BILLINGS — The Lockwood and Havre girls won first-round games at the Eastern A divisional basketball tournament on Thursday inside First Interstate Arena in Billings, setting up a semifinal showdown between the two heavyweights on Friday.
In the other semifinal, rivals Hardin and Billings Central are set to tangle after winning first-round games.
Lockwood 61, Lewistown 52
Lockwood's two-headed monster of Tailey Harris and Dani Jordan combined for 42 of the Lions' 61 points, as Lockwood held off Lewistown 61-52 in the opening round of the Eastern A divisional tournament.
Harris racked up a game-high 24 points, hitting four 3-pointers and going 8 for 10 at the free throw line. Jordan scored 18 points and shot 9 of 10 from the charity stripe.
Lockwood withstood a magnificent game from Lewistown's Lexi Burnham, who finished with 21 points, on 8-of-10 shooting, and 11 rebounds.
Lockwood moves into Friday's semifinals, while Lewistown falls into loser-out action.
Havre 68, Laurel 48
Havre put four girls in double figures on its way to a 68-48 win over Laurel in the opening round of the Eastern A divisional tournament.
Tierra Parker led the Blue Ponies with 26 points, shooting 10 of 12 from the floor. Ela Harber added 14 points, Ariana Gary 13 and Amaya Jarvis had 11 points and nine rebounds.
Havre will meet Lockwood in Friday's semifinals, while Laurel will play Lewistown in loser-out action.
Hardin 51, Miles City 47
The Hardin girls punched their ticket to the Eastern A semifinals with a thrilling 51-47 win over Miles City on Thursday afternoon.
The Bulldogs led by two at halftime but pushed it to nine, 35-26, at the end of the third quarter thanks to a trio of 3-pointers in the final minutes of the quarter.
Miles City eventually cut the Hardin lead to one, 43-42, with less than two minutes to play, but the Cowgirls couldn't convert in the final minute, allowing Hardin to ice the game from the free throw line.
Kevee Rogers led Hardin with 15 points, while Savaya Alden added 12 and Karis Brightwings-Pease scored 11. Jillian Kanduch led Miles City with 17 points.
Hardin will play Billings Central Friday's semifinals, while Miles City will play Sidney in loser-out action.
Billings Central 67, Sidney 26
Billings Central jumped all over Sidney in the opening round of the Eastern A divisional tournament on its way to a 67-26 win over the Eagles.
Central lead 20-4 after the first quarter and 36-9 at halftime, putting the game on cruise control for the second half, building a lead as big as 45 in the fourth quarter.
Central was led by Kam Reinker, who had 20 points and 17 rebounds.
The Rams will play rival Hardin in the semifinals on Friday evening, while Sidney will play Miles City in loser-out action.
