MISSOULA — Tavia Rooney had 15 points and 22 rebounds and Abby Leachman scored 19 points as Townsend cruised to a 65-44 win over Rocky Boy in the first round of the Class B girls basketball state tournament at Dahlberg Arena on Thursday.
The game was tied 9-9 after the first period, but Townsend used a huge second-quarter run to take control. The Bulldogs outscored the Morning Stars 25-8 in the second, making 11 of 18 field goal attempts, including three 3s. Leachman made four of her six 3-point attempts in the game.
Rocky Boy made just six of 27 field goals in the first half.
Townsend poured it on in the second half, growing the lead to 22 points by the end of the quarter. Charlotte Watson added 12 points for the Bulldogs, who will play Colstrip in Friday’s semifinal round. Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Rocky Boy turned the ball over just 10 times, but the Stars gave up 30 offensive rebounds — seven to Rooney and six to Watson. In total, Townsend out-rebounded Rocky Boy 63-30.
Jaylynn Mitchell (14 points) and Adrienne Gopher (13) finished in double figures for Rocky Boy.
With the loss, Rocky Boy falls to the consolation bracket and will play Deer Lodge at 10:30 a.m. Friday.
Colstrip 48, Deer Lodge 43, OT
Amaya LaFranier scored 20 points and swiped seven steals to help Colstrip to a 48-43 overtime win over Deer Lodge in the first round of the Class B girls basketball state tournament at Dahlberg Arena on Thursday.
Neither team started particularly well, but both settled in for a solid first half. It was tied at 10 after the first quarter and at 25 at the halftime break after the teams traded runs in the second quarter.
The scoring slowed to a near halt in the third quarter. Neither team scored in the first four minutes of the third quarter, and they combined for just eight points in the period. Colstrip took a 31-27 lead into the fourth and maintained a small cushion until Deer Lodge’s Josee Applegate put the Warden’s up 36-35 with 43 seconds remaining.
Shelby Jordan split a pair of free throws for the Fillies, sending the game to overtime tied at 36. The Fillies built an eight-point lead in the extra frame on their way to clinching a berth in Friday’s semifinal round. Colstrip will meet Townsend at 5 p.m.
Sossity Spotted Wolf added 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals for Colstrip.
Darcy Walker paced Deer Lodge with 10 points and seven steals. The Wardens, who will play Rocky Boy in a loser-out game at 10:30 a.m. Friday, made just 18 of 37 free throw attempts in the loss. Colstrip wasn’t much better from the stripe, converting 17 of 31 opportunities.
