Bison fall to Skyview in OT
The Great Falls High boys’ basketball team just ran out of runs.
A Kellan Romsa 3-pointer brought the Bison to within one with under 10 seconds to play in overtime, but a Kendall Kynett desperation heave went long following a pair of free throws from Billings Skyview guard RayQuan Evans, and the Falcons hung on for a 71-68 Eastern AA win on Friday night at Swarthout Fieldhouse.
GFH superstar Brendan Howard said the Bison needed to play better down the stretch.
“We just didn’t keep our composure at the end,” said Howard, who scored a season-high 37 points. “We had some lapses and especially me, I’ve got to take the fall for that too. It’s not anyone’s fault, it’s the team and we’ve got to fix that if we want to beat good teams like Skyview.”
A 12-3 run by GFH (3-3, 8-6) in the final 2:35 of regulation seemed to sway all the momentum in its favor, started by a Kellan Romsa layup on a dime from Keaton Burcham, and capped by a gritty baseline drive by Howard to tie the game with 15 seconds left, forcing the extra period.
However, turnovers cost the Bison in OT, as the Falcons (5-1, 13-1) began the stanza on a 5-0 run highlighted by an assist from Evans to Brendan Acheson to make it 60-55 with 2:30 left.
Howard brought the Bison within three with 24 seconds remaining in OT, and Romsa’s clutch trey cut the deficit to one at 69-68 with only 10 seconds left.
Evans’ pair from the stripe on the other end gave Skyview a 71-68 cushion with under seven seconds left, and Kynett’s lob just couldn’t bail out the Bison.
Romsa said he was proud of the Bison’s effort despite the loss.
“We played exceptionally,” the junior said. “Skyview is a great team. We came out and gave it our best, we just came up short.”
Romsa poured in 14 points for the Bison, shooting 4 of 5 from beyond the arc.
“Kellan played amazing,” said Howard, who scored 19 points in the fourth quarter and OT. “If it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t have been in that game. He played great defense as well. He was key for us tonight.”
Evans led the Falcons with 18 markers and Peyton Stott and Nick Tranel put up 12 points apiece.
Skyview began the game on a 12-2 run in the first 3:18, taking a 16-11 advantage after one, holding Howard to only two points in the frame.
Howard picked it up in the second, scoring eight points to bring the game to a stalemate heading into the locker room at 28-28.
The Falcons grabbed momentum heading into the fourth, closing out the third stanza on a 7-0 run and pulled ahead to as many as 11 in the fourth before Howard and company surged ahead to tie it at the end of regulation.
Romsa said the Bison have many good things to take from the loss.
“We’re a really strong team,” Romsa said. “We did what we needed to do but just came up short. We’re getting better every week, and that’s what matters.”
The Bison play host to Billings West on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Billings Skyview 71, Great Falls High 68
Skyview – RayQuan Evans 18, Brendan Acheson 8, Payton Stott 12, Kaleb Tocco 2, Austin Zacher 6, Zharon Richmond 2, John O’Donnell 4, Steven Fisher 9, Nick Tranel 12. Totals 23 18-29 71.
GFH – Kendall Kynett 2, Kody Torgerson 2, Kellan Romsa 14, Reece Green 6, Riley Watt 2, Brendan Howard 37, Keaton Burcham 5. Totals 20 18-23 68.
3-point goals – Stott 1, Zacher 1, O’Donnell 2, Tranel 3, Romsa 4, Howard 2, Burcham 1. Total fouls – Skyview 17, GFH 18. Fouled out – Romsa, Tranel, L. Nelson. Technical – none.