Ross J was jumpin’.
Little kids packed the baseline, the student section showed up in full surf theme — Hawaiian shirts, sunglasses, even a couple scuba suits — stomping so hard the bleachers rattled. Every defensive stop shook the building.
Before the ball went up, though, it belonged to ten seniors playing their final regular-season home game:
Rhett Arntson
Kaleb Celli
Ryan Hanson
Josh Liston
Hudson Luedtke
Kendel Noctor
James Pearston
Cayde Stajcar
Mitch Verlanic
Jaxon Williamson
Four years of work. One last Friday night under those lights.
The first quarter was gritty and tight. Neither team found much rhythm, and it was tied 9-9 after one.
In the middle of the mud, Josh Liston rose and buried a triple. Calm. Clean. Senior stuff.
It was the first of four.
Big Sky began to settle in during the second quarter behind Jack McGowan and Eli Kasberg, who would both finish with 12 points. Cole Sil knocked down three triples on the night, and the Eagles stretched their lead in the third quarter.
For a stretch, Senior Night felt uncomfortable.
Then came the moment that steadied everything.
Late in the third, with Big Sky threatening to create real separation, Rhett Arntson rose up and knocked down a huge jumper. Contact on the release. Whistle. He stepped to the line and buried the free throw.
Three the hard way.
The deficit was cut to six heading into the fourth, and the gym came back to life.
That’s when the seniors grabbed it.
Hudson Luedtke had his way. Whether he was getting to his midrange spot or blowing by defenders off the bounce, he dictated tempo. Playing on his 19th birthday, he attacked with purpose and finished with 30 points.
Liston kept answering from deep — four huge threes that stalled Big Sky runs.
Mitch Verlanic splashed two triples of his own, including a corner shot that sent the student section into a frenzy.
Cayde Stajcar delivered a crucial bucket in the fourth as the Bulldogs chipped away possession by possession.
Big Sky didn’t fade. Mason Ramos, Josiah Bone and Bryson Schultz all delivered timely baskets, and the Eagles had chances late in regulation.
But Butte erased the deficit and forced overtime.
In the extra frame, the Bulldogs outscored Big Sky 11-8.
Hudson took control, scoring seven of Butte’s 11 overtime points. Calm free throws. Smart decisions. Veteran composure.
Final horn.
66-63.
On his 19th birthday, all Hudson wanted was a win.
He got it.
And Ross J was jumpin’.
Official Box Score
Missoula Big Sky (8-11, 5-9) — 63
Mason Ramos 2 0-0 5
Eli Kasberg 5 2-4 12
Cole Sil 3 0-0 9
Josiah Bone 4 0-0 9
Jack McGowan 4 3-4 12
Brady Williams 0 0-0 0
Blake Williams 2 0-0 5
Cormack Batt 1 0-0 2
Maron Fines 1 1-2 3
Bryson Schultz 2 0-0 6
Totals — 25 FG, 6-10 FT — 63
3-point goals — 9 (Sil 3, Schultz 2, Blake Williams, Ramos, Bone, McGowan)
Fouls — 18
Fouled out — None
Technicals — None
Quarter Scores
Big Sky — 9 | 18 | 17 | 11 | 8 — 63
Butte High (15-4, 10-4) — 66
Cayde Stajcar 1 0-2 2
Hudson Luedtke 13 2-6 30
Mitch Verlanic 3 0-0 8
Josh Liston 4 1-2 13
Brady Hanson 2 2-4 6
James Pearston 0 0-0 0
Ryan Hanson 0 0-0 0
Kaleb Celli 0 0-0 0
Rhett Arntson 2 3-4 7
Kendel Noctor 0 0-0 0
Jaxon Williamson 0 0-0 0
Totals — 25 FG, 8-18 FT — 66
3-point goals — 8 (Liston 4, Luedtke 2, Verlanic 2)
Fouls — 10
Fouled out — None
Technicals — None
Quarter Scores
Butte — 9 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 11 — 66
