By Shelly Davis
LIVINGSTON — Megan Michelotti scored a career-high 21 points to lead the Butte Central Maroons to a 59-50 non-conference road win in Livingston at the Park County High School Gym.
Michelotti scored twelve points in the first half, many of which came off assists from teammate Kloie Thatcher. Michelotti made two of three attempts at the free throw line during the game but fouled out late in the fourth quarter.
Kloie Thatcher got the team off to a big start as she hit three treys in the first quarter on the way to nineteen for the game. The Maroons were hot scoring with 21 first quarter points compared to the Rangers 11. Larissa Saarel kept the Rangers in the game during the first half scoring ten of her twelve points along with Katherine Kant’s six coming from two three-pointers cutting the Maroon lead 29-22 at the half.
The Maroons pulled out to a 14-point lead in the second half thanks to nine points from Olivia Bolton, but the Rangers weren’t ready to quit. Silvie Shoenen and Kotie Vondra took over the scoring duties as they scored eight and ten respectively in the second half to cut the Maroon lead to three with three minutes left to play.
The Rangers outscored the Maroons 19-14 in the fourth quarter to keep the fans biting their nails. However, Tricia Joyce’s two free throws and two buckets by Thatcher and Michelotti put the Maroons ahead for good as the last seconds ticked off the clock.
The Maroons also picked up five points from Kailee Murphy and two points from Emma Keeley. Cassidy Strizic played tough defense and dominated the boards for the Maroons. The Park County Rangers had scoring from seven players led by Saarel with twelve, Vondra with eleven, Shoenen with eight.
The next contest for the Maroons is the city championship Thursday night against the Butte High Bulldogs at the Butte Civic Center.
The BC/ BHS games can only be heard on KOPR 94.1 or online at kopr94.net.
BUTTE CENTRAL (6-2) — Kloie Thatcher 7 3-6 20, Olivia Bolton 4 0-1 9, Cassidy Strizic 0 0-0 0, Megan Michelotti 10 2-3 21, Tricia Joyce 0 2-2 2, Kailee Murphy 2 1-2 5, Emma Keely 1 0-1 2, Allyson Mueller 0 0-0 0. Totals 24 8-15 59.
LIVINGSTON (2-5) — Larissa Saarel 6 0-0 12, Sylvie Schoenen 2 3-4 8, Kodie Vondra 3 4-5 11, Abby Kokot 1 1-4 3, Danielle Babcox 2 3-4 7, Katherine Kant 2 0-0 6, Shania Johnson 1 0-0 3. Totals 17 11-17 50.
Butte Central 21 8 16 14 — 59
Livingston 11 11 9 19 — 50
3-point goals — BC 4 (Thatcher 3, Bolton 1), Livingston 5 (Kant 2, Schoenan 1, Vondra 1, Johnson 1). Fouls —BC 18, Livingston 16. Fouled out — Michelotti, Saarel.
