Prospectors can’t keep Falcons grounded, fall in Divisional opener

DEER LODGE – Granite couldn’t stop the highly-ranked Twin Bridges Falcons Thursday in their Class C Western Division Tournament opener, falling to the Falcons 57-37.

The loss drops the Prospectors into the Consolation Bracket where they will face St. Regis in a winner advance/loser goes home game at 8 a.m. in Deer Lodge. That game will be broadcast on the NFHS Network.

Valley Christian will face Alberton-Superior in the other Consolation game.

To view the complete Boys Bracket, CLICK HERE.

Granite opened ther game with some great defense and a 4-0 lead before the Falcons answered with a pair of three pointers to lead 6-4. The Prospectors held fast through period’s end, trailing 12-11 before things started to turn south for them in the second.

Midway into the period Granite’s passes had trouble finding their target. When asked about his squad’s passing woes, GHS Head Coach Dustin Keltner countered with what the real cause was.

“It’s easy to say that (we passed bad), but when their wings are 6-6 and 6-7 those passing lanes become a little tight,” explained Keltner. “They extended their pressure on us a little bit more and we actually needed to be more aggressive with the bounce on top to open up that baseline.

“That’s one of the top-ranked teams in Montana and I couldn’t ask any more out of our kids.”

Twin outscored the locals 21-10 in the second and just out-paced Granite the rest of the way to earn the win.

Kade Cutler led the Prospectors with 11 points.