SPORTS

Northern C Girls: Roy-Winifred tops Fort Benton

Scott Mansch smansch@greatfallstribune.com

Lorianne Stulc scored a team-best nine points Wednesday afternoon, but it was the senior’s two assists that made the difference as Roy-Winifred edged Fort Benton 37-32 in a first-round girls’ game at the Northern C tournament.

Twice in the final 90 seconds Stulc dished off to freshman Dyauni Boyce for baskets as the Outlaws prevailed in a clash that didn’t feature much separation by either team.

“Down the stretch our kids stepped up and came up big,” said Outlaws’ coach Marietta Boyce, the former Montana Lady Griz star and mother of Dyauni. “Prior to that the struggle was real. The rims were tight and we were tight.”

It was a low-scoring affair with an abundance of emotion. After the Stulc-Boyc connection provided Roy-Winifred with a 31-30 edge, Fort Benton’s Coya Nack hit a layup off a nice feed from Leah Gannon.

But the Longhorns didn’t score again.

On the ensuring possession. Stulc fed Boyc again with a basket that provided a one-point edge with 40 seconds to play. At the other end the 5-foot-10 Boyce came up with a blocked shot.

Free throws from Kaylie Carlstrom and Stulc in the final moments ended the suspence.

The Outlaws, who improved to 18-4, will play in the Northern C semifinals Thursday night at 8:30 at Four Seasons.

How long has it been since Roy-Winifred advanced to the state tournament.

“It’s been a while, so we’re thinking it’s our turn,” said Boyce.

Fort Benton got 10 points and a nice floor game from Gannon. The Longhorns missed 10 of 19 free throws.

“We made plays, but not when we needed to,” said Longhorns’ coach Cassie Pimperton. “They made plays down at the end and we didn’t.”

Neither team led by more than six points in a game that included seven ties and eight lead changes.

“They were mentally tougher at the end of the game,” said Pimperton. “They knew they had to make the free throws to win it. Our girls didn’t handle it quite as well mentally as they did. They put too much pressure on themselves.”

Fort Benton (17-5) faces loser-out action Thursday afternoon at 12:30 as the tournament continues.

Fort Benton 8 4 10 10 - 32

Roy-Winifred 4 12 6 15 - 37

Fort Benton: Kaitlyn Bird 5, Madison Thompson 2, Coya Nack 7, Alia Evans 2, Leah Gannon 10, McKenzie Clark 3, McKenna Hanford 3. Totals: 11 7-18.

Roy-Winifred: Jada Goettlich 6, Kaylie Carlstrom 7, Lorianne Stulc 9, Olivia Geer 5, Keyara Bahnmiller 4, Dyauni Boyce 6. Totals: 13 9-19.

3-pointers: Bird, Evans, Gannon, Carlstrom, Geer.