The Billings Skyview boys basketball team locked down on the defensive end on Friday night, routing visiting Bozeman High 53-25 to jump back in the Eastern AA regular-season title hunt.
Bozeman held two leads in the game, 2-0 and 4-3, but Skyview closed the first quarter on a 10-0 run to lead 13-4 after one. The Falcons never trailed again, stretching that lead to 23-9 at halftime on a Payton Sanders step-back 3-pointer.
Skyview's suffocating defense was on full display throughout the game, as Bozeman struggled to get anything easy. Skyview stretched its lead to 39-12 after three quarters and cruised to victory over the final eight minutes.
Both Bozeman and Billings Skyview stand at 6-2 overall and 6-2 in the Eastern AA, but they're looking up at Great Falls High. The Bison, 7-1 in conference play, have a head-to-head victory over Skyview but lost to Bozeman.
Sanders led Skyview with 14 points and Ky Kouba added 13, as 10 Falcons got in the scoring column. Tucker MacBeth led Bozeman with eight points.
Billings Skyview is in action again on Saturday against Bozeman Gallatin. Bozeman will play Saturday against Billings West.
