BOZEMAN — The State AA tournament tipped off in Bozeman and the boys field is wide open. Four games on the Thursday schedule to determine participants in Friday's semifinals. Every team in the field has at least four losses, making for what should be a very competitive tournament.
Billings Skyview 53, Helena Capital 41
Billings Skyview (15-5) opened the Class AA state tournament with a 53-41 first round win over Helena Capital (11-10) to clinch a spot in Friday’s semifinals.
Camble Bjornstad, who came in averaging just six points per game, led the Falcons with a season high 19 points, four assists and three steals.
The Bruins jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the first quarter before Skyview responded with a 15-4 run to close the first frame with a 16-11 lead. The Falcons led the rest of the way, pushing the lead to as many as 12 points in the third quarter.
Capital went on a 6-0 scoring run in the fourth quarter to close the gap to four points with two minutes left in the game, but Skyview didn’t blink. A pair of steals led to slam dunks from Tayshaun Williams to slam the door and preserve the win. Williams finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and four steals.
"We really emphasize playing together and working as a unit,” Williams said. "And so just being really close with each other and trusting in each other, trusting the process, that really helped us to pull away."
The Bruins were led by Brenton Belzer with 16 points, including 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. Skyview outrebounded Capital 32-19 and didn’t allow a single second chance point.
It’s the first state tournament appearance for many of the players on the Skyview roster and getting a win at state was a big step for this team.
“I hink our whole season this has been our goal,” Bjornstad said. "So now that we're actually doing it and competing and have the first one under the belt, it was a great team win. And just the excitement, the atmosphere, all the parents, I mean it just feels amazing.”
Skyview will play Helena in the 3:30 p.m. semifinals, while Capital will head to the consolation bracket to face Billings Senior Friday at 9 a.m.
Helena 60, Billings Senior 50
In their first state tournament game since the 2018-19 season, the No. 1 ranked Helena Bengals (16-4) topped Billings Senior (12-9) 60-50 to advance to Friday’s Class AA semifinal.
After falling behind early, Jaxan Lieberg turned in a typically virtuoso performance with 24 points including a fast break slam dunk and three pointer in the closing minutes of the game to secure the win.
"I mean it's our first state tournament. So we just came a little nervous,” Lieberg said. "I think once those nerves came came off of our team, I think we just gelled together and played our game."
The Broncs jumped out to a 7-0 lead before the Bengals responded with a 7-0 run of their own to tie the game and take a lead they would never relinquish. Senior pulled within five points in the third quarter but Helena never let them get any closer, silencing any momentum built by the Broncs.
“Our defensive effort today was was fantastic. You know, we had a few breakdowns,” said Helena head coach Brandon Day. "But for the most part, the guys played really well and I'm super proud of their efforts."
Tevin Wetzel added nine points, seven rebounds and three steals while Eli Peterson scored eight points and grabbed seven boards in the win.
Zynan Zikoski led the Broncs with 14 points with Brody Allen adding 10 points.
Helena advances to face Billings Skyview in the semifinals on Friday at 3:30 p.m., while Senior will take on Helena Capital in loser-out action at 9 a.m.
Gallatin 54, Missoula Hellgate 39
The defending Class AA champion Gallatin Raptors (15-6) started their title defense with a 54-39 win over Missoula Hellgate (14-6) on Thursday.
Defense was the catalyst for Gallatin, smothering the Knights in the opening quarter jumping out to a 10-0 start on the way to a 15-3 lead after the first frame.
"We really key in our defense. That's one of our key goals in our team,” said guard Kale Fasting. "And we just wanted to get stops, push the ball because we know this is a big court. So we just wanted to run, run, run them off the court and get easy transition buckets.”
Fasting led the Raptors with 14 points and three assists in the win. Bobby Gutzman added 10 points, while Grant Vigen contributed nine points and 10 rebounds.
These teams played earlier this year with Hellgate pulling out a 46-24 win - the Raptors’ lowest offensive output of the season. The rematch was a much different story.
"I think we were able to play a little bit more like the tempo that brings us success,” said Gallatin coach Mike Claxton. "Whereas the first time we matched up with Hellgate, it was it was strictly a half court game and we didn't shoot the ball well, which, plays right into their advantage.”
The Raptors led by as many as 22 in the third quarter, but the Knights went on a run to cut it to nine in the fourth quarter. But Gallatin kept up the pressure and hit big shots, to ice the game in which they never trailed.
Hellgate, playing without leading scorer Zane Gillhouse, was led by Easton Sant with 10 points. Chance McNulty and Sam Cohea each added eight points.
Gallatin will advance to Friday’s 5 p.m. semifinal against Billings West. Hellgate will face Missoula Sentinel in the consolation bracket at 10:30 a.m.
"All teams know the importance of keeping yourselves on that winner side of the bracket and giving yourselves a chance to advance to the championship, which is ultimately our goal is to get back where we were last year,” Claxton said. "We know it's not going to be a walk in the park in the semifinals. But getting that first one sure is a big boost."
Billings West 61, Missoula Sentinel 33
Several times during Thursday's first round games, teams have gone up big early and then allowed opponents to climb back into the game.
But not Billings West.
The Bears kept their foot on the gas for 32 minutes and rolled to a 61-33 win over Missoula Sentinel in the first round of the Class AA tournament.
West saw balanced scoring on the stat sheet with Cash Rice leading the way with 15 points, Ben Erbacher adding 13 points and five steals, and Moose Ludwig recording a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.
West went up 13-3 after the first quarter and led 26-15 at halftime. The Bears then exploded in the third, outscoring the Spartans 21-6 to remove any lingering drama surrounding the outcome.
"A lot of communication and a lot of pushing each other, trying to hold each other to high standard, and to do the best that we can, every moment and every time,” Ludwig said. "That's something that we really focus on is just to push each other to the max and not let anyone get near us.”
A year ago, West entered the 2024 state tournament as the No. 1 seed only to fall in the first round. They were determined not to experience another letdown this year.
"We hadn't played in 12 days,” said head coach Kelly Darragh. "We kind of talked about the the College Football Playoff. You get an automatic bid, but sitting long doesn't work all the time for a lot of teams. But, this group is pretty special.”
The Bears dominated the paint, outscoring Sentinel 34-14 inside while forcing 17 turnovers. Sentinel forward Lincoln Rogers, the state’s leading scorer, was held to just 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting. No other Spartan player reached double figures.
Billings West will move to Friday’s 8 p.m semifinal to face defending champion Gallatin. The Bears and Raptors split the regular season series.
“It'll be a good matchup. Gallatin is a really good team and you know it's here in Bozeman,” Darragh said. "I think we're playing pretty well. They're playing pretty well and should be a good game."
Missoula Sentinel moves the consolation bracket and will face crosstown rival Missoula Hellgate at 10:30 a.m.
