TOWNSEND – Lainee Hill scored a team-high 10 points and led a balanced attack for the No. 3 Townsend Lady Bulldogs as the team trounced Choteau 45-26 in nonconference action on Saturday afternoon.
Townsend’s defense was smothering in the first half, allowing only two points in each of the first two quarters. The Lady Bulldogs, ranked No. 2 in the MontanaSports.com polls, led 26-4 at intermission.
Hill drilled five field goals, while Tavia Rooney, Charlotte Watson and Grace McDonnell each added eight points in the win.
Still, Choteau answered early in the third quarter and actually outscored Townsend in the second half, 22-19, but the damage had already been done. Anna Jamison had a game-high 11 points in the loss.
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The boys game saw Townsend play arguably its best game of the season. The hometown Bulldogs limited Choteau star Sayer Patton, harassing the sharpshooter with a swarming defense. But Patton found other ways to contribute, including rebounding and passing, where his fast break assist to Jonathan Moore led to a soft dunk in the first half.
Choteau also saw contribution from Kyler Crabtree in the 61-59 win.
Townsend, which has struggled to find wins, but been within striking distance in contests this winter, continued to knock down big shots. Brady Saltzman and Easton Hatfield made key buckets, but couldn’t pick up the nonconference win. Townsend did steal the lead late in the fourth quarter, but with less than 30 seconds to play, Choteau’s Patton missed a potential game-winner, but Moore was able to get the offensive rebound and putback to clinch the win.
