HAMILTON — Joshua Sutton reached a milestone, and the Butte Central Maroons made a statement Thursday afternoon.

Sutton, a junior guard, poured in 30 points to lead the way as the Maroons opened the Western A Divisional boys’ basketball tournament with a 73-54 win over Browning on the Dale Berry Court.

The win sends the Maroons to Friday’s 5 p.m. semifinal against Northwestern A top seed Ronan, which beat Hamilton 56-43. Dillon will play Frenchtown in the 3:30 p.m. semifinal. (Bracket)

With an inside hoop in the fourth quarter, Sutton became the ninth BC boy to score 1,000 points for his career. He is tied with Maroon great Tom Kenney for eighth place on BC’s all-time scoring list with 1,002 points. He is just behind Marc Murphy (1,015) and the late Ryan Murphy (1,035).

It was in the second quarter, though, when the Maroons really left their mark in this one. They opened the frame with a 21-4 run to take the lead for good. That broke open a 9-all tie, and BC went into halftime lead 38-24.

Senior Ryan Peoples hit three 3-pointers and scored 14 of his 19 points in the second quarter. He was 10 for 13 from the free throw line in the victory.

Cade Kelly added a pair of threes and scored nine points, and Noah Sutton came off the bench to toss in seven. GG Fantini scored five, and Jaxon Hiatt tossed in three.

Burkley Lakkala, Henly Mansanti and Gunnar O’Brien also contributed for the Maroons, who rolled their record to 16-3.

Reis Reevis scored 18 points to lead the Indians (11-8), who will head to loser-out play. Royce Madplume scored 11 points.

BROWNING (11-8) — Noah Butterfly 3 0-0 7, Roy Madplume 1 0-0 2, Shayde St. Goddard 0 0-0 0, Reis Reevis 8 0-2 18, Royce Madplume 4 3-4 11, Layton Wing 3 0-0 7, Jhett Cobell 0 1-2 1, Joshua Skunkcap 3 0-4 6, Eli Edwards 2 0-0 4, Jack Billedeaux 0 3-4 3, Ayden Warden 0-0 0-0 0, Jesse Denny 0 0-0 0. Totals 21 9-18 54.
BUTTE CENTRAL (16-3) — Ryan Peoples 3 10-13 19, Cde Kelly 3 1-2 9, Joshua Sutton 9 7-8 30, GG Fantini 2 0-0 5, Jaxon Hiatt 1 1-2 3, Noah Sutton 2 2-3 7, Burkley Lakkala 0 0-0 0, Henly Mansanti 0 0-0 0, Gunnar O’Brien 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 19-28 73.
Browning       9          15        14        16 — 54
Central           9          29        14        21 — 73
3-point goals — Browning 3 (Reevis 2, Wing), BC 12 ( J. Sutton 5, Peoples 3, Kelly 2, N. Sutton, Fantini). Fouls — Browning 27, BC 17. Fouled out — Skunkcap, Reevis, Royce Madplume. Technicals — none.