HELENA — Top-seeded Stillwater Christian School shook off the state jitters to coast past Heritage Christian School 59-36 in the first round of the Montana Christian Athletic Association boys basketball tournament Thursday at Carroll College. 

The Cougars jumped out to a 17-8 lead in the first quarter and doubled the Hawks scoring in the second half to pick up the victory. Jaron Neumann led Stillwater with 16 points and Isaac Neumann had 15. BJ Bach scored 12 points and Peter Venman had 10. 

Michael Hoover led Heritage with 20 points. 

The Cougars will play Foothills Community Christian of Great Falls in the second round at 8 tonight. Stillwater lost the only matchup with Falcons this season, falling by 10 points in Great Falls. 

In other contests on Thursday, the Stillwater girls beat Great Falls Home School 47-34. The Cougars advance to play Yellowstone County Home School of Billings in the second round at 4:30 p.m. YCHS beat Flathead Valley HomeSchool 43-32 in the first round. The FVHS girls will play Billings Christian in a consolation game this morning. 

The FVHS boys didn’t fair much better in their opening game, losing to Billings Christian 66-47. 

Billings outscored FVHS 35-17 in the middle two quarters to pull away.

Ryland Carlson netted 19 points for FVHS. Josiah Sheeran added 14.

The Crusaders, who had been to three straight state title games, will play Gallatin Valley Home School in the first round of the consolation bracket this morning.

The SCS girls outscored Great Falls 33-12 in the final half to put the game away.

Serena Koch led the Cougars with 10 points.

Sarah Paolini had 13 rebounds and eight points.

Stillwater shot just 20 percent in the opening half.

Boys

Heritage Christian81378—36

Stillwater Christian17121515—59

HERITAGE — Matthew Tosslie 2, Eli Gossack 12, Michael Hoover 20, Ryan Nuss 2. 

STILLWATER CHRISTIAN — Peter Venman 10, BJ Bach 12, Jeremiah Hashley 5, Daniel Fetveit 1, Jaron Neumann 16, Isaac Neumann 15. 

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Flathead Valley 12 9 12 14 — 47

Billings Christian 17 15 20 14 — 66

FLATHEAD VALLEY — Cayden Roberson 10, James Wells 2, Ryland Carlson 19, Jaden Moon 2, Josiah Sheeran 14.

BILLINGS CHRISTIAN — Teske 2, Tomkins 6, Faw 7, Tompkins 2, Waggoner 9, Garcia 25, Hopkins 5, Waggoner 2, Schwartz 4, Corcoran 2, Corcoran 2.

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Other Scores

Foothills Christian 74, Helena Christian 65

Yellowstone County 49, Gallatin Valley 21

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Girls

Stillwater Christian861518—47

Great Falls81457—34

STILLWATER CHRISTIAN — Kathryn Jentz 4, Serena Koch 10, Danielle Stoner 5, Janelle Falk 1, Dori Smith 7, Sarah Paolini 8, McKenzie Hemp 6, Annalise Pierson 6.

GREAT FALLS — Heidi Sollid 15, Jasst Eickert 6, Emma Simpson 4, Sadie Holmquist 9.

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Other Scores

Foothills Christian 44, Helena Christian 40

Gallatin Valley 58, Billings Christian 20

Yellowstone County 43, Flathead Valley 32