BILLINGS – Undefeated Colstrip found out the hard way Thursday morning just how much tougher postseason basketball is in Class B.
Three Forks held the Colts to just one point in the fourth quarter, finishing the game on a 20-1 run in a 60-42 win in the Southern B boys basketball divisional opener inside Rimrock Auto Arena.
Colter Miller scored 19 points – 15 in the first half – and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Wolves. Payden Lynn added 17 points and nine rebounds.
Colstrip led 41-40 late in the third quarter before going ice cold. The Colts shot just three for 23 from the field in the second half, with all three baskets coming in the third.
Kobee Big Back led Colstrip with nine points, but fouled out early in the fourth quarter. Isaiah Williams also fouled out in the fourth, with just five points.
ROUNDUP 60, Manhattan 43
Roundup used a 14-2 opening run to take control of its Southern B opener against Manhattan, eventually winning 60-43 for its 12th straight victory.
The Panthers led 14-4 after the first quarter and scored the first nine points of the second for a 23-4 lead. Manhattan never pulled within single digits again.
Cash Cota and Jayce Griffith scored 16 points each to lead the Panthers, who are now 19-1 on the year. Griffith added seven rebounds and four assists.
Roundup’s other all-state returner, Kelson Eiselein, didn’t shoot well (4-of-14 field goals for 11 pts) but added five rebounds, five assists, and four blocks.
Jacob Dyk led the Tigers with 14 points and nine rebounds.
NEXT: Roundup will play Three Forks in a Southern B semifinal Friday at 3 p.m., with the winner clinching a State B berth. Manhattan and Colstrip meet in a loser-out contest Friday at 9 a.m.
