The Butte High boys went into Missoula Friday night and did exactly what good teams do on the road: handled business. The Bulldogs used a balanced attack, timely shooting, and a steady defensive effort to pull away from Missoula Big Sky for a 62-54 Western AA win, improving to 9-2 overall and 4-2 in conference.
Butte set the tone early, taking a 17-10 lead after one and stretching it to 39-22 at halftime. Big Sky made a push in the second half, but the Bulldogs never lost control. Brady Hanson led the way with 19 points, while Hudson Luedtke added 18, knocking down three triples. Josh Liston provided a spark from deep with four three-pointers, and Butte finished the night with eight threes as a team.
Big Sky was led by Cole Silberstein’s 14 points, but the Eagles could never fully close the gap as Butte stayed composed down the stretch.
Boys Box Score
Butte High 62, Missoula Big Sky 54
Butte High (9-2, 4-2) — Cayde Stajcar 7, Hudson Luedtke 18, Mitch Verlanic 0, Josh Liston 12, Brady Hanson 19, Rhett Arntson 6, James Pearston 0, Kendel Noctor 0, Ryan Hanson 0. Totals: 21 FGs, 12-18 FT, 62.
Missoula Big Sky (4-6, 2-4) — Brady Williams 5, Blake Williams 5, Eli Kasberg 8, Cole Silberstein 14, Josiah Boone 4, Jackson McGown 10, Cormack Batt 6, Mason Fines 2. Totals: 19 FGs, 11-16 FT, 54.
Quarter scores:
Butte 17 22 9 14 — 62
Big Sky 10 12 15 17 — 54
3-pointers: Butte 8 (Liston 4, Luedtke 3, Arntson), Big Sky 5 (Silberstein 3, Kasberg, B. Williams).
Fouls: Butte 13, Big Sky 14.
Fouled out: none.
Technicals: none.
At home, the Butte High girls were tested by the top-ranked team in the state and came up just short, falling 61-53 to No. 1 Missoula Big Sky. The Bulldogs stayed within striking distance all night in a physical, whistle-heavy game that featured 47 total fouls and multiple players fouling out.
Cadence Graham led Butte with 15 points, attacking the basket and living at the free-throw line. Elli Graham added 14, including four three-pointers, while Allie Becker chipped in 10. Butte knocked down six threes, but Big Sky’s depth and late free throws proved to be the difference.
Girls Box Score
Missoula Big Sky 61, Butte High 53
Missoula Big Sky (9-2, 6-0) — Avery DeCoite 19, Lilly Johnson 5, Tanya Kirilovich 5, Mya Hubbard 3, Kenzie Schmitz 26, Petyon Reynolds 0, Zoe Boone 3. Totals: 18 FGs, 21-33 FT, 61.
Butte High (6-5, 4-2) — Allie Becker 10, Cadence Graham 15, Autumn Clary 0, Franki Salusso 4, Emma Johnson 6, Elli Graham 14, Saege Grey 4, Kendalllyn Schad 0. Totals: 12 FGs, 23-38 FT, 53.
Quarter scores:
Big Sky 11 16 15 19 — 61
Butte 10 15 13 15 — 53
3-pointers: Big Sky 4 (Schmitz 2, Johnson, Kirilovich), Butte 6 (E. Graham 4, C. Graham, Johnson).
Fouls: Big Sky 24, Butte 23.
Fouled out: Kirilovich, Hubbard, C. Graham, Salusso.
Technicals: none.
