Basketball teams play final regular season games

The Broadus varsity basketball teams hosted Melstone on Friday, for the final home games of the season, before traveling to Terry on Saturday, for the final regular season games.

Melstone's girls and boys are both undefeated this season, and both teams asserted their dominance over Broadus on Friday. The Terry results were split, with the Broadus girls winning in a commanding performance, while the Broadus boys lost in the closing seconds of the 4th quarter.

Girls

The Broadus girls team was no match for Melstone's steady offense, which put up 66 points, to Broadus' 14 on the game. Melstone went up early stayed ahead, led by Draya Wacker's 19 points. Lucinda Cain led the Lady Hawks with 4 points, going 4 of 6 from the free throw line.

On Saturday against Terry, the Lady Hawks were able to regain some confidence and finish out their season strong.

The Lady Hawks had one of their best performances of the season, shooting 44% from the field, and knocking down 65% of their free throws.

Broadus went up early and led 12-2 after the 1st quarter, 41-13 at the half, 52-20 after three, and won the game 67-20.

Lea Aye led the Lady Hawks in scoring with 13, going 6/6 from the free throw line. Oliveah Schaffer had 12 points.

"The girls played with confidence against Terry, and I think that will help us going into the District Tournament," Broadus head coach Kacey Stanley commented during a Monday interview.

Broadus opens their tournament against 10-5 Ekalaka on Thursday, past our deadline for the paper. Stanley says that Ekalaka is a quick team, and she will be working with the Lady Hawks on their defense this week, in order to try and stop Ekalaka.

Boys

The Broadus boys varsity team had a fate similar to the girls on Friday – Melstone was simply too much for the Hawks. In their first meeting of the season, Broadus Head Coach Mike Richards said Melstone was able to drive to the hoop on the Hawks. Richards adjusted his defense this time around, and Melstone had a tougher time with penetration – but instead they drilled three pointers. This ability to score from all players and all positions on the court is one of the reasons Melstone is ranked #4 in the state.

In the Hawks' first meeting this season against Terry, Broadus defeated the Terriers 54-31. This time around, Broadus had a tough time sinking their shots – the team was only 27% for field goals on the night, and only hit 40% of their free throws.

Broadus went out to a healthy lead in the 1st quarter, going up as much as 16-8 in the second quarter, before losing the lead just before the half. Broadus battled back to retake the lead briefly in the 3rd quarter, and led until the trailing minute of the 4th quarter.

With 22 seconds left on the clock, and Broadus leading 43-42, Beau Kuhbacher tried to reach Marcus Mader on an inbound pass. A Terry defender scooped up the pass, and drove it downcourt to score, putting Terry up 44-43. Broadus was unable to capitalize on the ensuing possession, and after a foul against Broadus, Terry added another point to win, 45-43.

Marcus Mader led the Hawks in scoring with 14, along with 11 rebounds and 6 steals.

Broadus will have a chance to enact their revenge on Wednesday (again, after our deadline), as they face Terry in the first game of the District tournament, in Miles City. Richards said that he's made some adjustments in practice to help against Terry.

Here are the Broadus stats from the games:

https://www.powderriverexaminer.com/home/customer_files/stats/2.21_stats-1