Braves go cold in loss to Bozeman
JON ALLEN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months, 1 week AGO
SPORTS REPORTER Jon Allen is a sports reporter for the Daily Inter Lake. He covers youth and high school athletics across the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana. Allen reports on major games, athletes and teams throughout the region’s prep sports landscape. In addition to game coverage, he contributes features and analysis across print and digital platforms. Jon can be seen on our Big Sky Now podcast, weighing in on the college landscape. His work highlights the athletes and communities that define Northwest Montana sports. IMPACT: Jon’s work tells the stories of local athletes and the communities that support them. | December 20, 2025 11:00 PM
Bozeman put on a 3-point barrage and Flathead couldn’t take the lid off the basket as the Hawks pulled away for a 48-32 victory in AA boys basketball Saturday afternoon at Flathead High School.
Jack Oberly scored a game-high 14 points for the Hawks (1-3) and Will Benne added 11, both hit three triples. Rex Drake added 12, all in the fourth quarter including a pair of three balls.
Ben Reichner led the Braves (1-3) with 11 points.
“Bozeman came out super physical and got us out of our rhythm a little bit,” Braves coach Dan Trageser said. “We did not shoot the ball well tonight, probably about as cold as this gym was today.”
The Braves were behind the eight-ball from the start as Bozeman opened on a 13-0 run, capped off by a 3-pointer plus a foul from Oberly.
After a five-minute scoreless start to the game, Flathead battled back late in the first with a 9-3 run sparked by Boston Case getting to the basket for a lay-in followed by a triple from Reichner.
The Braves again went cold, not scoring for the first five minutes of the second quarter as Bozeman grew the lead to 20-9.
The Hawks took a 28-16 lead into the half thanks to John Benne’s three as the buzzer sounded.
Neither team found the hoop much in the third as the Hawks outscored Flathead 5-3 in the frame.
“We came out of halftime and said ‘we have to guard, we have to limit threes,’ “ Trageser said. “I thought our kids did a good job of turning them over and putting us in a position to make a run, we just couldn’t finish on the offensive end of the floor.”
Drake took over in the fourth, as he scored the Hawks first 12 points of the quarter, including a triple that gave Bozeman its largest lead of the day, 41-24.
Reichner knocked down his second three of the game to cut the deficit to 43-31, but the Braves could get no closer.
The Braves now head on to winter break, they will be back on the court Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m., hosting Butte.
Bozeman 16 12 5 15 - 48
Flathead 9 7 3 13 - 32
BOZEMAN — Evan Hughen 1 1-2 3, John Benne 1 0-0 3, Braxton Black 1 0-0 2, Freddy Friedman 1 0-0 3, Jackson Langford 0 0-0 0, Will Benne 3 2-2 11, Jack Oberly 5 1-1 14, Rex Drake 5 0-0 12, Macrae Engler 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 4-5 48.
FLATHEAD — Sam McConnell 0 0-0 0, Eli Coopman 0 0-0 0, Ollie Rosenberg 2 0-0 4, Ben Reichner 3 3-4 11, Lance Schneller 1 1-2 3, Reece Brotherton 1 2-3 4, Boston Case 2 2-2 6, Max Shostak 0 0-0 0, Kyler Kossman 1 2-4 4. Totals 10 10-15 32.
3-point goals — Bozeman 10 (W Benne 3, Oberly 3, Drake 2, J Benne, Friedman), Flathead 2 (Reichner 2). Fouls — Bozeman 18, Flathead 13. Fouled out — Black. Technical fouls — Coopman.
ARTICLES BY JON ALLEN
Mixed experience for Glacier, Flathead tennis
There are a lot of new faces — and some familiar ones — taking the tennis courts for Glacier and Flathead in 2026.
A tennis: Champion Whitefish boys look to hold serve
Heavy is the crown that the Whitefish boys bring into the 2026 tennis season.
Spring baseball has arrived for Glacier, Flathead
It’s been a long time coming for baseball players in Kalispell.