Outlaws hold off Bears in state title game

GREAT FALLS — The last time the Box Elder Bears played for a state championship, they did so in the Four Seasons Arena. That was 20-19 when the Bears won it all for the second year in a row.

Fast forward to Saturday night, and there they were, playing for another state championship in Great Falls. This time though, it didn’t work out, as the Bears fell to Northern C rival Roy-Winifred, 48-40 in the 2022 Class C state title game inside a sold-out Four Seasons Arena.

“I’m proud of this team,” Box Elder head coach Joel Rosette said following the Bears' second championship loss to the Outlaws this season. “I thought our intensity was good, I thought we were ready to play. But that team is a big challenge for us. We do whatever we can to combat their size, but at the end of the day, they do what they do and they do it really well. So it was a tough matchup for us, but I’m proud of the way our girls battled.”

The Bears did battle, though they had to come from behind early as the Outlaws raced out to a 9-0 lead. However, by the time Tayleigh Sunchild hit back-to-back buckets, Box Elder had closed the gap to 22-14 at halftime.

“We struggled offensively tonight,” Rosette said. “Their defense is a big challenge for us. I also thought they got a lot of momentum in the first half, because we had too many fouls. I thought that was a big key in the first half.”

Roy-Winifred may have had momentum in the first 16 minutes, but Box Elder stole it back in the third quarter, as Angela Gopher sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to pull the Bears to within 29-27 with eight minutes

The Bears stayed close for much of the fourth quarter, too, with a three from Breanna Bacon pulling the Bears to within five points with 2:04 to play. Kyla Momberg made a layup on the ensuing possession to get the Bears even closer, but the Outlaws were perfect from the charity stripe in the final two minutes, as they were able to salt the game away, and win the state championship, keeping it in the Northern C for yet another year.

Roy-Winifred shot just 26 percent for the game as Box Elder’s trademark defense stifled the Outlaws for much of the night. The Bears also forced 24 turnovers, and held star forward Madeline Heggem to just nine points. But, despite foul trouble, Isabella Heggem had 10 points and 12 rebounds to go with three blocks.

On the other end, the Bears were led by Momberg’s 11 points, but they too struggled offensively. They shot just 28 percent and got outrebounded 38-26.

It was a tough loss for the Bears, who went 25-2 this season. The reached the championship game with a hard-fought, 58-53 win over North Country Friday night. And though it didn't end the way they wanted it to, led by five seniors, it was an incredible season.

“It was an amazing season,” Rosette, who took over the team midway through they year, said. “The girls have been through so many different things, and I’m proud of all of them. This season has been really special. I wouldn’t trade this season for any other. The girls have been amazing. We’re a family. It’s special, and I’m just really proud of them.”

Roy-Winifred 48, Box Elder 40, 1ST

Roy-Winifred 14 8 7 19 - 48

Box Elder 5 9 13 13 - 40

ROY-WINIFRED: Madeline Heggem 14; Isabelle Heggem 10; Jayda Southworth 10; Megan Bergum 8; Laynee Elness 6.

BOX ELDER: Kyla Momberg 11; Meiyah Sutherland 9; Angela Gopher 6; Breanna Bacon 5; Tayleigh Sunchild 4; Mariah Arkinson 3; Annalise Johnson 2.

Box Elder 58, North Country 53, SF

Box Elder 12 18 10 18 - 58

Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale 13 14 17 - 53

BOX ELDER: Kyla Momberg 30; Angela Gopher 10; Breanna Bacon 8; Mariah Arkinson 4; Tayleigh Sunchild 4; Meiyah Sutherland 2.

SACO-WHITEWATER-HINSDALE: Jaycee Erickson 16; Teagan Erickson 14; Paige Wasson 12; Kora LaBrie 7; Zandora Longtree 3; Kendall Scheffelmear 1.