Lustre Beats Defending State Champions

For the second time this season, the Lustre Christian Lions defeated the defending Class C state boys’ basketball champions.

The Lions led most of the way and earned a 54-45 conference victory in Scobey on Tuesday, Jan. 25.

Three-pointers by Kaleb Hoversland and Cayden Klatt helped Lustre build a 27-16 lead during the second quarter. The Lions held a 27-21 half-time advantage.

After a hoop by Scobey’s Reagan Machart closed the gap to 27-23 at the start of the third quarter, but the Lions held on to the lead throughout the period. Three-pointers by Kolden Hoversland and Klatt put the margin at 40-32. The quarter ended with Lustre enjoying a 40-36 advantage.

The Spartans pulled to 4039, but Lustre’s Kolden Hoversland responded with a three-pointer. Another long shot by Klatt produced a 4641 lead with five minutes remaining.

Ahead by only a 46-42 margin, the Lions gained breathing room when Braden Ewing scored inside and Clay Reddig canned a three-pointer.

Scobey scored on a three-pointer by Hudson Kjos for a 51-45 game, but Lustre put the contest away with free throws by Kaleb Hoversland and Kolden Hoversland.

Top scorers for the Lions were Jasiah Hambira with 15, Klatt with 11, Kolden Hoversland with 11 and Kaleb Hoversland with 10. Ewing scored four and Reddig had three.

Reaching double figures for Scobey were Kjos with 16, Machart with 12 and Gage Hallock with 10.

Ewing and Klatt finished with seven rebounds each. Kolden Hoversland had four assists.