BILLINGS – Huntley Project’s basketball guys won every quarter Thursday night on the way to a 64-48 opening-round win over Jefferson at the Southern B divisional tournament at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark.
After nursing a one-point lead at the end of one, the Red Devils exploded in the second quarter for a 34-24 halftime lead. They led by as many as 23 points thanks to a 16-1 run.
Tim Rose and Rylan DeVries led Huntley Project in scoring with 15 apiece, followed by Isaiah Bouchard with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Noah Bouchard led the Devils in rebounding with nine.
Jefferson’s Bryce Harrington outpaced all scorers with 19 points and six rebounds. Kieran Evelan added 10 rebounds.
Huntley Project will meet Three Forks in Friday’s 8 p.m. semifinal. Jefferson falls into loser-out play against Lodge Grass.
In Thursday’s late game, Three Forks used an 17-2 run after trailing early to lead Lodge Grass 35-24 at the half. The Wolves then withstood a late charge to win 63-57.
Lodge Grass trailed by as many as 14 but, with 4:26 left in the game, posted an 8-0 run to tie it at 48. But since the first quarter, the Wolves would never trail.
Colter Miller led Three Forks in scoring with 17 points and also collected five rebounds. The Wolves put four players in double figures, including Micaiah Hauser, who was next with 13. Corey Yecny led them in rebounds with six.
Damon Gro Von was the scoring leader for Lodge Grass with 15 on 6-of-12 shooting. He also led both teams with nine rebounds. Colton Collins and Josh Stewart each scored 11.
