BOZEMAN — Welcome back to the Class B boys state basketball tournament, where we're courtside for Championship Saturday at Worthington Arena on the campus of Montana State University. The morning loser-out and third-place games are complete:
- St. Labre 82, Anaconda 54
- Shepherd 63, Missoula Loyola 56
- St. Labre 71, Shepherd 46, third place
Follow along here for live scores, highlights, and reaction from the boys championship with Luke Shelton, Jonny Walker and Greg Rachac.
Updated scores and pairings from the Class B state tournaments
___________________________________________________________________
9:23 p.m. | Lodge Grass up big at halftime
The Indians pulled ahead in the second quarter and hold a 30-15 lead over Harlem and we now have two more quarters to determine a state champion.
TJ Gros Ventre is at 13 points for Lodge Grass and Cody McCabe has 9 for Harlem.
The Wildcats have to find an answer to the Indians' frenetic pace of play in the second half if they want a shot at mounting a comeback.
9:13 p.m. | Gros Ventre already in double figures
Lodge Grass's TJ Gros Ventre just scored on a driving layup and got an and-1 to push his point total to 11 and the Indians lead to 23-8 with a little over five minutes left until halftime.
I remember watching his older brother, Damon, play here back in 2022.
Now Lodge Grass leads 25-8. Harlem needs an answer and fast.
9:12 p.m. | Lodge Grass with a little distance again
After Lodge Grass jumped to a concerning double-digit lead, the Wildcats swung back and have narrowed the gap to 13-8 at halftime. And then quickly made the lead 17-8 just over a minute into the quarter.
And then TJ Gros Ventre just buried a triple and its suddenly 20-8 with 6:35 left in the first half. Like last night, Lodge Grass has a knack for scoring faster than I can type.
Emotions, pressure, expectations have to be sky-high for both of these teams and it's hard to really comprehend the weight these young men feel right now in this moment. I think success in this game is going to come down to who can manage all of that and just put together the best game.
9 p.m. | Lodge Grass, Harlem battling early
The Indians bolted to a 10-0 lead before the Wildcats settled in a bit and trimmed Lodge Grass' lead to 12-6 with just over 2 minutes remaining in the first quarter. The lower section of the north stands is very orange. This place is, as expected, quite amped up.
8:29 pm.| And here we go
This place should be at-capacity and absolutely rocking when this game tips off in about 15 minutes. Harlem vs. undefeated Lodge Grass in a meeting between two teams with incredibly passionate fan bases, many of who arrived here before the consolation finals earlier this afternoon.
Both these teams saw their championship aspirations extinguished in this venue back in 2022, with Harlem ousting the Indians in the semifinals and the Wildcats then falling to Three Forks in the championship.
I always say that 2018's Class C championship between Arlee and Manhattan Christian at the Butte Civic Centerwas the most intense high school basketball atmosphere I've ever experienced. I have a feeling tonight's showdown will meet or exceed that.
I have a bit of work to do with getting caught up on the girls championship — and trying to catch up with the O'Connor sisters — so I'll touch base back here sometime hopefully in the first quarter.
Just know this — this game is going to be incredibly fast-paced and fun. And this place is going to be electric. -Luke
