Red Hawks Win Semi-final Round Game

The Froid-Lake Red Hawks qualified for the state championship boys’ basketball game for the first time in the co-op’s history on Thursday, March 10. The Red Hawks advanced not by a small margin but rather with a convincing 46-35 victory over Roy/ Winifred.

“It’s an awesome feeling. It’s hard to describe,” Froid/ Lake’s Coach Josh Stentoft said after the game in Great Falls.

He laughed that some fans used to feel that the program had a “curse” of not faring well at tournament time. Prior to recent years, Saturday night meant playing only in the consolation game for the squad.

“These boys have broken the mold in both basketball and football,” Stentoft said.

Javonne Nesbit, a senior, helped break the pattern by having 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots in the contest.

“It’s very exciting,” Nesbit said after the victory.

The tournament’s showing was certainly an improvement over last year’s 1-2 record at the state tourney.

“I feel we’re even more connected than last year. We have five seniors who have played together for so long,” Nesbit explained.

The Red Hawks’ play against Roy/Winifred was also an improvement over their first-round performance.

“Our defense was a lot better tonight,” Stentoft said.

Froid/Lake had the upper- hand from the start as three-pointers by Nesbit and Bode Miller produced a 6-0 advantage. After Brody Geer hit a 12-footer for the Outlaws, the Red Hawks increased their lead to 11-2 on a basket by Brett Stentoft and a three-pointer by Tyler Wivholm.

Two free throws by Stentoft ended the opening quarter at 13-4.

The Outlaws came as close as seven points in the second quarter, but a three-point play by Stentoft put the half-time margin at 23-12. After Roy/ Winifred closed the gap to five points in the third quarter, three-pointers by Miller and Wivholm answered the threat for a 31-21 advantage.

After Blake Donsbach scored for the Outlaws, steals by Ashdyn Hobbs and Patton Bighorn resulted in baskets by Nesbit and Connor Huft for a 35-23 lead to end the quarter.

A pair of free throws by Stentoft and a drive by Nesbit increased the cushion to 41-24 with 4:40 remaining. A basket by Wivholm, a free throw by Stentoft and a dunk by Mason Dethman helped the Red Hawks put the game away down the stretch.

Top scorers for the Red Hawks were Stentoft with 12, Nesbit with 11 and Wivholm with 10 points. Also scoring were Miller with six, Dethman with five and Huft with two points.

Dethman finished with seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Donsbach accounted for 11 points to lead the Outlaws.