Pirates nab divisional trophy, state bracket spot
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HAMILTON — Colton Graham scored a game-high 19 points leading the Polson Pirates to a 40-36 consolation round win over the Hamilton Broncs on Saturday during the Western A Divisional Basketball tournament held in Hamilton.
The win earned the Pirates a divisional third place trophy and secured a third seed bracket spot in the upcoming state tournament hosted in Missoula.
On Thursday, the Pirates opened the Western A Divisional tournament with a 50-47 victory over tournament host Hamilton.
The Pirates took hold of the game early by racing out to a 15-5 first quarter advantage.
Graham netted 18 points, Trent Wilson added 15 points and Jarrett Wilson chipped in with 11 points for the Pirates.
In Friday’s semifinal game, the Pirates fell in a close 58-51 game to the Dillon Beavers.
Jarrett Wilson paced the Pirates with 17 points while Graham posted 13 points.
Behind a game high 28 points from Graham on Saturday morning, the Pirates clinched a state tournament berth with a 74-64 loser-out game win over the Browning Indians.
Also scoring in double digits for Polson were Xavier Fisher with 15 points and Trent Wilson with 14 points.
The consolation game was a first-round rematch with Hamilton. The Broncs led the Pirates throughout the first three quarters before Polson clawed their way back into the game for the win in the fourth quarter.
Polson will open Class A State Championship Tournament action on Thursday, Mar. 10, in Missoula against the Glendive Red Devils.
Also playing in the Western A Divisional were the Ronan Maidens and Polson Lady Pirates.
On Thursday, the Lady Pirates fell 58-19 to the Hamilton Lady Broncs, while the Maidens struggled against the Dillon Lady Beavers 60-19.
Areanna Burke was the top shooter for the Lady Pirates with 12 points while Lauryn Buhr paced the Maidens with five points.
In loser-out bracket action on Friday, the Lady Pirates were defeated by the Butte Central Maroons 47-40 and the Maidens fell 50-40 to the Stevensville Lady Yellowjackets.
Lady Pirate Grace Simonich and Maiden Dani Coffman each scored 10 points apiece to lead their respective teams in scoring.
