Setninel, West for AA boys title

BILLINGS — Missoula Sentinel is back in the title game for the second time in three seasons, and the Spartans will play Billings West for the State AA championship.

Lincoln Rogers scored 16 points to lead Sentinel (18-3) past Helena High 50-35 in Friday’s first semifinal at First Interstate Arena.  

Billings West survived Missoula Hellgate 62-61 in triple overtime in the late semifinal. The Golden Bears (16-5) were in this spot last year and lost the title game to Billings Skyview. 

Sentinel 50, Helena 35 

The Spartans put together a workmanlike win, building a 16-8 lead after one quarter and 39-20 after three. They shot 49 percent from the field and 57 percent after halftime. 

The 6-foot-8 Rogers added nine rebounds; Beau O’Reilly checked in with eight points and Gavin O’Reilly added another seven for Sentinel. 

The Spartans haven’t won a state championship since 1986 and lost four title games since then, including a 62-45 setback to Gallatin in 2024. 

Seth Lieberg led the Bengals (12-10) with 10 points. 

West 62, Hellgate 61 3OT 

Hellgate led 40-28 going to the fourth quarter, but the Golden Bears rallied and eventually won on Grayson Baumann’s driving lay-up with 5 seconds left in the third overtime. 

Bauman had 17 points. Cash Rice led West with 23, and hit a layup with 20 seconds left in regulation to knot the game at 47-all and force the first OT.  

Zane Gillhouse led the Knights (16-5) with 20 points, Liam Dick added 17 and Spencer Wayland, whose last-second shot spun around the rim and in to force the second OT, added 11. 

The game was 51-51 after one overtime and 55-55 after two extra periods. 

Montanasports.com contributed to this report.