By Tiffany L. Rehbein
The KG KouGars bowed out of the Northern Divisional boys' basketball tournament Saturday night with a 61-49 redemptive win over the Dutton Cardinals in consolation action at Shelby.
However, Heart Butte, the No. 1 team from the Northern Division and Winnett, the No. 2 team, will advance to the State Class C tournament, to be held at the Butte Civic Center, March 9-11.
Winnett handed KG a 56-39 loss in opening-round action on Thursday, therefore, there will not be a challenge game. KG entered the divisional tournament the top-seeded team from the District 9C.
Friday, KG edged Highwood, 51-49. Six-foot-6 senior center Justin Antonich put together a great divisional tournament and led the KouGars with 16 points. Senior forward Jared Miller added 12 and T.J. Iron Bear chipped in 11 in the win.
During Saturday morning action, the KouGars defeated the Geraldine Tigers for the second time in three tries this season, 60-47.
Miller poured in 18 points to lead the KouGar attack. Junior guard Joey Stuart, the KouGars' leading scorer throughout the regular season, and Antonich both added 14 points in the win.
The KouGars redeemed an earlier-season loss to the Dutton Cardinals behind a 61-49 win Saturday night to finish third at divisional.
Miller scored a team-high 20 points in the game, while Antonich added 15 to hit double digits for KG.
The KouGars, who had won back-to-back State Class C titles, finished the season with a 20-4 overall mark.
The Rocky Boy Stars were dropped by eventual divisional champion Heart Butte, 90-61 in opening round action on Thursday. Mike Morsette continued his fine floor play, scoring a team-high 16 points for Rocky Boy. Kyle McDonald added 10 for the Stars in the loss.
It was the second time that Heart Butte has defeated the Stars this season. The two teams met at the Native American Classic on Dec. 11 at Billings. Heart Butte won the game, 67-45.
Winifred knocked the Stars from the tournament with a 66-42 win on Friday afternoon.
Morsette led the Stars with 13 points, while McDonald chipped in 11 in the loss. The Stars, the second-seeded team from the District 9C, finished the season with a 12-12 record.
Number 2-ranked Heart Butte (23-0) will face Noxon in the opening round at state. Winnett (22-3), the second-place team from the Northern Division, will face Medicine Lake, the divisional titleist from the Eastern Division.
Highwood
11
13
12
13
49
KG
2
20
15
14
51
Highwood CJ Blessum 0 2-2 2; Ian Ryan 4 0-0 8; Jeff Pasha 5 3-6 14; Kale Knudson 3 4-4 10; Dusty Hankins 2 1-1 5; Jesse Jordan 5 0-1 10. Totals: 19 10-14.
KG Justin Simenson 0 1-2 1; Joey Stuart 3 2-2 9; Aaron Smith 0 2-2 2; Jared Miller 5 0-1 12; Justin Antonich 8 0-1 16; TJ Iron Bear 4 3-3 11. Totals: 20 8-11.
Total fouls: Highwood 16, KG 16. Fouled out: None;
Three-pointers: Pasha 1, Stuart 1, Miller 2.
Rocky Boy
10
8
14
10
42
Winifred
18
12
16
20
66
Rocky Boy Kyle MacDonald 4 0-0 11; Rannie LodgePole 1 2-4 4; Marcus Standing Rock 1 0-0 2; Adam Demontiney 1 2-2 4; Josh Seaton 1 0-0 3; Mike Morsette 5 2-3 13; Jesse Poolaw 2 0-0 5. Totals: 15 6-9.
Winifred Nick Moseman 6 0-0 12; Kelly Vosen 1 1-2 3; Casey DeMars 3 3-4 9; Jerry Blazicevich 1 0-0 2; Nate Stulc 0 3-6 3; Duane Bergum 5 1-2 14; Liam Robbins 3 0-2 6; Jeremy Carr 2 4-6 8; Andrew Udelhoven 1 1-1 3; Doug Wickers 2 2-2 6; Totals: 24 15-25.
Total fouls: Rocky Boy 18. Winifred 11. Fouled out: Poolaw; Three-pointers: MacDonald 3, Poolaw 1, Seaton 1, Morsette 1, Bergum 3.
Geraldine
12
11
12
12
47
KG
15
10
16
19
80
Geraldine Noah Davis 9 1-3 21; Seth Fairbanks 3 0-0 6; Jon Owen 3 0-2 6; Brandy Schmidt 1 0-0 2; Gregg Owen 2 2-2 6; Don Scott 1 0-0 2; Rory Clark 2 0-0 4; Totals: 21 3-7.
KG Justin Simenson 1 0-0 2; Eric Marshall 1 6-7 8; Joey Stuart 5 1-2 14; Jared Miller 7 2-3 18; Justin Antonich 4 6-9 14; TJ Ironbear 2 0-0 4. Totals: 20 15-21.
