish on Friday and lost 31-51. Then on Saturday, the Corvallis girls played Libby and won 44-38.

The Corvallis boys are led by new head coach, Kenny Begaye, who was Stevensville’s boys basketball head coach last year. The Blue Devils have a young and lively bunch of players who look to have a strong year. On Friday, the Blue Devils lost to Whitefish 53-68. Then on Saturday they played Libby and won 55-24.

Stevensville

The Stevensville girls have a hard working team this year and hope to improve on last season behind veteran head coach Bill Fulbright. In Frenchtown, they played Polson on Friday and lost 19-55. Then on Saturday the girls played Whitefish and lost 32-53.

The Stevensville boys are led by new head coach Cory Sova, who is the Yellowjackets’ fifth head coach in the last five years. The young team doesn’t have any seniors, but they are a tenacious group and will look to have a competitive year. The Stevensville boys played Polson on Friday and lost 35-65. Then on Saturday the Stevi boys played Whitefish and lost 48-76.

Earlier in the week the Stevensville boys and girls started their seasons on Tuesday, Dec. 9, when they traveled to Missoula to face Class C Valley Christian. 

The Yellowjacket boys dominated the Eagles. They led 37-14 at halftime, and rolled in the second half to a 63-37 victory. 

In the girls game, Stevensville won 46-34. The Yellowjackets got a big game from Addi Drye who scored a game-high 26 points. Also for Sevensville, Emma Tan had 8 points, and Kayden Tolley and Amy Donaldson each added 4 points.