3-peat

For the third time in as many seasons, the CCHS Lady Bulldogs are headed to the Montana State Class C Girls Basketball Tournament.

Last year, the girls lost to eventual state champion Box Elder in the first round, defeated Charlo in a Friday loser-out contest, and lost on Saturday morning to the Scobey Spartans. The Spartans went on to win the consolation game on Saturday night over Savage.

In 2018, CCHS lost to Plentywood and Ennis.

This year they will play the number two seed out of the Eastern Division, Westby-Grenora, on Thursday at noon. This year also happens to be the first that the boys' and girls' state tournament is held jointly. All games are taking place at the University of Montana.

To win their third straight Southern C Divisional Championship, the Dogs first defeated the Bridget Scouts, 57-32. Lady Blue attempted only two free throws in the game, and shot only 36 percent from the field, but they took twenty more shots than Bridger. It was tenacious defense that helped the girls to a 25 point victory.

CCHS had 14 turnovers while Bridger had 22. Additionally, Bridger shot only 10-50 (20 percent) from the field. Heather LaBree was the games high scorer with 18 points. Whitney Kittelmann had 12 points, all from behind the arc. Bridger's high scorer, Serena Oyler, had 7.

CCHS 10 24 44 57

Bridger 8 14 25 32

CCHS: Heather LaBree 18, Whitney Kittelmann 12, Kenzie Tooke 8, Kari Kittelmann 7, Hannah LaBree 6, Tyra O'Connor 2, Heidi LaBree 2, Ella Owen 2.

Bridger: Serena Oyler 7, Emily Adkins 6, Kyra Krull 6, Mya Goltz 5, Hope Buessing 4, Tenna Kallevig 4.

In their semifinal game, the Lady Bulldogs defeated Plenty Coups by nine points. The girls had a huge second quarter, outscoring the Warriors 24 to 7, and never looked back. Before a first half buzzer beater from Plenty Coups senior Sylvi Stewart, CCHS had jumped to a twenty point lead. The Warriors trimmed the deficit to 7 points by the end of the third, but didn't have enough firepower to comeback against the Dogs and their fast-paced attack.

Late in the contest with the game in hand, Stewart committed a hard foul on Lady Bulldog Ella Owen. The foul knocked Owen to the ground and led to a lower leg injury that ended her season. Owen had her best game of the postseason, finishing with 11 points. Heather LaBree was again the leading scorer for CCHS with 26 points. Stewart also had 26 for the Warriors.

CCHS 19 43 51 66

Plenty Coups 18 25 44 57

CCHS: Heather LaBree 26, Ella Owen 11, Hannah LaBree 10, Kari Kittelmann 8, Heidi LaBree 6, Whitney Kittelmann 3, Kenzie Tooke 2.

Plenty Coups: Sylvi Stewart 26, Catherine Monroe 11, Kodi Big Lake 6, Serena Flat Lip 5, Sephora Covers Up 4, Anonda Goes Ahead 2, Kyra Turns Plenty 2, Lois Flat Lip, 1.

CCHS displayed a total team effort in the championship game against Melstone. Kari Kittelmann had only two points on offense but played absolutely stellar defense on one of the best player's in the state, Melstone's Draya Wacker. Kittelmann was all over Wacker, and the floor. Her defense led to multiple turnovers and jump balls.

Kittelmann didn't do it alone though. Wacker was double teamed for the entire game as two defenders stayed in her hip pocket no matter where she was at on the floor. Heidi LaBree spent the most time with Kittelmann shutting down Wacker. She played solid defense while scoring a career high 26 points in the championship.

At one time or another, every Bulldog player spent time guarding Wacker. Codi Melton came in off the bench and also did a fine job shutting her down.

In the end, Head Coach Kayla Olsen's decision to double-team Wacker payed off. The sophomore was held to only two points. Olsen chose to stick with the strategy for the entirety of the championship. It often led to open three-pointers for other Lady Bronc players, and sometimes led to no defender being in position to snag a backside rebound, but her strategy worked as Lady Blue won the Southern C Divisional Championship, 61-58.

CCHS did a good job taking care of the ball, committing only 10 turnovers. They shot 10 of 17 from the free throw line (59 percent) and 39 percent from the field. Heidi LaBree finished the game shooting 53 percent from the field. Whitney Kittelmann hit 3 more three-pointers; she made 8 total for the tournament. Koye Rindal was the Broncs high scorer with 21 points on 7 threes.

CCHS 21 34 48 61

Melstone 16 30 44 58

CCHS: Heidi LaBree 26, Heather LaBree 13, Hannah LaBree 9, Whitney Kittelmann 9, Kari Kittelmann 2, Codi Melton 2.

Melstone: Koye Rindal 21, Kayla Kombol 13, Kaigen Roskelley 12, Kelsey Thurston 8, Kayla Thurston 2, Draya Wacker 2