CHURCHILL -- District 12C boys and girls basketball championships were on the line Saturday, as the undefeated Manhattan Christian teams hosted a doubleheader. The Eagles' boys took on Twin Bridges, which was looking for its fifth straight district title, and the Eagles' girls went head to head with Ennis, which they had already beaten twice this season.
The boys game was a hard-fought match. At one point the Eagles took a 12-11 lead in the first. However, the Falcons got hot after that, taking a 19-15 lead into the half.
They never looked back, going on a 12-2 run to start the third quarter to go on to win 52-44 to take home their fifth straight district title.
Falcons senior Matthew Kaiser had himself a game, scoring a game-high 24 points. He also had eight rebounds. Senior Charlie Kruer was one-point shy of a double-double, as he had nine points and 13 rebounds.
Manhattan Christian struggled mightily in the shooting department, finishing the game making only 20.5% of its shots. The Eagles attempted 45 3-point shots, only making six. Sophomore Seth Amunrud led the Eagles with 15 points.
In the girls game, the Eagles jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, but the Mustangs came roaring back to take a 12-10 lead near the end of the first quarter. The Eagles took a 26-22 lead into halftime.
In the third quarter Manhattan Christian led by as many as 10 points, but the Mustangs pulled withing four to make it 36-32. The Eagles wouldn't let the Mustangs get any closer, though, as they went on to win 42-32.
Eagles senior Eliana Kuperus had six points and 12 rebounds. Kiersten Van Kirk had a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Ennis senior Landri Paladichuk had a team-high 11 points.
All four teams already clinched a spot in the Western C playoffs next week in Deer Lodge.
