It didn’t end the way they hoped it would, but that’s not to say the Hamilton Broncs didn’t have a good state tournament. There’s so much more pressure on teams at the level of the ‘elite eight’, and while the Broncs didn’t show many nerves, it was the little things that finished their season.
“The kids battled so dang hard,” said Hamilton coach Travis Blome. “It was a great game, great atmosphere. It’s too bad someone has to lose but that’s the way it happens.”
Hamilton played two games at the Class A state tournament in Missoula. In both games, the Broncs came out on fire and quickly built up a lead. But by the third quarter, the Broncs had to play catch up and although it was close, they just couldn’t get the job done.
Hamilton opened the tournament against the Havre Blue Ponies and quickly built up a lead behind three quick baskets. The Broncs kept the offensive pressure on with Carter Kearns, Josh Heath and Hunter Omlid dropping in baskets. Havre only scored four points in the first quarter.
Havre adjusted at the break between the periods and began to score, a little. Dane Warp was not only Havre’s leading scorer but also the leading scorer in Class A in Montana and averaged over 25 points a game. However the Bronc defense held him to only five points in the first half. At the break, Hamilton held a four-point lead.
But then Warp went to work and Havre continue to chip away at Hamilton’s lead in the third quarter and took the lead as the clock ticked down in the quarter. Hamilton’s frustrations led to some turnovers that allowed the Blue Ponies to take the lead. Havre was effective in running time off the clock even though Hamilton made several runs at them. Havre went on to win, 58-49.
Havre 58, Hamilton 49
Hamilton – Bret Huxtable 2, Hunter Omlid 8, Carter Kearns 14, Josh Heath 10, Ky Burch 5, Bridger Bauder 2, Jaylen Taggart 8.
Havre – Nate Rismon 6, Dane Warp 33, Zachary Hunt 2, Jerod Boles 17.
The loss on Thursday sent Hamilton into loser out action on Friday afternoon against the Polson Pirates. This would be the second time in two weeks these two teams had played. Polson topped Hamilton by 10 points at the Western A semi finals the last weekend in February. Hamilton did not want a repeat of that.
Hamilton again jumped out early and scored three quick baskets before Polson got going. But a dunk by Polson’s Julian Jones fired the Pirates up. Hamilton’s Jaylen Taggart came back to score to keep Hamilton in the lead. Hamilton took a six-point lead into the second quarter after holding Polson scoreless for three minutes in the middle of the quarter. The two teams battled with Hamilton continuing to hold the lead even though the rims were unkind and rattled off. By the end of the half, Hamilton had increased their lead to seven points.
But as before, Polson made adjustments and got the ball inside to Matthew Rensvold who was difficult to stop. The Broncs couldn’t stop him and by the end of the third quarter, Polson had a two-point lead.
“Rensvold is a great player on the inside,” said Blome. “He’s very hard for anyone to handle and he played phenomenally today”
The Pirates went on a run but Hamilton came back every time to keep in the game. The largest lead by Polson was four points when Bret Huxtable fouled out with just under a minute and a half remaining. Huxtable had sunk a couple of three pointers earlier in the quarter that kept the Broncs close. Ky Burch sank a three pointer to pull Hamilton within one point with a minute remaining. After Kearns missed two free throws in the double bonus, Jones was fouled and sank both shots. With the clock ticking down, and Hamilton trailing by three points, Omlid put up a long ball that swished the net and tied the game. There were six seconds left in the game. As Polson hustled back down the court to try for one last shot, Payton Lefthand put the shot up and was fouled. He only sank one of three free throws, but it was enough. Polson won, 51-50.
“I am just so proud of our guys, and proud of our seniors,” concluded Blome. “It was a great year.”
Polson 51, Hamilton 50
Polson – Tanner Wilson 2, Matthew Rensvold 27, Julian Jones 12, Payton Lefthand 8, J’von Niemeyer 2.
Hamilton – Bret Huxtable 8, Hunter Omlid 12, Carter Kearns 9, Josh Heath 4, Ky Burch 7, Bridger Bauder 2, Tyler Chouinard 2, Jaylen Taggart 6.