Sports

#3 BCHS boys basketball, 2nd at state A

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The Dillon Beavers felt the sting of defeat for the first time during the 2021 season in their final game of the year, a state championship loss to Billings Central. Dillon (19-1) fell behind big in the first half, rallied back from a 16-point deficit to cut Central’s lead to 5, before time became a factor and the Beavers had to employ the fouling strategy. Central canned their free throws to win the title game, 49-39. The Beavers won early and often during the season and entered the state tourney as the top-ranked squad in Class A.

#4 BCHS boys track & fields, 2nd at state A

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The Dillon Beaver boys track and field earned second place in the final team standings at the state A meet in March for rookie head coach Jeremy Anderson.

#5 Twin Bridges boys basketball, 2nd at state C

In March of 2021, The Twin Bridges Falcons won a wild semifinal game over Fort Benton to advance to just the second State Class C boys basketball championship game in school history. The title game against Scobey did not go well for the Falcons and they settled for a silver trophy following a 64-27 defeat.

#6 UMW rodeo, Big Sky and CNFR success

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In the third and final year of the Kody Lahaye era, the coach would resign following the College National Finals Rodeo, but enjoyed his most successful season before ending a longdistance relationship with his wife and joining her as they move forward with their lives.

“It was a hard decision, I’m obviously going to miss college rodeo,” said Lahaye. “I’ve been to the college finals in some capacity as a competitor or coach in 11 of the last 12 years. It is kind of a sad moment, but at the same time I’m going to be with my wife.”

Three Dillon Beavers earn All-State football honors

Six Dillon Beavers were awarded slots on the All-Western A football through a vote of the league coaches, with three of Dillon’s selections were named to the all-state A roster. The players represent a Dillon team that posted a 7-2 record in the regular season before bowing out in the first round of the Class A playoff.

UMW Lady Bulldogs post 3-1 record at Arizona tourney

For Christmas, Santa took the University of Montana Western women’s basketball team on a long sleigh ride to a warm-weather working vacation, where they gained some new, valuable experiences.

Plus three wins in the final three games of the four-game road trip—but they were no gifts, just hard-earned triumphs.

“It was a good trip,” said UMW Head Coach Lindsey Woolley of his team’s Dec. 18–22 journey to just north of the south of the border in Arizona for three games at the Cactus Classic, following one against Arizona Christian.

Dillon sweeps double-header at Livingston

The Dillon Beavers and Lady Beavers waxed their respective Park High opponents at Livingston last Tuesday evening in a doubleheader that ended the 2021 portion of Dillon’s basketball schedule.

The Dillon girls improved to 5-0 with a 72-27 win. Halfway through the first quarter, Dillon led 20-0 and team depth kept pressure on the Rangers to the brutal end.

On the boys side, Dillon steadily ground Livingston up, taking 57-30 third quarter lead and cruising to the win.

Seniors Connor Curnow with 28 and Jonathan Kirkley with 20 led Dillon in scoring.

Barnes, Holland lead Dillon at CMR

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Hunter Barnes placed fourth at 120-pounds on the boys side and Faye Holland placed sixth at 113-pounds on the girls side to lead Dillon to respectable finishes at the CMR Classic in Great Falls over the weekend. The CMR is the biggest and best individual advancement tournament in the state of Montana during the regular season.

Lady Beavers off to 4-0 start with latest sweep

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The Dillon Lady Beavers are undfeated through two weeks of the regular season after picking up wins over Corvallis, 51-25, and Butte Central, 69-62, over the past week.

Beavers (2-2) falter at Butte Central

The Dillon Beavers traveled to Corvallis last week and took care of business, 73-62. Saturday night at the Maroon Activities Center, Butte Central held Dillon off 56-42.