Valentine’s Day was a good day for the Bulldogs. But it took a while for them to get going.

Butte High’s varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball teams swept Western AA games with Helena High Saturday. Both were come-from-behind wins.

The Bulldog boys went to the Capital City for a 52-42 victory, rallying in the fourth quarter. Butte High’s girls stormed back to erase a double-digit deficit — and then some — for a 63-47 victory at the Richardson Gym.

The Bulldog boys will travel to Missoula Hellgate on Thursday before hosting Missoula Sentinel next Saturday. Butte High’s girls will play host to Hellgate for Senior Night on Thursday before heading to Sentinel on Saturday.

Butte High’s teams close out the regular season Feb. 27 against Missoula Big Sky. The boys will play at home, and the girls will be on the road.

GRILS
Butte High 63, Helena High 47
It might have been the best second half of the season for the Bulldogs.

Butte High outscored Helena 40-16 after the intermission, overcoming a 31-23 halftime deficit for the victory. Butte High trailed by double digits multiple times in the first half.

Elli and Cadence Graham led the way for the Bulldogs. The sisters combined for 33 points in the win. Elli Graham, a freshman, scored 11 of her team-leading 17 points in the second half. That includes two of her 3-pointers.

Cadence Graham, a junior, scored 16 in the victory that lifted the Bulldogs to 10-6 overall and 8-3 in the Western AA.

Seven different Butte High player scored points in the win. Franki Salusso and Emma Johnson each poured in nine points. They both scored seven of their points in the second half. Saege Grey tossed in seven, Avery Barsness drained a 3-pointers, and Allie Becker netted two.

Kendallyn Schad also contributed for the Bulldogs.

Lauren Lieberg scored 24 points to pace the Bengals, who fell to 7-9 and 5-6. Dakota Lieberg added 12 points for Helena, which got six from McKenna Pipinich, four from Cassidy Smith and one from Emmie Bermingham.

HELENA HIGH (7-9 and 5-6) — Lauren Lieberg 9 6-8 24, Dakota Lieberg 3 5-6 12, Alexa Lundstrom 0 0-0 0, McKenna Pipinich 2 1-2 6, Cassidy Smith 2 0-1 4, Emmie Bermingham 0 1-2 1, Kortney McKay 0 0-0 0, Presley Swenson 0 0-0 0, Greta Peterson 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 13-19 47.
BUTTE HIGH (10-6, 8-3) — Allie Becker 1 0-4 2, Cadence Graham 4 7-12 16, Elli Graham 4 4-5 17, Franki Salusso 4 1-4 9, Emma Johnson 4 0-0 9, Saege Grey 1 4-8 7, Kendallyn Schad 0 0-0 0, Avery Barsness 1 0-0 3. Totals 20 16-33 63.
Helena             21        10        8          8 — 47
Butte               13        10        22        18 — 63
3-point goals — Helena 2 (Lieberg, Pipnch), Butte 7 (E. Graham 3, C. Graham, Johnson, Grey, Barsness).  Fouls — Helena 22, Butte 12. Fouled out — none. Technical — Butte High coach.

BOYS
Butte High 52, Helena High 42
HELENA — The Bulldogs erased a 37-33 deficit with a 19-5 run in the fourth quarter.

Hudson Luedtke scored 10 of his game-high 26 points in the final frame, and Brady Hanson had a big dunk as the Bulldogs closed out the game in style.

Butte High trailed 14-10 after the first quarter and 28-25 at the half.

Mitch Verlanic scored 11 points for Butte High. That includes six points in the fourth quarter. Josh Liston tossed in nine, and Hanson finished with four. Cayde Stajcar, who played even after aggravating his ankle injury, tossed in two while serving as a force on the boards.

Rhett Arntson, Kendel Noctor and James Pearston also contributed for the Bulldogs, who improved to 14-3 and 8-3.

Tyse Todorovich scored 18 points to lead the Bengals, who fell to 8-7 and 5-5. Seth Lieberg tossed in four points for Helena, which got four from Gracen Silvonen and Chase Foster, three from CJ OneSpot-Danforth and one from Reece Silvonen.

BUTTE HIGH (13-3, 8-3) — Cayde Stajcar 1 0-1 2, Hudson Luedtke 7 9-15 26, Mitch Verlanic 3 3-4 11, Josh Liston 3 1-2 9, Brady Hanson 2 0-2 4, Rhett Arntson 0. 0-2 0, Kendel Noctor 0 0-0 0, James Pearston 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 13-26 52.
HELENA HIGH (8-7. 5-5) — Pacer Lybert 0 0-0 0, Reece Silvonen 0 1-2 1, Seth Lieberg 5 1-2 12, Tyse Todorovich 7 3-3 18, Gracen Silvonen 11-2 4, CJ OneSpot-Danforth 0 3-4 3, Kale Day 0 0-0 0, Seth Kiser 0 0-2 0, Chase Foster 2 0-0 4, Cole Beaver 0 0-0 0, Jonathan Laboy 0 0-0 0. Totals 15 9-15 42.
Butte               10        15        8          19 — 52
Helena            14        14        9          5 — 42
3-point goals — Butte 7 (Luedtke 3, Verlanic 2, Liston 2), Helena 3 (Lieberg, G. Silvonen, Todorovich). Fouls — Butte 16, Helena 20. Fouled out — Stajcar, G. Silvonen. Technical — Stajcar.