GREAT FALLS — It was physical and eye-opening, but the young Lady Bulldogs officially have a state tournament game under their belts.

Amaya Davis and Ariana Gary combined for 31 points and 17 rebounds, leading Havre past Whitefish 51-23 in the first round of the State A tournament.  

“I think we learned something today about physicality,” Whitefish coach Bob Bolam said. “If we want to be a state-caliber team, we’ve got to get more physical and a bit stronger.” 

For Whitefish Avery Orme had seven points, all on free throws; Reese Hudson added six, and Allie Shors contributed five. 

The first period was the Lady Bulldogs’ best.  

Trailing 8-0 early, Hudson splashed two triples for Whitefish and Sammie Shors added a transition layup to only trail by three after the first period, 14-11. 

From that moment, Havre turned it up a notch defensively and held the Lady Bulldogs without a field goal until halfway through the third period. 

Whitefish plays Laurel in loser-out action at 1:30 p.m. on Friday. The Blue Ponies advanced to the semifinals against Dillon. Dillon beat Laurel 48-37. 

“We’ve been resilient all year. We’ve come back after hard losses and played good games, and I expect the same tomorrow,” Bolam said. 

Havre    14    10    10    17    -    51 

Whitefish    11    2    6    4    -    23 

HAVRE — Amaya Jarvis 6 1-5 14, Tahlyn Olson 2 0-0 4, Olivia Keller 1 0-0 2, Kelcee Garcia 0 0-0 0, Kara Kellem 1 0-0 2, Liv Cote 0 0-0 0, Bree Hanson 1 0-0 2, Ariana Gray 8 0-0 17, Ela Harbor 2 0-0 4, Chloe Harber 0 0-0 0, Katie Tilleman 3 0-0 6. Totals 26 1-5 51. 

WHITEFISH — Emy Hansen 1 0-0 3, Reese Hudson 2 0-0 6, Sammie Shors 1 0-0 2, Clair Easterley 0 0-0 0, Blake Ruta 0 0-0 0, Avery Orme 0 7-10 7, Allie Shors 1 3-4 5, Stella Frisbee 0 0-0 0. Totals 8 10-14 23.  

3-point goals — Havre 2 (Jarvis, Gary), Whitefish 3 (Hudson 2, Hansen). Fouls — Havre 9, Whitefish 4. 

Billings Central 58, Bigfork 24 

In a rematch of the 2024 A State Championship, Billings Central never trailed and the Rams three-headed trio combined for 44 points. 

Lady Griz commit Kamryn Reinker scored a game-high 18 points and Annika Stergar (Carroll College) and Amaya Lorash contributed 13 each. 

The RamS forced 27 turnovers and held Bigfork to four points in the first period. 

“There’s a reason they’re the two-time defending state champs and probably the overwhelming favorite again,” Bigfork coach Isaac Martel said. “It’s a different stage for us currently, but we can’t let that game define the rest of our weekend, we’ve got more basketball to play.” 

Paeten Gunlock led Bigfork with 15 points, three rebounds, and two assists. The Vals shot 10 of 39 from the field. 

Billings Central used a full-court press to blast out to a 22-2 lead. 

“It moves fast; you make a couple mistakes and suddenly, they’re up 10 then 20,” Martel said. “I was proud of them in the second half, they did the little things better.” 

Billings Central advances to the semifinals against Frenchtown on Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Bigfork will face Hardin in loser-out action Friday at noon. 

“We’re going to need a lot more effort,” Gunlock said. “We’re still going to come out and compete the rest of the week.” 

Billings Central    22    16    13    7    -    58 

Bigfork        4    9    8    3    -    24 

Billings Central — Addy Alier 0 0-0 0, Annika Stergar 5 1-1 13, Emerson Dull 2 0-0 5, Kamryn Reinker 7 4-5 18, Karis Brightwing-Pease 2 0-0 5, Maggie Baker 0 0-0 0, Lorelai Hutzenbiler 1 0-0 2, Amaya Lorash 6 1-2 13, Abney Larsen 1 0-2 2. Totals 28 6-10 58. 

BIGFORK — Keegan Campbell 1 0-0 3, Payton DeSpain 1 1-2 3, Eva Heil 0 0-0 0, Savanah Hedges 0 0-0 0, Josie Vick 0 0-0 0, Paeten Gunlock 7 1-2 15, Desi Dell 1 0-0 3, Emma Pargman 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 2-6 24. 

3-point goals — Billings Central 4 (Stergar 2, Dull, Brightwing-Pease), Bigfork 2 (Dell, Campbell). Fouls — Billings Central 9, Bigfork 11. 

Frenchtown 47, Hardin 46 

In the closest game of the day, Mason Quinn’s game-winning free throw with under 5 seconds left to lift Frenchtown past Hardin. 

Quinn was 12 of 13 from the stripe, finishing with 20 points; eighth grader Henley Harris added 11 points for the Broncs 

For Hardin, Annika Big Man led the Lady Bulldogs with 10, 

Frenchtown        10    16    7    14    -    47 

Hardin        12    12    12    10    -    46 

FRENCHTOWN — Mason Quinn 4 12-13 20, Jezzy Palmer 1 3-4 6, Laney Holleran 1 0-0 2, Toni Hawkins 0 1-2 1, Blake Hardy 3 1-2 7, Henley Harris 3 4-4 11. Totals 14 21-25 47. 

HARDIN — Zoey Real Bird 1 0-0 2, Zaylee Good Luck 1 0-0 2, Journey Hugs 2 0-0 6, Dakota Takes Enemy 2 2-4 7, Kevee Rogers 2 0-0 6, Marley Hugs 2 0-2 4, Annika Big Man 4 0-0 10, Taylor Slater 4 1-2 9. Totals 25 3-8 46. 

3-point goals — Frenchtown 2 (Palmer, Harris), Hardin 7 (Rogers 2, Big Man 2, Hugs 2, Takes Enemy). Fouls — Frenchtown 10, Hardin 19.