Senior Broncs hold off Bravettes in AA opener
BILLINGS — The Flathead Bravettes made a season out of winning close games, but after closing the gap in the third quarter they fell short Thursday, in a 55-47 State AA basketball loss to Billings Senior.
Allie Cummings scored 15 points and three more Senior Broncs reached double figures at First Interstate Arena. Flathead (16-6), in its first State AA game since 2013, put the pressure on a couple times in the second half but fell into a loser-out game Friday against Butte at 10:30 a.m.
Senior (14-9) advanced to Friday’s 5 p.m. semifinal against Billings Skyview (20-2), which handled Butte 57-39 in the late game.
Senior 55, Flathead 47
Piper Jette, Lauren Cummings and Brenna Linse added 10 points for the Broncs, and Cummings and Linse grabbed 12 rebounds as Senior ruled the boards 38-25.
“We talked about that, that we had to rebound,” Flathead coach Sam Tudor said. “The shots were just not falling at the start. We need to be better prepared, getting off the bus. We need to be ready for this environment. It takes time.”
Kennedy Moore’s 14 points and 10 boards led the Bravettes, and her 3-pointer closed what was a 30-22 third-quarter deficit to 30-28.
Maddy Moy hit another three to cut the gap to 33-31, and Flathead trailed 35-33 going to the final quarter.
Allie Cummings hit a three for Senior to open that frame, and after Moore scored twice to bring Flathead 42-37, Cummings drove baseline for another bucket.
Lens had a driving basket to put the Broncs up 44-38, and they hit 8 of 9 free throws in the final 2:55. That offset threes by Clare Converse and Ivy Gannon.
Converse had 13 points for Flathead.
“On top of having a good game, Clare was a good leader out there,” Tudor said. “She didn’t let anything bother her. It was fun to watch.
“There were some positives. It’s going to be tough to bounce back, but this is a gritty team. Hopefully we’ll show some of that grit tomorrow morning.”
Fathead won two regular-season meetings with Butte by 6 and 4 points.
First round
Senior 14 14 7 20 - 55
Flathead 7 12 14 14 - 47
BILLINGS SENIOR — Lauren Cummings 4-10 2-7 10, Allie Cummings 5-15 4-5 15, Piper Jette 3-4 4-4 10, Brenna Linse 4-8 2-2 10, Nikki Long-Westmoreland 1-2 0-0 2, Kennedy Venner 1-3 2-2 5, Jenna Wagner 1-2 0-0 2, Kienna Gillespie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-44 14-20 55.
FLATHEAD — Maddy Moy 2-11 0-0 6, Akilah Kubi 2-8 1-1 5, Kennedy Moore 6-13 1-2 14, Clare Converse 4-11 3-6 13, Avery Chouinard 1-8 0-0 2, Olivia pate 0-0 0-0 0, Tali Miller 0-1 0-0 0, Ivy Gannon 2-8 2-4 7. Totals 17-60 7-13 47.
3-point goals — Senior 3-14 (A.Cummings 2-8, Veneer 1-3), Flathead 6-22 (Moy 2-4, Converse 2-7, Moore 1-5, Gannon 1-1, Chouinard 0-5). Rebounds — Senior 38 (Linse 12, L. Cummings 12), Flathead 25 (Moore 10, Kubi 8). Fouls — Senior 11, Flathead 17. Fouled out — Kubi. Blocks — Senior 0, Flathead 3 (Converse 2, Moore). Steals — Senior 5 (L.Cummings 2, Linse 2), Flathead 13 (Moy 4). Turnovers — Senior 16, Flathead 7.
Skyview 57, Butte 39
Breanna Williams and Brooke Berry scored 15 points each for the Falcons, who led 31-12 at halftime. Cami Harris added 11.
Butte’s Kodie Hoagland knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 10 points. Ashley Olson also reached 10 for the Bulldogs. Laura Rosenleaf checked in with six points and five boards.