By Bruce Sayler
It was a game of runs and the game ran out on Butte High.
Dillon, sure to figure heavily in the Class A scene again this season, eked out a 60-57 win over Class AA Butte High Tuesday night as the Butte Civic Center debuted its new floor with the girls playing the second part of the christening doubleheader.
The preceding boys’ game saw Butte High prevail, 47-38.
Dillon took the last lead in the girls’ game with a 13-4 run to start the fourth quarter. The Beavers, second to Billings Central by two points (54-520 in the state Class AA tournament last season, used a Cassie Keller 3-point basket to pull to within 47-45 of the Bulldog lead to end the third quarter.
After Franki Salusso opened the fourth with a long drive downcourt for the basket, Dillon made its move. Landri Hartman launched a 3-pointer and then scored right away on a drive to the hoop and the Beavers were up by 50-49.
Cadene Graham sank two free throws for Butte High on her way to a game-high 27 points as the Bulldogs led one last time, 51-50. The Beavers went on a 6-0 run as Tess Tash scored on a putback, Hartman tallied a layup on an assist from Keller and then Keller netted a pair of foul shots.’
The seven-point spread, 58-51 with 1 minute, 24 seconds to go, was Dillon’s biggest of the game.
Butte High fought back and a Cadence Graham three-point play sliced the difference to four points. Keller hit another freebie before Elli Graham answered with a clutch 3-ball as the clock flashed to 23 seconds left.
The Beavers’ lead had dwindled to 59-67.
Cadence Graham fouled Tash on a shot, stopping the clock, but the 5-foot-11 Beavers’ sophomore made the second of two free throws. The Bulldogs received possession on the inbounds and go the ball downcourt. Cadence Graham’s 3-point try was barely off the mark and Katilyn Konen grabbed the rebound for Dillon.
The Beavers got the ball to Keller and Clary fouled her with five seconds remaining on the clock. Keller wasn’t able to funnel either foul shot through the hoop and the rebound resulted in a scramble and pile. Hartman and Bulldog freshman Saege Grey tied for rebound and the possession arrow belonged to Butte High. Salusso inbounded the ball and the Bulldogs got the ball downcourt to where Elli Graham launched a 3-point shot as the buzzer blared.
The shot bounced high off the rim and away from the hoop.
“It was a tough game,” Butte High head coach Bryan Arntson said. “Physical. We need to play better and we got outcoached.
“We need to work on some things, like that 1-3-1 zone (a Dillon forte). Our kids did a good job working their way out of holes. Dillon is a good team. Their successful for a reason.”
Thanks largely to Cadence Graham’s 10 points, six rebounds and two steals in the first frame , Butte High had a 33-28 lead at halftime. The Bulldogs closed the half on a 6-0 run to regain the lead by intermission after having fallen behind by 26-22 midway through the second period.
Dillon retaliated with a 12-0 spree for a 40-33 advantage to start the second half. Tash, Keller, Hartman and Konen were all in the mix. Butte High bounced back and gained a 47-42 margin as Grey sank a pair of charity tosses. The third period ended on a Keller 3-pointer that closed the difference to 47-45, Butte High still ahead.
“They started the game fast and we never really got settled in,” Arntson said. “We did get locked in to get a lead at halftime, and that was a good thing. It’s early in the season. Hopefully, we can take this game and learn from it. It was a close game. There are some things we need to work on and get better.”
Grey came off the bench to score 11 points and take down a team-high 10 rebounds. Cadence Graham, a four-year starter as a junior, was 11-for-11 from the free throw line while scoring her 27 points. Her younger sister, Elli Graham, a freshman, nailed a pair of 3-pointers.
Dillon got a balanced production as Hartman led the team with 19 points, Tash scored 14 and Keller had 12. Konen pulled down 10 rebounds and notched nine points.
Butte High will return to Class AA play this weekend with a non-conference game at Billings West. The Bulldogs are 1-1 for the season. Dillon improved to 3-0 and will play nonconference games against Bigfork and Polson next weekend.
DILLON (3-0)
Cassie Keller 3-6 4-6 12, Shannon Martin 3-3 0-1 6, Landri Hartman 8-14 1-2 19, Tess Tash 6-14 2-3 14, Kaitlyn Konen 4-8 1-3 9, Kena Sampson 0-5 0-0 0, Brynna Gibson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-50 8-15 60.
BUTTE HIGH (1-1)
Allie Becker 3-10 0-2 8, Cadence Graham 7-17 11-11 27, Autumn Clary 0-4 2-2 2, Franki Salusso 1-1 0-0 2, Emma Johnson 0-6 0-0 0, Elli Graham 2-6 0-0 6, Kendallyn Schad 0-1 1-2 1, Saege Grey 3-6 3-5 11. Totals 16-51 17-22 57.
Dillon 15 13 17 15 – 60
Butte High 11 22 14 19 – 57
3-point goals – Dillon 4-12 (Keller 2-4, Hartman 2-5, Tash 0-3), Butte High 8-24 (Becker 2-6, C. Graham 2-8, Clary 0-1, E. Graham 2-5, Grey 2-4). Fouled out — Tash. Total fouls – Dillon 20, Butte High 18. Technicals – none. Rebounds – Dillon 38 (Konen 10, Hartman 7, Tash 6), Butte High 35 (Grey 10, C. Graham 8). Blocks – Dillon 4 (Konen 3), Butte High 1 (E. Graham). Assists – Dillon 11 (Martin 5), Butte High 9 (Clary 2, Becker 2, E. Graham 2). Steals – Dillon 6 (Tash 2, Keller 2, Hartman 2), Butte High 8 (E. Graham 3, C. Graham 2). Turnovers – Dillon 15, Butte High 14.
