BILLINGS — Billings West went on a 13-0 run midway through the third quarter to turn a five-point deficit into an eight-point lead, and the Bears went on to beat Great Falls High 53-40 to seize control of the Eastern AA boys basketball standings Friday night.
West led 23-22 after a low-scoring first half, but it was the Bison who scored the first six points of the third to take a 28-23 lead. West found another gear after that. Josh Erbacher, Cade Tyson and Logan Meyer pushed the pace as the Bears scored transition baskets and didn't allow Great Falls to score for a five-minute stretch.
The Bison climbed to within five in the fourth quarter, but West made free throws down the stretch to pull away.
The win moves West to 6-0 in the Eastern AA, 1.5 games ahead of Billings Skyview, which is 5-2 after beating Belgrade Friday night. Great Falls High falls to 4-2 with the loss.
