The Butte Central Maroons saved the best for last Friday night at the Maroon Activities Center, knocking off the Sidney Eagles 44–41 to grab their first win of the season.
Butte Central came out cooking. Up 16–5 after one, the Maroons set the tone early with defense, energy, and just enough attitude. They took a 22–19 lead into the half, stayed steady in the third, and refused to blink when the pressure showed up late.
Zayonna Otherbull brought 10 points to the party. Jordyn Samson checked in with eight. Natalie Osterman came off the bench and said, why not? — catching, firing, and splashing a right-wing triple that felt bigger than three. And while all that was happening, Rylee Forbes was busy doing the dirty work, cleaning the glass like it owed her money.
Arika Stajcar and Braelynn Schelin each knocked in six, Lucy Fantini gave solid minutes, and the Maroons kept rolling bodies, answers, and composure.
Sidney made a push in the fourth — of course they did — but Butte Central had already packed its lunch. The Maroons went into the final quarter up 33–24, absorbed the contact, handled the moment, and walked it down at the finish.
Jessica Entz had 27 for Sidney, four of them from deep, but this one belonged to the Maroons. First win. Hard-earned. No shortcuts.
Butte Central Maroons 44, Sidney Eagles 41
SIDNEY —
Jessica Entz 27, Kinsey Nagle 5, Ava Norby 3, Addison Durham 4, Emma Walter 1, Olivia Schilling 1, Isabelle Doty 0, Joael Eggum 0, Katelyn Reuter 0, Teagan Seitzinger 0, Katie Koch 0, Avery Sukut 0, Cameron Franck 0.
Totals: 13 field goals, 5 three-pointers, 41 points.
BUTTE CENTRAL (1–2) —
Zayonna Otherbull 10, Jordyn Samson 8, Arika Stajcar 6, Braelynn Schelin 6, Natalie Osterman 6, Rylee Forbes 4, Lucy Fantini 4, Marly Mansanti 0, Jaedyn Maldonado 0.
Totals: 12 field goals, 5 three-pointers, 44 points.
Quarter scores
Sidney — 5 | 14 | 5 | 17 — 41
Butte Central — 16 | 6 | 11 | 11 — 44
Three-point goals:
Sidney 5 (Jessica Entz 4, Kinsey Nagle)
Butte Central 5 (Natalie Osterman 2, Braelynn Schelin, Lucy Fantini, Arika Stajcar)
Fouls: Sidney 26, Butte Central 21
Fouled out: Ava Norby
