Butte High vs. Butte Central Basketball Doubleheader Tuesday Night at Civic Center
It may be a nonconference game and not important whatsoever in conference standings, but don't bother telling that to any of the players or the coaches. They'll be playing like it's Saturday night at State. Tuesday night, the Butte Civic Center will be hosting the Butte High/Butte Central basketball doubleheader and as is usually the case when Butte kids get together, you can throw the records out the window.
The girls' game will get things going at 6pm and features two teams who are both desperate for a win and would very much like to throw their records out the window. Butte High enters the game at 1-9 overall while Butte Central is 1-11. Coach Bryan Arntson's Bulldogs, winners of last year's game by a margin of 62-50, are led by a strong senior class including 5'5 guard Payton Clary, 5'11 post Laura Rosenleaf, 5'9 forward Emmarie Richards and 5'7 forwards Rian Ferriter and Taylor Bushman. The Maroons are extremely young, but senior forward Brooke Badovinac is coming off a record-setting junior season and enters this year's game as Class A's leading scorer with a 23.4 ppg average. Junior forward Mollie Drew and guard Katherine Lallicker are key contributors for first-year head coach Quinn Carter.
The boys game gets underway at approximately 7:30 and features two teams who are on respective rolls. The Maroons are the defending Class A champions and winners of last year's game, 65-37. They have won 11 in a row and are led by senior Dougie Peoples' 24.3 points per game which is good for second overall in Class A. Senior post Eric Loos contributes 10.2 points per game and 5.7 rebounds while senior forward Kyle Holter adds 9.6 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and nearly 2 steals per game. Butte High is coming off a 58-49 dismantling of Helena High and senior forward Jace Stenson has been on fire, putting up 18 against the Bengals and 13 the night before in a heartbreaking one-point loss to Helena Capital. Freshman guard Hudson Luedtke has been good for nearly 17 points per game and as his command of the Bulldogs offense matures, so does his team. Butte High comes into the game at a even 5-5 while Butte Central is 11-1.
Due to continued use of the Civic Center by "1923" production, a special announcement has been made regarding parking.