Hamilton and Butte Central in Exciting Consolation State A Game
Both teams - Hamilton and Butte Central - were playing their third basketball game within 24 hours at the State Class A boys basketball tournament - and they were a little weary, but still as competitive as ever. In fact, more so! There were 13 lead changes during the contest. The scoring was matched throughout the late afternoon game in Great Falls. After one period, Butte Central led 12 to 11 and at the half, only one point separated the Maroons and Broncs at 20 to 19, with Butte leading. Butte led by 9 at one point in the second half, and was three points ahead at the end of three quarters - 31 to 28. At the end of the game, with only seconds left, Hamilton tied the game with a 3-pointer - a 44 to 44 tie. The weariness was forgotten as the teams battled for the win, and at the end of overtime it was still tied - 50 to 50. The game went into double overtime, where Butte squeaked by Hamilton 54 to 51. Butte Central won Third place in the tournament and Hamilton was Fourth.
At the time of this report, we didn't have the score of Florence-Carlton's girls in their State Championship Class B game. The next Bitterroot Valley basketball event will be the annual Kiwanis All-Star Basketball Evening Tuesday, March 12, with the girls at 6 p.m. and the boys at 8 p.m. You'll see some of the best players in the valley squads teamed up with each other in a fun evening, with lots of awards and contests. The Bitterroot Kiwanis All-Star evening is at the Hamilton High School gym. Admission is $4.