By Derek Hendrickson

The Butte Central boys’ basketball team got back in the win column, using a strong defensive effort to defeat the Livingston Rangers 54-42 in a nonconference game at the Maroon Activity Center Saturday afternoon.

“It was a good for us,” Maroon head coach Brodie Kelly said. “The things that we have been relying on lately, defense and rebounding and effort, our guys were able to do that again today and I think that’s what won the game.”

The difference was a 22-7 second quarter as the Maroons connected on 8 of 13 shots from the field including 3 of 5 from downtown.

The rest of the game was a struggle for both teams but the 15 point halftime lead was too much for the Rangers to overcome.

Central had two separate 10 point runs in the first half, the first helped them get out of a quick 7-3 hole in the first quarter, which ended with both teams showing 15 points on the scoreboard.

The second spree opened the second quarter and was one that Livingston never recovered from.  The Maroons were sparked by their three senior starters, who had 18 of the 22 points in the frame.

Nate McGree scored seven of his game-high 20 in the second, to go with the nine he tossed in during the first quarter.  Tanner Kump swished two threes for 6 and Sam “Stu” Johnston added 5 to help Central build their cushion.

Central’s inside out game was working to perfection early as McGree was unstoppable down low and the Maroons were 5 of 10 from deep in the first half, but they cooled down during the break.

“Nate today was awesome,” Kelly said about his senior captain.  “I just thought he was outstanding on both ends of the floor.  He just made a lot of plays that built some momentum for us.”

In the second half the Maroons only hit on 1 of 9 from three despite several good looks and Livingston did a better job to slow down the inside game, but the 17 points Central scored were plenty as the Rangers could only muster 20.

A four plus minute dry spell to open the third quarter ended when Kump hit a triple for Central’s first points of the second half but Park was unable to take advantage of the lull, only putting up 2 points themselves during the Maroon dry spell.

“That third quarter we just weren’t in good rhythm,” Kelly said, “we shot the ball poorly, I think we were one for ten from the three point line.  We were never able to extend the lead but we were able to maintain the lead because we were able to keep getting stops.”

Despite the inconsistent offense Central was able to rely on their hard-nosed man-to-man defense, led by Johnston shutting down Jakim Ricketts, Livingston’s best player, who was held to 8 points, 5 of which came in the first quarter.

Kelly was asked about his senior guard’s defense and had a lot to say about Johnston.

“Stu, it’s just such a tough mental challenge for him that every single night he’s guarding the other team’s best player.  He’s always guarding guys that can play.  To his credit, he’s guarding lots of different types of players and Ricketts, that kid can flat out score, and the thing I really like about Stu the last few games, he’s making guys earn it.  He’s not lunging at them, he’s not gambling, he’s just making guys take tough shots.”

The Maroons also forced 18 turnovers and swatted away three shots.  Central only coughed the ball up six times themselves and scored eight more points from the charity stripe in collecting the win.

Despite it not being the prettiest of wins it was still a win.  Earlier in the season the Maroons found themselves on the wrong end of several of these types of games when they didn’t play their best.

“I like the way we are playing but we still have to continue to improve,” Kelly said when asked about the differences between the recent wins compared to early season losses.  “The thing about a night like tonight is that it’s nice to be able to learn lessons and win, because we were making some mistakes in the fourth quarter too that it’s good to be able to learn in a game like this.”

Central improved to 8-7 on the season and maintain their 3-3 mark in the Southwestern Conference.  The also completed a season sweep over the Rangers, returning the favor from last year.

Kump ended the game with 15 all on threes and Johnston added 7 as the senior trio matched Livingston’s 42 points.

Matt Simkins and Dan McCloskey added 4 and both Luke Heaphy and Cade Holter had 2 to round out the Central scoring effort.

Livingston fell to 4-10 on the season as they move towards the Eastern A Superdivisional in the 3 weeks.

Rydell Floyd paced the Rangers with 15.  Ricketts scored 8 and was joined at that total by 6-foot-5 post Austin Parker.  Livingston’s roster features only one senior.

The Maroons will play again at the MAC on Tuesday when they welcome the AA Helena High Bengals, coached by Central graduate John Hollow.

“They’re always a really tough challenge for us,” Kelly said.  “I think Johnny does a great job coaching them.  I haven’t had a chance to watch much on them yet but anytime you’ve got them coming to town it’s going to be a challenge.”

LIVINGSTON (4-10) — John Waddell 0-1 0-0 0, Brock Peterson 1-3 0-0 3, Morgan Rossberg 1-1 0-0 2, , Dawson Purkett 2-4 0-0 4, Rydell Floyd 5-9 3-3 15, Dalton Walker 0-1 0-0 0, Jakim Ricketts 3-6 1-1 8, Austin Parker 3-7 2-5 8, Shea Bergsing 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 16-35 6-9 42.
BUTTE CENTRAL (8-7) — Sam Johnston 2-5 2-3 7, Tanner Kump 5-10 0-0 15, Nate McGree 7-11 6-6 20, Dan McCloskey 1-7 2-2 4, Luke Heaphy 1-3 0-0 2, Cade Holter 0-2 2-2 2, Matt Simkins 1-6 2-4 4, Jared Simkins 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-43 14-17 54.
Livingston                  15        7          10        10 — 42
Butte Central            15        22        7          10 — 54
3-point goals — BC 6-20 (Kump 5-9, Johnston 1-3, McCloskey 0-6, Heaphy 0-1, Holter 0-1), Livingston 4-11 (Floyd 2-5, Ricketts 1-2, Peterson 1-3, Walker 0-1,). Fouls — BC 14, Livingston 17. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none.  Turnovers — BC 6, Livingston 18.  Rebounds — BC 21 (McGree 7), Livingston 25 (Ricketts 6). Blocks — BC 3 (McGree 2), Livingston 1 (Ricketts).  Assists — BC 12 (Johnston 4), Stevensville 4 (Ricketts 2).

Lewistown 59, Havre 49

Havre…6 10 6 27 -- 49

Lewistown…6 12 20 21 -- 59

Havre – T. Parsons 8, N. Korb 7, I. Warp 12, B. Personett 6, R. Bakke 9, I. Aggeson 4, T. Murphy 3. Totals: 17 8-14.

Lewistown – Tanner Trafton 17, Noah Agostinell 4, Jake Clinton 7, Eric Knox 2, Andrew Lalum 2, Luke Derheim 2, Jaden Graham 16, Cole Ayers 9. Totals: 19 18-30.

Three point goals – Parsons 1, Warp 3, Personett 2, Murphy 1, Graham 3.

GLENDIVE 54 WOLF PT 52 OT

Glendive…21 12 7 10 4 – 54

Wolf Point…10 7 21 12 2 – 52

Glendive – Wyatt Buxbawn 8, Baxter Baker 17, David B. 2, Robby Keiser 2, Logan Phipps 3, Tory Opp 4, Stephen Steinbron 14, David Skerritt 4.

Wolf Point – Brady Babb 8, Logan Heser 2, Wesley Weeks 2, Morgan Bauer 18, Owen Lepper 4, Deshon Stroker Dewitt 5, Joseph Williamson 6, Chevy Boos 7.

3-pointers – Baker 4, Phipps, Opp, Babb, Lepper, Stroker Dewitt.

BILLINGS CENTRAL 59 MILES CITY 46