The Hamilton boys and girls took home wins from Corvallis in a double header night in front of a packed house. The Hamilton boys jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in the Southwest A matchup. Although Corvallis didn’t score until midway through the first quarter, they did claw their way back to only a nine-point deficit at the half. But then Hamilton went to town and rolled to a 64-39 victory.
“I wanted us to come out and play hard, play together,” said Hamilton coach Travis Blome. “I thought the first half we started going away from what we are.”
Blome went on to say his team was shooting too quickly in the first half but that he was proud of the way they regrouped and came back to play their own game.
“They’re a really good team,” said Blome of Corvallis. “That Warnken kid is a special kid. We knew we were going to be in a dog fight from the very beginning.”
Corvallis coach Zane Warnken was disappointed after the game. “I thought we could compete with them a little better. They came out hot and played well. I mean they’re good, they’re really good. We didn’t start well but I thought we battled and we came back in the third.”
He went on to say he was disappointed with his team’s free throw shooting. He said they were normally a 70 percent free throw shooting team but that they missed too many in the game.
Hamilton 64, Corvallis 39
Hamilton – Carson Rostad 14, Trey Searle 14, Tyler Burrows 10, Austin Drake 9, Josh Dickemore 9, Tristan Hanson 4, Tyson Rostad 3, JC Placido 1.
Corvallis – Tanner Jessop 17, Caleb Warnken 7, Bryce Mayn 4, Cole Trexler 4, Jaymark Liedle 3, Luke Wolsky 3, Jacob Loran 1.
Corvallis played another tough team on Saturday, Dillon. The Beavers are another tough team clustered right at the top of the Southwest A conference. The Blue Devils came out playing tough and took an early lead. They then held off the charging Beavers to get the 43-40 win.
Corvallis 43, Dillon 40
Dillon – Fitzgerald 10, Hoffman 2, Kirkley 8, Truman 7, Anderson 6, Peterson 5, Johnston 1, Reiser 1.
Corvallis – Jaymark Liedle 21, Caleb Warnken 16, Konner Provence 4, Cole Trexler 2.
Warnken’s Thursday night prophecy came true. He said they had to play Dillon on Saturday, then Frenchtown and Butte Central.
“It’s like a Murderers’ Row of great teams. They are all physical, big, and well coached. I still think we’re going to get a win. I think we can beat any of these teams. We’ve had our moments.”
Hamilton defeated Columbia Falls, 58-49, on Saturday. Searle and Rostad combined for 41 points in the win.
Hamilton 58, Columbia Falls 49
Hamilton – Trey Searle 21; Carson Rostad 20; Tyler Burrows 6; Jaiden Klemundt 4; Eli Taylor 2; Tyson Rostad 2; Josh Dickemore 2; Austin Drake 1.
Columbia Falls – Danny Henjum 11; William Dyon 9; Mason Peters 5; Jack Price 2; Cade Morgan 2.
Stevensville lost to Butte Central, 60-15.
Darby picked up wins over Victor and Lincoln. The Tigers defeated Victor, 45-20. Nelson Smith had 18 points in the win. The Tigers defeated Lincoln, 69-35. Tyler Davis had 13 points to pace Darby. Victor fell to St. Regis on Saturday, 71-31.
The Hamilton Lady Broncs defeated Corvallis, 60-27 on Thursday. Layne Kearns had 22 points to lead Hamilton. Hannah Martin had 13 points for Corvallis.
