Butte High’s girls’ basketball players are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.

The honor comes after the Bulldogs placed fourth at the Class AA State basketball tournament at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman. After falling to eventual state champion Gallatin in the opener, the Bulldogs bounced back with loser-out routes of Bozeman and 2024 champion Billings Skyview.

In the third-place game, the Bulldogs nearly pulled off a miraculous comeback against Missoula Big Sky. Butte brought a 17-point deficit with less than 3-minutes left to play back to a 3-point game in the final seconds.

In Bozeman, Butte High won its first State tournament game since 2013. Then the Bulldogs won two State tournament games for the first time since 2009. At 16-8, Butte High posted its best record since a 16-7 campaign in 2019.

The varsity/JV roster includes seniors Dylann Bartoletti, Sidney Whitaker, Brityn Stewart and Addie Hiatt; juniors Ally Godbout, Franki Salusso, Gracie Jonart and Emma Johnson; sophomores Cadence Graham, Autumn Clary, Brittyn Klima, Allie Becker, Avery Barsness, Ellie Yates, Reese Johnson, Kate DeShaw and Kendallyn Schad; freshman Stella Callaghan; and eighth graders Saege Grey and Ellison Graham.

Bryan Arntson is the head coach. He is assisted by Megan Graham, Levi Dawes, Courtney Schad and Eddy Stewart. The managers are Sitota Graff, Courtlyn Wilson and Kyra Sullivan.

For the third year, Leskovar Honda, home of the 20-year, 200,000-mile warranty, is teaming up with the ButteCast to honor the finest student-athletes from the Mining City in an effort to encourage more children to get up, get out and try all kinds of sports and activities.

Team photo courtesy of Alycia Holland Photography