The Libby Loggers boys basketball team hung with visiting Hamilton for the better part of the first half before the Broncs got hot from 3-point land and claimed a 69-45 win Thursday in Libby’s home opener.

Tyler Andersen scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half while Ryan Beagle scored six of his 10, but the Broncs got dialed in from long distance after the first quarter and led 34-20 at the half.

Canaan Magness kept Hamilton in the game in the first quarter, scoring eight of the Broncs’ 11 points. His buzzer beating 3-pointer put Hamilton up 11-10.

Tyler Andersen’s 3-pointer early in the second quarter put the Loggers on top 13-11, but it was their last lead of the game.

The Broncs used an 11-2 run, punctuated by a Magness 3 with 4:25 left, made it 22-15. It prompted Loggers head coach Josh Bean to call timeout.

But the Broncs didn’t cool off and scored eight straight points out of the timeout to take a 30-15 lead with 1:58 left.

Tyler Andersen’s two free throws with 49 seconds left stopped the run and Beagle hit a 3 with 24 seconds left to make it 33-20.

But the 3-point shooting of Magness and Cole Dickemore allowed the Broncs to pull away early in the third quarter.

Magness made four 3-pointers and led all scorers in the game with 24 points for the Broncs, who made 11 3-pointers as a team. Dickemore had five 3-pointers and scored 15.

Following Tyler Andersen and Beagle in the scoring charts for Libby were Cy Williams and Alderic Martineau who each scored four points. Aidan Rose had three, Chayse Hartley, Aidan Agre-Baun each had two and Tristan Andersen had one point.

The Loggers hosted Corvallis Friday evening, but the game ended after press time. They’ll have a holiday break before returning to action on Thursday, Jan. 4 at Bigfork.

    Libby's Ryan Beagle brings the ball upcourt against Hamilton on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby's Cy Williams plays defense against Hamilton on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby's Alderic Martineau looks to pass against Hamilton on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby's Tristan Andersen looks to pass against Hamilton on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)