The Stillwater Christian girls came out of the gates hot in the first and third quarters, using long runs to distance themselves from Troy in a 37-22 nonconference basketball victory on Tuesday night at Stillwater Christian School.

The Cougars jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first quarter and outscored Troy 16-9 in the third to build their lead.  

Sarah Paolini had 18 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Cougars on a night they honored seniors McKenzie Hemp, Kathryn Jentz, Annalise Pierson, Dani Stoner and Rebecca Hembroff for playing their last home game. Jentz led the senior group with four points, five rebounds and four assists. 

Caitlin Johnston led Troy with 10 points. 

Stillwater is off until the MCAA State tournament on Feb. 13 at Carroll College in Helena. The Cougars enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the West.

Troy2596—22

Stillwater96166—37

TROY — Kelly Lundin 2, Allie Brown 6, Taylor Brown 2, Makaylin Randal 2, Caitlin Johnston 10.

STILLWATER — Kathryn Jentz 4, Serena Koch 3, Janelle Falk 7, Dori Smith 2, Sarah Paolini 18, McKenzie Hemp 3.

BOYS

Troy 60, Stillwater 42

Troy scored 45 points in the second half, including 15 points from senior guard Gabe Hickman in the fourth quarter to blow past Stillwater Christian on the road in a nonconference boys basketball game on Tuesday. 

Hickman finished with 25 points to lead the Trojans, who got hot from 3-point range in the second half. Troy had six 3-pointers in the final 16 minutes and was 21 for 25 from the free throw line to turn a six-point halftime deficit into a blowout. 

Sean Opland had 20 points and Gage Tallmadge had 10 for Troy, which outscored Stillwater 30-11 in the fourth quarter alone.

Peter Venman had 12 points and Isaac Neumann had 11 points to lead the Cougars.

Venman, Jeremiah Hashley and Jaron Neumann were celebrated on senior night. 

The Cougars are off until the MCAA state tournament on Feb. 13. Stillwater has played in the last three state championship games. 

Troy691530—60

Stillwater1381011—42

TROY — Luke Haggerty 2, Gabe Hickman 25, Gage Tallmadge 10, Ryan Huffman 3, Sean Opland 20.

STILLWATER — Clayton Hashley 3, Peter Venman 12, Nathan Chuang 2, BJ Bach 8, Jeremiah Hashley 4, Jaron Neumann 2, Isaac Neumann 11.