GREAT FALLS — The first state tournament seeds have been decided after the Eastern AA consolation finals in Great Falls. Billings West defeated Billings Skyview, 52-46, in the boys third-place game, and Billings Senior beat Great Falls High, 41-35, in the girls game. All four teams will head to state.
The championship matchups between Great Falls High and Bozeman on the boys side and Billings West and Butte for the girls final will determine the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.
GIRLS
Billings Senior 41, Great Falls High 35
Billings Senior defeated Great Falls High, 41-35, in the Eastern AA girls consolation game to clinch the No. 3 seed at next week’s State AA girls tournament in Butte. The Bison will be the East’s No. 4 seed.
Ellie Ostermiller and Nevaeh Pretty On Top led the Broncs with 12 points each. Erin Watt and Jorgie Hawthorne scored 11 points apiece to lead the Bison, with Ryan Palmer adding 10.
Great Falls High had upset Bozeman earlier in the day to clinch a berth at state and advance to the third-place game. Senior defeated Great Falls CMR, 47-32, earlier in loser-out action.
BOYS
Billings West 52, Billings Skyview 48
Billings West built an early lead and held off a late rally from Billings Skyview to win the Eastern AA consolation final, 52-48, and earn the No. 3 seed at the State AA girls tournament in Butte next weekend. The Falcons are the No. 4 seed and will also advance to state.
Jesse Owens led all scorers with 18 points in the win, while Cade Tyson added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Josh Erbacher scored 10 points. Camron Kethcum led Skyview with 13 points and was joined in double digits by Zach Shacht with 11. Julius Mims scored seven points and corralled 10 rebounds for the Falcons.
Skyview advanced to the final by defeating Billings Senior, 61-45, earlier in the day. West eliminated the host Great Falls CMR, 56-34, in loser-out action Saturday morning.
