SPORTS

GFH holds off West

Grady Higgins
ghiggins@greatfallstribune.com

Saturday brought a welcome change for the Great Falls High boys’ basketball team.

With the Bison leading 59-57 with under 10 seconds remaining, a deep 3-pointer from Billings West’s Parker Elliot just missed the mark as timed ticked down, and GFH held on for the Eastern AA win in front of 2,000 fans at Swarthout Fieldhouse.

The Bears (3-4, 9-5) lobbied for more time to be added to the clock, as the ball bounced out of bounds off a Bison player in the scramble for rebound in the waning seconds, but the officials ruled the game over.

Senior Riley Watt said the win was a relief for the Bison, who suffered a tight overtime loss to Billings Skyview on Friday.

“Last night (against Skyview) it came down to one or two shots,” said Watt, “and today it came down to the same thing, so it was nice to come out on top in a game like that.”

The Bison rose to 4-3 in the conference and 9-6 overall.

“That was a big conference win for us,” junior guard Kody Torgerson said. “Especially after the loss (on Friday). It was just a new day today.”

All-state junior Brendan Howard scored a game-high 28 points for the Bison and Keaton Burcham and Kellan Romsa chipped in seven points apiece for the Bison.

GFH head coach Bob Howard said the Bison did a good job of spreading the ball around.

“I think we’re pretty good when we move the ball,” he said, “because they are getting open looks. Kellan knocked them down, (Kendall) Kynett had a couple, Blake Thelen and Burcham had a couple. When we start to get comfortable moving the ball and we get four, five, six guys who are capable of putting the ball in the basket we’ll be tough to guard.”

West head coach and former C.M. Russell star Kelly Darragh, who’s Bears topped his alma mater in a tight contest on Friday, said he was pleased overall.

“I’m happy with the weekend,” said Darragh. “I thought we did a great job on Brendan, he’s a great player. We kind of dug ourselves into a hole there but we fought back, I know these kids won’t give up. I wouldn’t trade my guys for anyone.”

The Deming twins, Braydon and Bryson, led West with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Brendan got off to a quick start for the Bison, dropping 12 points in the first period, but the Bears kept pace, and GFH clung to a 30-28 halftime lead.

West took a 37-35 with under five minutes to go in the third on a long ball from Bryson, but the Bison answered with a corner 3 from Burcham, followed by a Brendan Howard layup off his own rebound on the following possession.

Momentum continued to swing in GFH’s favor soon after, as Brendan drew and completed a 3-point play off the inbound and sunk a pair of freebies after West’s Luke Funyak was called for a technical arguing the call.

The Demings combined for a pair of buckets to cut the Bears’ deficit to 47-41 after the third stanza.

Bryson Deming tied to game at 53 with just under three to play after hitting a 3 followed by a pair of free throws, but Howard responded with a jumper to retake the lead for good for the Bison.

Bob Howard said competing against quality opponents such as Skyview and West on back-to-back nights was a good confidence booster for his squad.

“Now we’ve got it in our minds that we’ve got a chance against some of these top schools,” he said. “We gave Bozeman (the no. 1 team in the East) a good game down there too. We’re only going to get better. But being close doesn’t quite cut it, so tonight was a big win for us.”

Great Falls High 59, Billings West 57

West… 15 13 13 16 – 57

GFH… 18 12 17 12 – 59

West – Jesse Owens 5, Bryson Deming 16, Will Harris 4, Luke Funyak 2, Braydon Deming 17, Parker Elliot 3, Reece Nielsen 5, Cleveland Harvey 5. Totals 18 14-20 57.

GFH – Kendall Kynett 6, Blake Thelen 5, Kellan Romsa 7, Kody Torgerson 1, Riley Watt 5, Brendan Howard 28, Keaton Burcham 7. Totals 19 13-17 59.

3-point goals – Owens 1, Elliot 1, Nielsen 1, Kynett 2, Thelen 1, Romsa 2, Howard 2, Burcham 1. Total fouls – West 16, GFH 18. Fouled out – Burcham. Technical – Funyak.