Red Hawks Earn State Tourney Berth With Win Over Fairview
The Froid/Lake boys’ basketball squad punched its ticket for the Class C state tournament by beating Fairview, 52-47, in a challenge game of the Eastern C tournament in Sidney on Monday, March 8.
The Red Hawks will face Fort Benton at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 11, in the first round of the state tournament at Lockwood High School in Billings. Other firstround contests feature Scobey playing Broadus, Manhattan Christian taking on Belt and Bridger meeting Twin Bridges.
The victory over Fairview sent Froid/Lake to State for the first time since 2011.
“We came out with better energy than we did all tournament,” Froid/Lake Coach Josh Stentoft said.
He is looking forward to the state tournament. “If we come out to play, we will be right there,” the coach said.
Froid/Lake led nearly the entire way in the victory over Fairview. After taking a 13-7 lead in the first quarter, Froid/Lake held a 21-17 halftime advantage.
After Fairview pulled to 23-21 on a basket by Kanyon Taylor at the 5:28 mark of the third quarter, Froid/Lake’s Javonne Nesbit accounted for the next four points. Fairview’s Hunter Sharbono then hit a short jumper, but another basket by Nesbit and a three-pointer by Colt Miller were good for a 32-23 margin.
Five straight points by Nesbit, who scored 13 points in the third quarter, put the Red Hawks up 37-29. A hoop by Sharbono cut the gap to 37-29 at the end of the period.
The Warriors battled back to 39-33 early in the fourth quarter, but Froid/Lake responded with a free throw by Bode Miller and a three-pointer by Brent Stentoft.
Another three-pointer by Stentoft, who provided a great spark off the bench for the Red Hawks, put the score at 47-38 with 5:30 remaining.
Fairview came as close as 47-42 at the 1:35 mark, but free throws by Nesbit and B. Miller helped put the contest away for Froid/Lake.
Nesbit finished with 27 points to lead the Red Hawks. Also scoring were Stentoft with eight, Tyler Wivholm with five, C. Miller with five, B. Miller with five and Mason Dethman with two.
Nesbit accounted for 12 rebounds and four assists.
“Javonne really stepped up and my son made some big shots,” Coach Stentoft said.
Leading Fairview were Sharbono with 21 and Taylor with 10 points. Taylor grabbed eight rebounds.
Plentywood’s girls edged Scobey, 39-38, in the challenge game to advance to the state tournament. A free throw by Emma Brensdal in the final seconds was the difference. Top scorers for the Wildcats were Ashtyn Curtiss with 12 and Annie Kaul with 10. North Country defeated Plentywood, 63-54, on Saturday to win the divisional championship.
