DEER LODGE — It'll be a battle between undefeated teams in Friday's Western C girls basketball championship. Seeley-Swan and Manhattan Christian won semifinal games on Thursday to set up the unbeaten showdown on Friday.
SEELEY-SWAN 52, ENNIS 42
Aspen Conley led her team with 13 points and Klaire Kovatch had 12 as the unbeaten Seeley-Swan girls held off Ennis 52-42 in the Western C semifinals to set up a showdown with undefeated Manhattan Christian for the divisional crown.
The Blackhawks will enter the title game at 16-0 while the Eagles will come in at 21-0.
Ennis, which was paced by a game-high 16 points from Jenna Snider, will face District 12C rival Twin Bridges in the consolation semifinal at 11:30 a.m.
The Western C championship is set to tip off at 6:30 p.m.
MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN 46, CHARLO 26
Eliana Kuperas scored a game-high 19 points as the Manhattan Christian girls rolled past Charlo 46-26 in a Western C semifinal game on Thursday evening in Deer Lodge.
The unbeaten Eagles, who have now run their record to 21-0, led 13-8 after one quarter before taking a 23-14 lead into halftime.
Kiersten Van Kirk added eight points for Manhattan Christian. The Vikings, who fall into a consolation semifinal against Twin Bridges, were led by 10 points from Liev Smith.
BOYS QUARTERFINAL GAMES
MANHATTAN CHRISTIAN 69, ALBERTON-SUPERIOR 33
Manhattan Christian raced past Alberton-Superior 69-33 to set up a semifinal clash against Harrison-Willow Creek while the Twin Bridges boys will take on Shields Valley.
Against the Mountain Cats, Jackson Leep and Seth Amunrud each scored 14 points as the Eagles built a 32-10 halftime lead. Danner Haskins and Carson Callison paced Alberton-Superior with 11 apiece.
The Falcons and Rebels will play the first semifinal at 1:15 p.m. followed the by second semifinal between the Wildcats and Eagles at 3 p.m.
HARRISON-WILLOW CREEK 61, VALLEY CHRISTIAN 52
Luke Cima scored a team-high 20 points and his brother Joe Cima added 16 as the Harrison-Willow Creek Wildcats slipped past Valley Christian in the Western C opening round to hand the Eagles their first loss of the season.
The game was tied at 6-6 after one quarter before Harrison grabbed a 24-22 halftime lead. Luke Cima scored eight of this 20 points in the final quarter to help the Wildcats pull away.
Valley Christian, which won the District 13C title last weekend, was led by a game-high 25 points from Billy Boone. The Eagles fall into a loser-out game at 9:45 a.m. on Friday.
SHIELDS VALLEY 73, ST. REGIS 57
Kaden Acosta poured in 25 points and Aiden Jenkins added 18 as the Shields Valley boys pulled away from St. Regis 73-57 to set up a semifinal clash against Twin Bridges at the Western C divisional.
The Rebels led 19-14 after one quarter and 37-32 at halftime. The Tigers tied the game up at 51-all heading into the fourth quarter before Shields Valley distanced itself in the final frame helped by 12 points from Jenkins and eight from Acosta down the stretch.
The Tigers, who take on Philipsburg in a loser-out game at 9:45 a.m. Friday, were led by 19 points from Tanner Day, 16 from Andrew Sanford and 12 from Caleb Ball.
TWIN BRIDGES 57, PHILIPSBURG 37
Charlie Kruer scored 18 points and Axton Anderson added 10 as the Twin Bridges boys rolled past Phlipsburg 57-37 in the opening round of the Western C boys tournament on Thursday in Deer Lodge.
The Falcons, who toppled unbeaten Manhattan Christian in the District 12C championship last weekend, led 21-10 by halftime
Taylor Smith added nine points for Twin Bridges and Sam Konen had eight.
The Prospectors were led by 11 points from Kade Cutler and eight apiece from Brian Ward and Kai O'Donnell.
