WORDEN -- Plenty Coups opened up a 17-point halftime lead on its way to a win over Absarokee, while Bridger held off Reed Point-Rapelje as both teams won District 6C boys basketball semifinal games Thursday night in Worden to punch tickets to the Southern C divisional tournament.
Plenty Coups 68, Absarokee 50
Plenty Coups opened up Saturday night's semifinals by opening up a 17-point halftime lead over Absarokee. Henry Sioux buried a corner 3-pointer as the second quarter buzzer sounded to cap the Warriors' explosive half.
Absarokee wound up cutting the Plenty Coups lead to just 13 in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors put the pedal down late to advance to the Southern C divisional tournament. Clarence Stewart led Plenty Coups with 21 points and Melville Stops Jr. added 20.
Bridger 69, Reed Point-Rapelje 66
After Reed Point-Rapelje upset No. 3-seed Park City on Wednesday, the Renegades nearly did the same to second-seeded Bridger on Thursday. Bridger was able to hold off RPR for a 69-66 win to clinch a spot in the Southern C divisional tournament.
Bridger built a double-digit lead early in the first half, but RPR battled back to trim the deficit to four, 28-24, by halftime. Again the Scouts would open up a double-digit lead early in the third quarter, but the Renegades wouldn't back down, cutting it back to three and eventually trailing by seven after three quarters.
RPR's Ty Herzog fouled out with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, but Daynon Bear put the team on his back. Bear finished with a game-high 27 points, several of those coming in the final minutes.
But Bridger got the defensive stops it needed down the stretch to advance to Saturday night's championship game against Plenty Coups. The Scouts were led by Baylor Pospisil's 23 points and Jake Kallevig's 21. Bridger is the only team in conference to beat Plenty Coups this season.
