BILLINGS — Butte High made a bigtime comeback against Billings Senior Thursday morning in the first game of the Class AA State girls’ basketball tournament at the Metra.

Butte used a 12-0 run to erase an 11-point fourth quarter deficit and take the lead.

However, a couple of huge 3-pointers by Senior’s Bella Ferguson proved to be too costly for the Bulldogs, and Butte High was sent to loser-out play with a 57-50 loss. (Stats)

Senior advances to the semifinals to battle defending champion Gallatin, which beat Hellena High 74-28 after the Bulldog-Senior game.

Butte High will set its sights on third place. The Bulldogs will take on Helena High at 9 a.m. on Friday.

Ferguson hit five 3-pointers and scored 18 points to lead the Broncs, who improved to 14-7. Eva Blatchford scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Abigail Madinger added nine points, and Payton Tryan tossed in eight.

Junior Cadence Graham hit four 3-pointers and poured in 29 points to lead the Bulldogs, who fell to 12-8. Graham will enter Friday’s game just 14 points shy of 1,400 on her career.

Freshman Ellie Graham scored eight points, that includes a 3-pointer from well beyond NBA range during Butte High’s fourth quarter run.

Allie Becker added five points, while Saege Grey scored four, and Franki Salusso and Emma Johnson each scored two.

Autum Clary and Kendallyn Schad also competed for the Bulldogs.