Mike VanArendonk was Flathead's Johnny-on-the-spot Friday night at the Flathead gym.

The 6-foot-1 senior forward stripped the ball away from a Helena Capital player under the Braves' basket, and then went right back up with it for an easy basket giving Flathead a thrilling 50-48 Western AA basketball victory over the Bruins.

Flathead's Joe Pistorese tried to drain the game-winner with seven seconds left, but was off the mark. Capital then tried to haul in the rebound, but VanArendonk, who scored just three points, was there to come up with the game-winning play.

"We've had plenty of these," Flathead coach Fred Febach said of tight games this season.

"I like what I see," Febach said of the way his team responded.

"We're pretty tough when we play with a great resolve. When we are focused, we are really tough."

Flathead experienced the other end of a buzzer-beater earlier this month when Whitefish knocked off Flathead in Whitefish. Cooper Olson hit a 23-foot trey as the horn sounded, giving the Bulldogs a 55-54 nonconference victory.

Capital's Slaten Long hit a trey with 1:26 remaining to put the Bruins in front 48-46.

But Flathead answered with Pistorese spotting a wide-open Garth West under the basket 20 seconds later to tie it up at 48.

Capital, which had turnover troubles for much of the second half against Flathead's pressure defense, turned it over with 49 seconds showing, setting up the final possession for Flathead.

Pistorese, who hit a huge fadeaway trey at the buzzer to end the third period to get the Braves to within two at 39-37, led all scorers with 18 points. He also had a team-high five assists.

West wound up with eight points to go with eight rebounds.

VanArendonk finished with six rebounds.

George Sherwood, who fouled out with five minutes to play, totaled 10 points for Flathead.

"I have to give our guys a lot of credit," Febach said.

"They really stepped up. We have some guys playing out of position (because of foul trouble)."

Flathead's largest lead came early, up 18-11.

Capital, which enjoyed a big edge in the first half with its free-throw shooting, 9 of 17 to Flathead's 2 of 4, led 28-23 at the half.

Flathead turned up its defensively intensity in the second half, and Capital struggled to find its offensive rhythm.

"They're battle tested," Febach said of the Bruins.

"They've played CMR twice, Bozeman twice. They're very well coached."

Flathead (6-4 overall, 2-1 league) is back in action today, 2:30 p.m., hosting Helena High.

Capital (4-7, 1-3) plays at Glacier at 2:30 p.m.

NOTE: Prior to the start of Friday's varsity game, a moment of silence was held for Dell McManus. McManus, a longtime booster of Flathead Valley sports, died Tuesday. McManus was 79.

Helena Capital 11 17 11 9 - 48

Flathead 16 7 14 13 - 50

HELENA CAPITAL - Bryson Smith 1 2-2 4, Gunnar Brekke 0 2-4 2, Quinn Chamberlain 3 2-2 9, Beau Berg 3 1-2 7, AJ Wilson 0 4-7 4, Levi Dawes 2 0-0 4, Slaten Long 5 2-2 16, Caleb Kidder 1 0-4 2. Totals: 15 13-23 48.

FLATHEAD - Mike VanArendonk 1 1-3 3, Matt McLean 2 0-0 6, Ian Gillespie 1 0-0 3, Joe Pistorese 5 6-8 18, George Sherwood 5 0-0 10, Scotty Keller 1 0-0 2, Garth West 3 2-3 8. Totals: 18 9-14 50.

3-point goals - Chamberlain, Long (4); McLean (2), Gillespie, Pistorese (2); Team fouls - Capital 14, Flathead 21; Fouled out - Sherwood.