BOZEMAN — Spotting Gallatin a 15-0 lead proved to be too much to overcome for the Butte High Bulldogs Thursday night.
Butte High made several runs at the mighty Raptors after digging the early hole, but the Bulldogs fell 59-41 in the opening round of the Class AA State girls’ basketball tournament at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.
Butte High, which can do no better than third place, will play in a 1:30 p.m. loser-out game on Friday against Bozeman. The Hawks fell 46-24 in Thursday’s last game.
The Bulldogs beat Bozeman 47-39 Jan. 2 at the Butte Civic Center. The winner of Friday’s game moves on to a Saturday morning loser-out contest.
Jada Davis poured in 19 points to lead three West plaers in double figures as the Raptors ran their record to 19-1. She also pulled down nine rebounds.
Makayla Coleman added 14 points and nine boards, while Ava Odegard scored 1 points, bulled down five rebounds and blocked two shots.
West led 17-5 after the first quarter, 27-16 at the half and 40-30 after three. A 7-0 fourth quarter run ended Butte High’s hopes of a comeback.
Sophomore Cadence Graham and junior Franki Salusso scored in double figures to lead the Bulldogs, who fell to 14-7. Graham scored 11 points, while Salusso netted 10. Senior Brityn Stewart added six points for Butte High, which got five apiece from junior Emma Johnson and eighth grader Ellison Graham. Senior Dylann Baroletti and sophomore Ellie Becker each tossed in two.
Senior Sidney Whitaker started and played for the Bulldogs. Sophomore Autumn Clary contributed for the Bulldogs, while junior Gracie Jonart, sophomore Kendallyn Schad and eighth grader Saege Grey saw time late.
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 