Wrestlers ready for postseason, Will McGree swings to Tech

Joshua Sutton is not-so-quietly climbing up some historical ladders in the Butte Central boys’ basketball program.

The 5-foot-11 junior guard is averaging exactly 21 points per game to lead the Maroons. He scored 19 points in Tuesday’s 67-40 loss at Frenchtown. That loss snapped BC’s seven-game winning streak, and it is the only loss to a Class A team this season.

Sutton will likely become the next Butte prep basketball player to join the 1,000-point club. Butte High junior Cadence Graham joined the club last month, and Sutton could very well be getting his membership card before the season is over.

The 19 points in Frenchtown brought Sutton’s career total to 888 points with five games remaining in the regular season. Then, of course, the Maroons will have the Western A Divisional tournament in Hamilton and quite possible the Class A State tournament in Great Falls.

Eight former Butte Central players have previously joined the 1,000-point club. They are Dougie Peoples (1,683 points), “Jumpin’” Joe Kelly (1,404), Joe Devich (1,364), Jonathan Richards (1,118), Justin Thatcher (1,117), Ryan Murphy (1,035), Mark Murphy (1,015) and Tom Kenney (1,002).

Sutton would be the first Maroon to join the club with the benefit of playing an extra season. He played in 25 varsity games as an eighth-grader in 2022-23, the first year eighth graders were allowed to play in Class A and Class AA competition. Of course, that should not mean that Sutton’s stats deserve an asterisk. He scored just 34 total points that season.

Sutton scored 241 points as a freshman, 340 as a sophomore and 273 so far this season. He has played in 83 total varsity games, and the Maroons have a 62-21 record in those games.

Sutton recently passed Tyler McIntyre and Jake Stagnoli on the all-time list of varsity games played for the Maroons. He is tied with Thatcher.

The record is held by Devich, who played 111 varsity games from 1947 through 1950. Luke Heaphy (102 games), and current BC assistant coach Cade Holter (101) are the only other Maroons to play more than 100 varsity games.

As long as he stays healthy, Sutton will pass all of them next season. That eighth-grade season definitely gives Sutton an assist on that front.

Sutton and the Maroons will look to bounce back from Tuesday’s loss Saturday when the Hamilton Broncs come to town for a boys-girls doubleheader at the Maroons Activities Center. The girls play at 3 p.m., and the boys follow at 4:30.

It will be the busiest day of hoops in Butte this season, with BC and Butte High’s teams using a total of five courts to get in all the action.

The Bulldogs, who play host to a twin bill with Kalispell Glacier Friday at the Civic Center, will host Flathead in a double dip on Saturday.

Butte High will also use the old gym and the Richardson Gym at the High School for subvarsity games, and the Maroons will play their C squad and junior varsity boys’ games in on the old court of the Civic Center annex.

BC’s girls, who opened some eyes with a solid second half in Tuesday’s home loss to Frenchtown, enters the game with the Broncs finally getting healthy.

Sophomore Kenzie McQueary returned recently, and coach Quinn Carter said Tuesday that she is back to her old self after a hip injury. BC also got back sophomore Natalie Osterman, who missed time with a rolled ankle.

By Saturday, the Maroons are hopeful to see the return of eighth-grade star Jordyn Samson.

Saturday’s tilt is a huge one for the Maroons, who are looking to take control of the No. 4 seed in the Southwestern A. That would mean a home play-in game for the Western A Divisional.

The top three teams move on automatically to the divisional. The fifth and sixth seeds play the first play-in game, with the winner going to the No. 4 seed for the right to play at divisionals.

Central, which fell 35-31 to the Broncs Jan. 17 in Hamilton, must beat the Broncs by five points or more to hold the edge on a potential tiebreaker with Hamilton. The Broncs enter the game at 5-9 overall and 2-4 in conference. Central is 4-9 and 2-5.

A win by the BC boys would securely put the Maroons in the driver’s seat to avoid a play-in game. Central is 11-2 overall and 6-1 in conference. Hamilton sits in fourth place at 5-9 and 3-3. BC beat the Broncs 48-36 Jan. 17 in Hamilton.

Bulldogs look for Kalispell sweep

Butte High’s boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will be looking to sweep the Kalispell schools for the second time this season when Gallatin and Flathead come to town.

The girls open both doubleheaders, playing at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday. The boys play at 7 and 4:30. The Bulldogs swept the Wolfpack and Braves both nights when they went to Kalispell Jan. 9 and 10.

The Bulldog girls beat Flathead 40-25 before rolling past Glacier 72-37. The boys won 75-48 and 72-57.

On the boys’ side, the Bulldogs enter the weekend at 9-3 overall and 4-3 in Western AA play. Glacier is 4-9 and 1-5 after Tuesday’s 44-36 home loss to Missoula Hellgate. Flathead is 1-11 and 0-6. The Braves will play at Hellgate on Thursday.

After starting the season at 7-0, the Bulldogs are 2-3 over their last five games. Senior Cayde Stajcar suffered a high ankle sprain early in last week’s loss at Missoula Sentinel. He toughed it out and finished the game, but his status for this week is up in the air.

Without Stajcar, the lineup will be considerably smaller, even though 6-foot-9 sophomore Brady Hanson poured in a career-high 19 points in last week’s win at Missoula Big Sky. The last time he played in the Civic Center, he left the gym rocking with four monster dunks in a 75-60 Jan. 2 win over Gallatin.

Senior Rhett Arntson started in place of Josh Liston when he was out with an injury. Liston back is back and starts for the Bulldogs the along with seniors Hudson Luedtke and Mitch Verlanic.

James Pearston, Kendel Noctor, Ryan Hanson, Kaleb Celli, Raeder Grey, Brady Walsh, Koda Schleeman, Kodye Kjersten and Noah Powers have also contributed for the Bulldog varsity squad. Pearston, Noctor, Ryan Hanson and Celli are seniors, the others also play subvarsity games.

The Bulldog girls are 7-5 and 5-2 heading into the weekend. Glacier sis 1-12 and 0-8, while Flathead is 2-10 and 1-6. The Bravettes host Hellgate on Thursday.

Cadence Graham scored 32 points in Friday’s 72-47 home win over Missoula Sentinel. She sank five 3-pointers in that performance. Her sister, Elli, started the game with three straight made 3-pointers, but then the freshman left the game after bumping her knee.

The injury is not thought to be serious, but her status for this weekend is still up in the air, according the Bulldog coach Bryan Arntson.

Senior Emma Johnson joined the younger Graham with nine points in that win. Freshman Saege Grey scored seven.

Senior Frankie Salusso and juniors Allie Becker and Autum Clary join Cadence Graham and Johnson in the starting lineup. Ellie Graham, if she can go, Grey and junior Kendallyn Schad are the first players off the bench.

Juniors Avery Barsness, Reese Johnson and Ellie Yates and sophomore Stella Callaghan also contribute regularly for the Bulldogs.

Next week, the Bulldogs play Helena Capital and Helena High. The boys host Capital on Thursday before heading to Helena High on Saturday. The girls play Capital in Helena on Thursday and then host the Bengals on Saturday.

Bulldog wrestlers close home slate

Butte High’s wrestling teams wrapped up their home action Tuesday night with duals against the Bozeman schools.

The Bulldogs dominated the Bozeman Hawks while splitting with the Gallatin Raptors Tuesday at the old gym.

Butte High’s girls blanked Bozeman 75-0 and topped Gallatin 54-30.

Against Gallatin, Jessica Blow, Adalie Hazlett, Brooke Johnson, Loretta Matteson and Mattie Stepan won by way of the pin. Sage Queer, Rylee Radcliffe, Allie Ballensky and Peyton Liva accepted forfeits.

Forfeit was the name of the game against Bozeman. Liva, Brooklyn Hettick, Lilyi Malone, Deena Naugle, Blow, Queer, Stepan, Mattison Neighbor, Radcliff and Chaynne Robinson won by forfeit. Hazlett won by decision, while Johnson and Matteson picked up pins.

On the boys’ side, Butte High fell 41-34 to Gallatin and beat Bozeman 84-0.

Reveles McEwen and Darryn Rossiter pinned their Gallatin counterparts. Bradey Doyle won by technical fall, and Ryder McEwen and Bode Hazlett picked up decisions. Keegan Hunt and Renzy LeProwse won by forfeit.

The Dogs skunked the Hawks, using seven pins and seven forfeits. Rossiter, Dyle, Joey Ward, Daniel Fraser, Ryder McEwen, Cameron Fleege and Kasen O’Keefe stuck their opponents. LePrwose, Kuley Queer, Reveles McEwen, Hazlett, Bridger Brancamp, Caden Phillips and Waylond Hicks accepted forfeits.

Check out Bruce Sayler’s story on ButteSports.com for more on these duals.

Next up for the Bulldogs are the Feb. 14 Western AA qualifying tournaments in Missoula. The girls will compete at Hellgate, while the boys hit the mats at Sentinel.

BC’s Holmes goes 3-0 at Duals

Butte Central’s wrestling team did not win any duals as the Maroons hosted the Class A Duals Friday and Saturday at the Butte Civic Center. They simply do not have enough wrestlers out to score enough dual points.

Central fell 42-27 to Dillon, 72-3 to Libby/Troy, 72-6 to Lockwood and 72-12 to East Helena.

That, however, does not mean the Maroons did not find success on the mats. Junior Jack Holmes went 3-0 to lead the BC effort. He picked up one decision and two pins on the tournament.

Eighth grader Jampel Hanley also went 3-0, though two of those wins were accepted forfeits. He also picked up a decision.

Freshman Tyge Meneses picked up a pin against Dillon, while eighth grader Jace Rauch added a forfeit win.

Click here to find results of the Class AA Duals.

The Maroons will close out their home portion of the season with a 5 p.m. mixer Friday at the Maroon Activities Center. BC will then head to the Western A Divisional Feb. 13-14 in Dillon.

Bulldogs swim past Maroons

Butte High’s boys and girls topped Butte Central in the Butte Crosstown Swim Meet Monday at the Butte Family YMCA.

The Bulldogs, who had a huge numbers advantage, won 275-97 on the girls’ side and 552-101 on the boys’ side.

Alex Sonnemann won two individual events for the Butte High boys. Gunnar Benson, Tucker Kissell, Nathan Stone and Elgin Hoar each won one. Shamus Peck won two for BC.

Adalie Grochowski, Alaina Grocowski, Oliva Thurmond and Bryher Fitzpatrick won individual events for the Bulldog girls. Alex Morey picked up one for the Butte High girls.

The meet was the final action for the Bulldogs and Maroons before the Feb. 12-14 State meet in Great Falls.

McGree signs with Diggers

Will McGree parlayed his outstanding high school golf career into an opportunity at the next level.

He will take that opportunity at his hometown school, Montana Tech. McGree signed to play golf for the Orediggers Friday.

The signing comes after McGree earned All-State honors last October at the Class A State meet at the Sidney Country Club. He tied with his brother, Beau, a sophomore, for 13th place. The brothers also tied for seventh place at the Western A Divisional tournament in Hamilton.

Will McGree was a four-year standout for the Maroon golf team. He also competes in track at BC.