BUTTE — Polson and Dillon punched their state tournament tickets on Friday, winning semifinal games at the Western A boys basketball divisional tournament at the Butte Civic Center.
Polson 51, Frenchtown 45 (OT)
This game was close one throughout, as Polson and Frenchtown needed overtime to settle their Western A semifinal matchup. Polson ultimately advanced to the championship game with a 51-45 win.
At the end of the first half, both teams were tied at 25, and the fourth quarter was no different as both teams went bucket for bucket. Polson's Colton Graham scored a late bucket near the basket to send the game into overtime.
To start overtime, Jarrett Wilson, who hit the game winner against Hamilton on Friday, hit the first bucket of the extra quarter and the Pirates never looked back from there, pulling out the 51-45 win.
Graham was one rebound shy of a double-double for the Pirates. He finished with a game-high 22 points and nine rebounds. Senior Darian Williams finished with 14 points.
Broncs junior Carson Shepard did finish with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds for Frenchtown, while senior teammate Brandon Finley had a team-high 16 points.
Dillon 58, Butte Central 48
Dillon jumped out a 9-3 lead over Butte Central and that was all the separation the Beavers needed on the scoreboard as they went on beat Butte Central 58-48.
Beavers senior Jace Fitzgerald led Dillon with a team-high 19 points, shooting 5 of 10 from beyond the 3-point arc. Senior Cole Truman finished with 11 points for Dillon.
Maroons junior Dougie Peoples had a game-high 23 points.
Dillon will take on Polson at 8 p.m. Saturday in the divisional championship game.
