CORVALLIS — Butte Central’s boys’ basketball team returned home Saturday feeling like they let one get away.
The Maroons saw an 11-point lead with about 10 minutes to play turn into a 60-58 Southwestern A loss to Corvallis.
“We blew this game,” Central coach Brodie Kelly said. “We were up four with under a minute left. We had some costly turnovers and missed free throws. It was a very frustrating finish.”
The loss put a damper on a huge performance by Dougie Peoples. The Central sophomore poured in 31 points to lead the defending Class A state champion Maroons, who fell to 1-2 overall and 0-2 in conference player.
Tanner Jessop scored 27 points to lead the Blue Devils (2-4, 1-0). That included an 11-for-11 performance from the free throw line. Ten of those free tosses came in the second half.
“We fouled I think more than half the possessions in the second half,” Kelly said. “They shot 21 free throws in the second half.”
Cole Trexler added 12 points for the Blue Devils, and Luke Wolsky scored nine points, and Bryce Mayer tossed in seven.
Kyle Holter scored 10 points before fouling out for the Maroons. Bryson Sestrich sank three 3-pointers and scored nine points. Bryan Holland tossed in eight.
The Maroons are back at home next Friday when they take on Frenchtown in a Southwestern A game. They travel to Stevensville on Saturday.
BUTTE CENTRAL (1-2, 0-2) — Bryson Sestrich 3 0-0 9, Drew Badovinac 0 0-0 0, Dougie Peoples 10 9-12 31, Egan Lester 0 0-0 0, Kyler Holter 4 2-3 10, Bryan Holland 3 0-0 8, Joseph Sehulster 0 0-0 0. Totals 20 11-15 58.
CORVALLIS (2-4, 1-0) — Luke Wolsky 4 0-1 9, Tanner Jessop 6 11-11 27, Jacob Loram 1 0-2 2, Cole Trexler 4 4-6 12, Bryce Mayer 3 1-1 7, Aaron Powell 0 0-0 0, Donovan Potter 0 1-2 1, Mitch Spennetta 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 17-24 60.
Butte Central 9 10 22 17 — 58
Corvallis 13 8 21 18 — 60
3-point goals — BC 7 (Sestrich 3, Peoples 2, Holland 2), Corvallis 5 (Jessop 4, Wolsky). Fouls — BC 21, Corvallis 21. Fouled out — Holter.
