FRENCHTOWN — Butte Central’s basketball teams split with Browning to open the season Friday at a tipoff tournament.

BC’s girls fell 52-38 before the Central boys battled for a hard-fought 67-55 victory. The Maroons will take on Columbia Falls on Saturday. The girls play at 10 a.m., and the boys play at 11:30.

GIRLS
Browning 52, Butte Central 38
The Maroons fell into a 16-5 hole after the first quarter, and they could find their way back out. BC, though, did not go down without a fight, outscoring the Indians 15-12 in the fourth quarter.

Dolly Michael poured in 18 points to lead Browning in the win. Kenadee Ollinger scored 10 points, while Tess Troubley tossed in nine.

Eighth grader Jordyn Samson made her varsity debut in strong fashion, pouring in a team-leading 13 points for the Maroons.

Zayonna Otherbull added 10 points for BC, which got five from Braelynn Schelin, three from Kenzie McQueary and eighth grader Luci Fantini, and two apiece from Arika Stajcar and Natalie Osterman. Marly Mansanti and Rylee Forbes also contributed for the Maroons.

BROWNING (1-0) — Tess Troubley 2 2-4 9, Josephine Michael 4 0-0 8, Mylee Pretty Weasel 1 0-0 2, Nyahrae Tatsey 0 0-0 0, Dolly Michael 8 2-6 18, Zoey Vanandray 1 0-0 2, Kenadee Ollinger 5 0-2 10, Tya Spoonhunter 0 0-0 0, Tesley Nogbery 0 0-0 0, Rylynn Kipp-Carson, Brooklyn Bird 1 1-2 3. Totals 23 5-14 52.
BUTTE CENTRAL (0-1) — Marly Mansanti 0 0-0 0, Kenzie McQueary 0 3-7 3, Zayonna Otherbull 4 2-5 10, Rylee Forbes 0 0-2 2, Natalie Oterman 1 0-1 2, Lucy Fantini 1 0-3 3, Jordyn Samson 4 4-8 13, Arika Stajcar 1 0-0 2, Braelynn Schelin 2 1-5 6. Totals 13 10-25 38.
Browning       16        8          16        12 — 52
Central           5          6          12        15 — 38
3-point goals — Browning 1 (Troubley), BC 2 (Fantini, Samson.) Fouls — Browning 23, BC 16. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none.

BOYS
Butte Central 67, Browning 55
Joshua Sutton had himself a day Friday, tossing in 25 points to lead the Maroons, who jumped out to a 19-4 lead and held off an aggressive Browning team.

The junior sank four 3-pointers an shot 7 for 10 from the free throw line. He tossed in 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Maroons hold on for the win.

Central jumped out to a 19-4 lead before Browning mounted a comeback. Central led 25-19 at halftime and 43-35 after three quarters.

Jaxon Hiatt and GG Fantini joined Sutton in double figures. Hiatt poured in 18, while Fantini tossed in 13. BC got five from Noa Sutton, three from Burkley Lakkala, two from Cade Kelly and one from Ryan Peoples. Henley Mansanti also contributed for the Maroons.

BROWNING (0-1) — Layton Wing 2 0-0 6, Royce Mad Plume 1 0-0 3, Roy Mad Plume 2 2-4 7, Shayde St. Goddard 5 2-2 12, Josh Skunkcap 4 1-3 9, Jhett Cobell 2 1-2 7, Jesse D. 0 0-0 0,  Jack B. 0 0-0 0, Eli E. 0 0-2 0, Reis Reevis 5 0-4 11. Totals 21 6-17 55.
BUTTE CENTRAL (1-0) — Ryan Peoples 0 1-3 1, Cade Kelly 1 0-0 2, Joshua Sutton 7 7-10 25, GG Fantini 5 2-2 13, Jaxon Hiatt 4 9-9 18, Noah Sutton 1 3-6 5, Henley Mansanti 0 0-0 0, Burkley Lakkala 0 3-4 3. Totals 18 25-34 67.
Browning       2          16        17        20 — 55
Central           13        12        18        24 — 67
3-point goals — Browning 7 (Cobell 2, Wing 2, Royce Mad Plume, Roy Mad Plume, Reis R.), BC 6 (J. Sutton 4, Fantini, J. Hiatt). Fouls — Browning 30, BC 18.Fouled out — Royce Mad Plume, Skunkcap; Peoples. Technical — Royce Mad Plume.