GREAT FALLS — ShaAnn Danelson got Scobey off to a hot start in the consolation final of the Class C girls basketball state tournament Saturday at Pacific Steel & Recycling Four Seasons Arena, and Kortney Nelson put the finishing touches on the game to help the Spartans earn a 51-45 win over Savage.
Danelson scored Scobey’s first 13 points — making four 3-pointers and one free throw — as the teams made seven 3-pointers before either converted a 2-point field goal. Savage, though, led 17-15 after the first quarter and 24-23 at halftime thanks to a balanced attack led by Haylie Conradsen.
But Scobey took control in the third quarter. The Spartans outscored the Warriors 14-7 in the pivotal frame and then held off Savage’s comeback attempts in the fourth quarter. Nelson finished with a game-high 23 points, going a perfect 10 for 10 at the free throw line with many of those coming in the clutch moments in the fourth quarter. Nelson added five rebounds, seven assists and four steals to her well-rounded stat sheet.
Danelson finished with 16 points, making 5 of her 7 3-point attempts. Gracee Lekvold added eight points, including a crucial 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Conradsen paced Savage with 15 points, Soda Rice added nine, and Reghan Prevost and Tyler Lien each contributed eight.
Scobey and Savage advanced to Saturday’s consolation final with loser-out wins by identical scores in the morning. Scobey defeated Ekalaka 56-38, and Savage defeated Wibaux by the same score.
