KALISPELL — Butte High boys’ basketball coach Matt Luedtke called the second half “awesome.”
Really, there is no other way to describe it for the Bulldogs.
Butte High outscored Kalispell Flathead 41-19 after halftime, and the Bulldogs completed the regular-season sweep of the Braves with a 60-49 victory.
The win was the second straight for Butte High and third in four games.
Butte High (5-4) connected on 13 of 25 shots in the second half. That includes three made 3-pointers. The Dogs also hit on 12 of 13 free throws after the break.
On the flip side, Butte High’s defense held Kalispell to a 7-for 24 effort in the second half. That includes an 0-for-13 performances from behind the arch.
Billy Kelly hit a 3-poitner with 5 minutes, 42 seconds left in the fourth quarter to start a 12-0 run and give the Bulldogs the lead for good.
Kelly scored 17 points to lead the Bulldogs. Fellow senior Jake Olson added 15 points and nine rebounds. Butte High also got 10 points from Kenley Leary, nine from Cael Stenson, four from Mikey O’Dell, three from Blake Drakos and two from Jonas Sherman.
Zach Merrifield, Kooper Klobucar and Cameron Gurnsey also contributed for the Bulldogs.
Gabe Adams tossed in 15 points to lead the Braves (4-5). Ethan VandenBosch scored 10 points, while Ezra Epperly and Joston Cripe each scored 10.
The Bulldogs will play host to Helena High in a 6 p.m. makeup game Tuesday at the Richardson Gym.
BUTTE HIGH (5-4) — Zach Merrifield 0-5 0-0 0, Kooper Klobucar 0-2 0-0 0, Jake Olson 6-12 3-6 15, Kenley Leary 4-9 0-0 10, Mikey O’Dell 1-5 1-2 4, Blake Drakos 0-3 3-3 3, Cael Stenson 3-6 2-2 9, Jonas Sherman 1-1 0-0 2, Billy Kelly 4-8 6-6 17, Cameron Gurnsey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-51 15-19 60.
KALISPELL FLATHEAD (4-5) — Ethan VandenBosch 4-9 1-5 11, Gabe Adams 5-8 5-5 15, Ezra Epperly 3-4 4-5 10, Joston Cripe 3-15 2-7 10, Luca Zoeller 1-8 0-0 2, Gavin Ghouinard 0-3 0-0 09, Joe Hansen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-47 12-22 49.
Butte 12 7 16 25 – 60
Flathead 14 16 6 13 – 49
3-point goals – Butte 7-25 (Kelley 3-5, Leary 2-6, Stenson 1-3, O’Dell 1-4, Merrifield 0-5, Drakos 0-2), Flathead 5-22 (VandenBosch 2-4, Cripe 2-11, Zoeller 1`-4, Adams 0-1, Chouinard 0-2). . Rebounds – Butte 30 (Olson 9), Flathead 41 (Adams 12). Fouls – Butte 20, Flathead 16. Fouled out – O’Dell, VandenBosch. Steals – Butte 7 (Leary 2, Stenson 2), Flathead 4 (Crips 2, Adams 2). Blocks – Butte 2 (Leary, Gurnsey), Flathead 1 (Epperly). Turnovers – Butte 9, Flathead 17.
