Prospectors strike bronze with Consolation title
BUTTE – Granite slipped into the consolation bracket of the District 12C Boys Basketball Tournament in Butte Saturday and came home with the bronze medal.
A night after suffering a heart-breaking loss to the Wildcats of Harrison-Willow Creek in the semifinals, the Prospectors claimed a pair of victories over Ennis and Sheridan.
The Panthers led 13-10 after one period, but Granite rallied to hold a 21-20 lead at halftime. The locals had reason to be concerned with four minutes to go as senior Daniel Brabender collected his third personal foul and sending him to the bench. Bryce Parret filled in, providing the Prospectors with solid defense and rebounding.
Granite extended that their lead through the third quarter and then put the game away in the fourth with a defensive surge.
With the win, Granite now must wait for the outcome of the Twin Bridges-Harrison WC final. Should the Wildcats win, then the Prospectors could request a challenge game that would be played Monday back in Butte at the MAC.
SCORING
SHERIDAN – 13/7/11/8 – 39
GRANITE – 10/11/14/12 – 47
Sheridan – VanHouten 2, Chisholm 10, Gilman 2, McParland 11, Martin 4, Batzler 10
Granite – Cutler 15, Ward 18, Brabender 6, Tallon 6, Parret 2
Consolation Semifinals
Granite 52, Ennis 42
The Prospectors made a three-peat against the Ennis Mustangs Saturday morning, claiming a 10-point win over their opposition and moving into the Consolation Finals against Sheridan.
Granite trailed early and was down 38-35 heading into the final period. But a 15-4 surge over the last eight minutes vaulted them into the next round. Brian Ward, who finished with a team-high 16 points, hit three pointer that was followed by a two from Andrew Tallon that gave the Prospectors the lead late in the stanza.
Daniel Brabender and Kade Cutler also broke double figures with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
SCORING
ENNIS – 17/11/10/4 – 42
GRANITE – 10/9/16/15 – 52
Ennis – Swnason 17, Kloote 3, Ostler 15, Severeid 2, Jenkins 5
Granite – Cutler 13, Ward 16, Brabender 14, Tallon 3, Parret 6
