BILLINGS — We’re back at First Interstate Arena in Billings for Day 2 of the State AA basketball tournament, and Friday's morning loser-out round is complete:
Girls
- Butte 59, Helena 40: Cadence Graham hits five 3-pointers and scores 32 points — a girls’ high, to this point in the tournament — to lead Butte.
- Missoula Hellgate 55, Billings Skyview 34: Paisley Johnson had 13 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals and 4 assists in the Knights’ win.
Boys
- Billings Senior 56, Great Falls CMR 55: Senior’s Rylan Jennings made one free throw with six seconds left, and Ben Cunningham’s shot at the buzzer from the baseline bounced off the rim.
- Missoula Big Sky 69, Gallatin 55: After scoring 20 total points in their first three quarters on Thursday night, the Eagles have scored 90 points over their next five quarters.
Semifinals begin at 3:30 p.m., with winners advancing to Saturday’s championship games.
* * * Class AA pairings and results * * *
On-site today are Scott Breen, Alec Bofinger and Mike Scherting.
Can defending girls champion Gallatin keep its repeat hopes alive, as well as its 29-game winning streak? We’ll find out soon!
5:12 p.m. | Quotes
Gallatin's offense took a while to get going against Senior, but its defense was solid from the start. Among the most active all game was senior Ave Odegard, and, in fact, coach Taylor Cummings called Odegard the team's "Energizer Bunny." Opponents might call her a "pest."
"It's just a big part of my game and it's the way that I love to play the game," said Odegard, who finished with six rebounds and three steals to go along with seven points. "I think doing the dirty work, doing the stuff that nobody else wants to do, is taking me far in my career."
Searching for their second consecutive championship, the Raptors have gone about as far as they can, with one more day to go, one more game to win, in the state tournament.
"Control what you can control," Cummings said. "That's the thing about this team and our experience is that we've been in these situations. We have to continue to tell ourselves that there is only so much you can control sometimes."
5:02 p.m. | Billings West girls (18-2) vs. Missoula Big Sky girls (18-2)
The second girls semifinal is about to get under way, so while I process some quotes from Gallatin's win in the first semi, here's a look at West and Big Sky:
The Golden Bears, who received 18 points and 16 points, respectively, from Reese Enderson and Reagan Soucy on Thursday, are looking to reach the title game for the second year in a row and third time in the past four seasons. Big Sky and University of Montana-bound Avory DeCoite, who led four double-figure scorers in Thursday’s win with 18 points, are seeking to get the Eagles to the championship game for the first time since 2009.
4:47 p.m. | FINAL: Gallatin 64, Billings Senior 38
Gallatin improved to 21-0 and ran their winning streak to 30 straight, steadily pulling away from the Broncs. Jada Davis scored 21 points, and 13 Raptors' steals helped force 18 Senior turnovers and limit the Broncs to 33% shooting. Ivy Runsabove and Eva Blatchford both had 8 points for the Broncs.
The Raptors advanced to the championship game, to be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Senior, meanwhile, heads to the loser-out Saturday morning game at 9.
4:28 p.m. | More room for Raptors
Gallatin found some offensive flow in the third quarter. Ave Odegard, Jada Davis and Ava Fleming all hit 3-pointers, and the Raptors have extended their lead to 46-26.
4:05 p.m. | HALFTIME: Gallatin 27, Billings Senior 13
Senior will have to figure out how to break down the Raptors' defense to get back into this one. Gallatin isn't firing on all cylinders offensively (Raptors are hitting the offensive glass well) but its defense is creating turnovers and contesting most of the Broncs' shots. Senior has 13 turnovers on nine Gallatin steals. Raptors also have nine offensive rebounds.
3:50 p.m. | Senior timeout
And just like that, Gallatin starts the second quarter on a quick 7-0 run less than two minutes in, forcing the Broncs to talk things over. Raptors are up 15-5.
3:46 p.m. | A lot of up and down
A fairly fast pace to the first quarter, but not a lot of result. Gallatin built a 7-2 lead but its now 8-5 after the first quarter. Gallatin forcing some turnovers but not turning them into points.
3:30 p.m. | Preview: Billings Senior girls (14-7) vs. Gallatin girls (20-0)
As players are introduced, let's look at today's first girls semifinal.
Bella Ferguson hit five 3-pointers and Eva Blatchford recorded a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds) in Thursday’s first round to help send the Broncs to their first semifinal appearance since 2007. Gallatin put four players into double figures in its first-round win and recorded 21 steals.
