BILLINGS — The first round of the Eastern AA girls divisional girls basketball tournament saw Billings Skyview and Great Falls CMR score early wins Thursday at Alterowitz Gymnasium on the campus of Montana State Billings.
Skyview got a 66-37 victory over Belgrade while CMR defeated crosstown foe Great Falls High 45-35 to move on to the semifinals.
Bozeman Gallatin also moved into the semis later Thursday with a 59-41 victory over Billings Senior, and Billings West advanced with by running past Bozeman High 71-49.
The semifinals on Friday will pit Skyview versus CMR and Gallatin against West.
Billings Skyview 66, Belgrade 37
Skyview jumped out to an 11-point lead after the first quarter and didn't look back in a 66-37 first-round win over Belgrade.
Breanna Williams filled the stat sheet with 18 points, nine rebounds and five assists, leading the Falcons into the semifinals. Taryn Salveson added 13 points and Rae Smart had 11 for the Falcons.
Belgrade got 10 points from Leila Mamangus and seven each from Isabelle Blossom and Madi Simon. The Panthers will play in loser-out action Friday.
Great Falls CMR 45, Great Falls 35
Crosstown rivals met in the opening round Thursday, with CMR jumping out to a big lead to beat Great Falls 45-35.
The Rustlers led 32-12 after the first half. Sophie Madsen led with nine points in the game, and Macie Wheeler added eight points.
Great Falls, which dipped into loser-out play, got nine points from Isis Haslem and eight points from Kyesha Farmer.
Bozeman Gallatin 59, Billings Senior 41
Jada Davis had 16 points in Gallatin's 59-41 first-round win over Billings Senior.
Ave Odegard had 13 points and seven rebounds and Makayla Coleman added 10 points for the Raptors, who held Senior to two third-quarter points to break the game open.
Piper Jette had a game-high 19 points as the Broncs, who will play next play in the loser-out bracket.
Billings West 71, Bozeman 49
West built a 31-point lead at the end of the third quarter on the way to a 71-49 rout of Bozeman in the opening round.
Aalle Haber's double double of 18 points and 12 rebounds led the way for the Bears. Haver had seven offensive rebounds. Kourtney Grossman chipped in 16 points and Reagan Soucy had 13.
Bozeman, which moves into loser-out action, got 10 points from Rose O'Brien and nine points from Lexie Cotton. Nula Anderson added eight points and seven rebounds for the Hawks.
