GREAT FALLS — The Class C boys basketball event opened Wednesday with 4 first-round video games at 4 Seasons Enviornment.
Luster Christian defeated Melstone 51-44 within the opener and Manhattan Christian defeated Winnett-Grass Vary 61-58 within the second sport. In late first-round video games, Harlowton-Ryegate rallied previous Plentywood 51-39 and Field Elder dealt with Harrison 76-59.
Watch highlights from all 4 video games within the movies above.
PHOTOS: FIRST ROUND OF THE BIG FALLS BOYS STATE TOURNAMENT
Luster Christian 51, Melstone 44
Johnslee Pierre scored 30 factors and the Luster Christian Lions are headed to the State C semifinals for the primary time in class historical past with a 51-44 win over Melston.
Pierre was electrical on Wednesday. The 6-foot-5 sophomore from the Bahamas hit 4 of seven 3-point makes an attempt and knocked down a number of breakaway reels. Cam Reddig joined Pierre in double figures scoring with 10 factors for the Lions.
Luster led all through the sport and pushed the result in 13 within the third quarter behind a flurry of factors from Pierre. However the Broncs got here again behind sophomore stars Nolan Kamerman and Tucker Keller to chop the result in two factors within the fourth quarter. That's when Pierre recorded a pair of back-to-back dunks to create distance and assist cool the sport.
Kamerman led Melstone with 18 factors, whereas Tucker added 12, all within the second half.
Final 12 months, Luster Christian was undefeated coming into the 2023 State C event, however fell to Large Sandy within the first spherical. The Lions at the moment are within the semifinals and can advance to the semifinals in opposition to Manhattan Christian on Thursday night time. The Broncs will face Winnett-Grass Vary within the comfort bracket.
TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports activities
Manhattan Christian 61, Winnett-Grass Vary 58
The 2-time defending Class C champion (1W) Manhattan Christian Eagles gained the primary spherical of the state event over (2N) Winnett-Grass Vary 61-58.
Manhattan Christian led comfortably for many of the sport, however the Rams clawed their approach again into the sport within the fourth quarter, slicing the result in two within the last minute. A possible game-tying 3 by Brady Bantz was out of bounds, and the Eagles breathed a sigh of aid — clinching a spot within the C-state semifinals for the eighth straight 12 months.
The Eagles had three gamers attain double figures. Carter Van Dyken led the group with 13 factors, whereas Christian Triemstra and Rance Hamilton added 12 and 11 factors, respectively. Brady Bantz had 22 factors to guide the Rams, whereas his brother Jace Bantz added 15 factors and 10 rebounds.
Manhattan Christian will play (1E) Luster Christian within the semifinals Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Winnett-Grass Vary, making their first look since 2009, will face (2S) Melstone at 9am.
TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports activities
Harlowton-Ryegate 51, Plentywood 39
Kenyan Davis scored 24 factors and the Harlowton-Ryegate Engineers overcame a gradual begin to beat Plentywood 51-39 within the first spherical of the State C event.
Scoring was excessive within the first quarter, with Harlowton main 9-8 after the primary eight minutes. The Wildcats opened up an eight-point lead within the second quarter earlier than the Engineers closed the hole and trailed 21-20 on the half.
Davis scored at will, changing 10 of 17 pictures from the sphere. Bergen Mysse joined Davis in double figures with 12 factors within the win. Carson Solberg led the Wildcats with 22 factors. Plentywood made simply 15 area objectives within the sport, a 33.3% clip.
The Engineers advance to the semifinals to face undefeated Field Elder on Thursday at 8 p.m. Plentywood heads to the console to confront Harrison.
TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports activities
Field Elder 76, Harrison 59
Tracen Jilot turned in a virtuoso efficiency in Wednesday's State C opener to guide undefeated (1N) Field Elder to a 76-59 win over (2W) Harrison.
Jilot stuffed 25 factors, six rebounds, 5 assists, three positive factors and two blocks into the statistics desk. Tuarie Stiffarm-Rosette added 18 factors, whereas Dreyden Anderson chipped in with 17 factors.
Field Elder's full-court press was stifling within the first quarter because the Bears jumped out to a 22-9 lead over Harrison. The Wildcats, making their first-ever journey to the state event, saved the sport from getting away from them — slicing the result in 13 at one level within the third quarter.
Harrison was led by senior captain Andrew Bacon with 20 factors. Riley Reynolds scored 12 factors within the loss, whereas Aaron DeFrance added a double-double with 11 factors and 14 rebounds.
Field Elder will play (1S) Harlowton-Ryegate within the state C semifinals Thursday at 8 p.m., whereas Harrison will play Plentywood within the comfort bracket at 10:30 a.m.
TOM WYLIE/MTN Sports activities
