Bulldogs’ momentum fades

RONAN — The Mission Bulldogs lost just five games all season, but a 63-49 loss to Missoula Loyola in the opening round of the Western B divisional tournament Thursday ensured that the Bulldogs (9-1, 18-5) would not be advancing to the state tournament this year.

Loyola (9-10) dominated the second and fourth quarters and pulled away late.

Zoran LaFrombois scored 14 points and Ross McPherson added 13 for Mission. Cedrick McDonald finished with 10 points.

The Thursday loss sent Mission to a consolation game against county rival Arlee (11-11) on Friday morning. Levi Fullerton paced the Warriors with 22 points, and Mission’s Jadence Peone matched him with 22 points to lead the Bulldogs, who also got 20 points from LaFrombois and 12 from McPherson in a 65-57 Mission victory.

Benny Harlow scored 13 for the Warriors, who outscored the Bulldogs 24-9 in the third quarter to close the gap after trailing by 14 at the half.

For Arlee, the loss was the final career game for seniors Fullerton and Deon Red Cloud.

In a loser-out game Saturday, Mission took on Florence-Carlton (20-3), a top seed that lost to Eureka in the semifinals Friday.

Beau Neal hit a jumper at the buzzer to give the Falcons an 18-11 lead after the first period, and they extended the lead to 41-25 at half.

The Bulldogs opened the second half with a 13-5 run to close the gap to eight points, but they couldn’t get any closer and their season eventually came to an end with a 76-62 loss.

McDonald finished with 28 points for Mission, while Neal scored 28 for the Falcons.

Head coach Stuart Grant said his team had been battling illness for the final weeks of the season, and multiple players were in the bathroom vomiting during the Florence game.

The loss to the Falcons was the final game for Mission seniors Peone, McPherson, Michael Wheeler, Justin Brown and Landry Leishman.

Bigfork and Eureka played for the divisional championship Saturday, with Bigfork (15-8) winning 55-51 in overtime to claim the West No. 1 seed to the state tournament March 10-12 at Bozeman. Eureka (10-13) is the No. 2 seed.

Florence 76, Mission 62

Florence 16 - 25 - 14 - 21 – 76

St.Ign 11 - 14 - 19 - 18 – 62

FLORENCE-CARLTON – Beau Neal 28, Aiden Wayne 12, Caden Zaluski 10, Jace Pederson 9, Blake Shoupe 8, Patrick Duchien 6, Ethan Alexander 2, Levi Posey 1.

MISSION – Cedrick McDonald 28, Jadence Peone 7, Kellen McClure 7, Mike Wheeler 6, Zoran LaFrombois 6, Ross McPherson 4, Kenny Ness 2, Erich Morigeau 2.

Mission 65, Arlee 57

St.Ign 16 - 24 - 9 - 16 – 65

Arlee 15 - 11 - 24 - 7 – 57

MISSION – Jadence Peone 22, Zoran LaFrombois 20, Ross McPherson 12, Cedrick McDonald 5, Mike Wheeler 3, Kellen McClure 2, Justin Brown 1.

ARLEE – Levi Fullerton 22, Ben OldPerson Harlow 13, Dallas Swab 8, Kendall O'Neill 5, Jake Knoll 4, Ethan Fiddler 3, Payton Mays 2.

Loyola 63, Mission 49

Missoula 13 - 19 - 11 - 20 – 63

St.Ignatius 14 - 7 - 14 - 14 – 49

MISSOULA LOYOLA – Raef Konzen 22, Noah Haffey 12, Reynolds Johnston 9, Jack Clevenger 8, Ethan Stack 5, Clayton Ogilvie 4, Declan Harrington 3.

MISSION – Zoran LaFrombois 14, Ross McPherson 13, Cedrick McDonald 10, Kellen McClure 5, Jadence Peone 5, Justin Brown 2.

Bigfork 62, Arlee 44

Arlee 9 - 9 - 14 - 12 – 44

Bigfork 11 - 19 - 16 - 16 – 62

ARLEE – Ben OldPerson Harlow 8 0-0 19(9r,1a,4s,1b), Levi Fullerton 1 4-4 6(2r,6a), Payton Mays 6(1r,1s), Kendall O'Neill 2 0-0 5(1r,1b), Jace Arca 1 2-2 4(2r), Jake Knoll 2(2r), Dallas Swab 0 2-2 2(3r,1a,1s), Kaden Ostby (1r), tm(1r). Team: 15 8-8 44 (22r,8a,6s,2b).

BIGFORK – Bryce Gilliard 4 2-2 11(4r,3a,1s), Isak Epperly 3 3-4 10(3r,9a,1b), George Brown 4 1-2 10(3r,1s,1b), Colin Wade 4 0-0 10(1r,2a,2s), Nick Walker 8(5r,1s,1b), Eli Thorness 2 2-2 7(3r,1s), Levi Taylor 2 2-2 6(3r,1a,1s). Team: 23 10-14 62 (30r,21a,10s,2b).

3FGs – Arlee 6 (Ben.OPH 3, Mays 2, O'Neill), Bigfork 5 (Wade 2, Gilliard, Epperly, Brown).