Defending champion Longhorns defeat Augusta to start divisionals

After a magical year last season that saw them win the Northern C as well as the Class C state title, the Fort Benton girls basketball faced much more adversity throughout this season. The Longhorns dealt with several injuries through the regular season and finished in the middle of the 9C standings.

But they persevered to take third in the 9C tournament last weekend to qualify for this year's Northern C Divisionals at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. As they try to repeat as divisional champions, the Longhorns started things on the right foot with a 53-40 win over Augusta Wednesday night.

The Longhorns started the game strong with five quick points. Ashlee Wang got the Longhorns on the scoreboard with a basket and then Casha Corder knocked down a three-pointer. After Augusta scored to get on the board, Wang knocked down a three to give Fort Benton an 8-2 lead. The Elks did get some offense going but Fort Benton still had a 12-8 lead to end the first quarter.

Cloe Kalanick and Wang scored some baskets early in the second quarter to stretch the lead 16-10. Free throws from Hailee Wang and a bucket from Corder then extended the lead to 20-11 halfway through the quarter. The Longhorns hit a lull late in the half but they took a 24-16 lead into halftime.

Hailee Wang made a free throw and then a layup to extend Fort Benton's lead to 27-16. After back-to-back threes by Augusta, the Longhorns ended the third on a 5-0 run to take a 34-22 lead into the fourth.

Through most of the fourth quarter, the Longhorns kept the Elks at bay. Augusta was eventually able to cut the deficit to 10 points but there were only 28 seconds left in the game at that point.

Corder finished the game with 15 points for Fort Benton while Ashlee and Hailee Wang combined for 17 points. Dayna Mills led Augusta with 13 points while Kodee Shalz scored 11 in the losing effort.

With the win, the Longhorns keep their hopes alive for another division title. They will next play in the semifinals against either Roy-Winifred or Chinook in a semifinal game Friday at 7 p.m. at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.

Fort Benton 53, Augusta 40

FB - 12 12 10 19 - 53

AUG - 8 8 6 18 - 40

FB - Casha Corder 15, Ashlee Wang 9, Hailee Wang 8, Kylynn Nack 6, Kaydyn LeFurgey 5, Cloe Kalanick 4, Sarah Clark 2, Samantha Vielleux 2, Lina Vaughn 2.

AUG - Dayna Mills 13, Kodee Shalz 11, Abigail Barrett 8, Hattie Orem 4, Gracie Orem 2, Sallie Orem 2.

3-pointers: FB 4-16 (Casha Corder 3, Ashlee Wang 1), AUG 3-8 (Kodee Shalz 3). Fouls: FB 14, AUG 24. Fouled Out: Abigail Barrett, Gracie Orem.