Lustre Brings Home Third-place Trophy From State

A year ago, the Lustre Lions qualified for the Class C boys’ basketball tournament for the first time in the school’s history. In that tournament, however, the Lions weren’t quite ready for the spotlight of the state tourney and they lost two straight games.

The Lions were more than ready this time around as Lustre posted three victories during the tournament held in Great Falls. The Lions defeated Harlowton/Ryegate, 53-43, to earn third-place honors on Saturday.

The Lions struggled with a slow start against Harlowton/ Ryegate as the Engineers gained an early 11-2 advantage.

Lustre pulled to 11-6 on a free throw by Cam Reddig and a three-pointer by Cayden Klatt at the buzzer to end the quarter.

The Lions trailed 18-9 with under three minutes left in the second quarter when they turned the game around with eight of the last nine points of the half to cut the margin to 19-17. Highlighting the comeback was five points by Cam Reddig and a three-pointer by Clay Reddig.

The driving ability for baskets by Clay Reddig kept the Lions on the Engineers’ heels throughout the third quarter. Lustre grabbed a 32-31 lead on a three-pointer by Johnslee Pierre with 1:39 left in the period. A basket by Pierre off a pass from Cam Reddig produced a 34-32 lead at the end of the quarter.

With a trophy in their sights, the Lions ran off the first nine points of the fourth quarter on a tip-in by Pierre, five points by Cam Reddig and an inside shot by Byron Ewing for a 43-32 advantage with 3:58 remaining.

After Angus Giennie scored for the Engineers, Ewing accounted for a threepoint play off a pass from Klatt. Free throws by Clay Reddig and Cam Reddig resulted in a comfortable 51-37 margin with 1:22 remaining.

Lustre’s top scorers were Cam Reddig with 18, Clay Reddig with 15 and Pierre with 11 points. Also scoring were Ewing with six and Klatt with three points.

Leading the Engineers were Kenyan Davis with 17 and Bergen Mysse with 11 points.

Box Elder defeated Manhattan Christian, 68-64, in the Class C state championship game.