Bulldog Girls use big second half to down Missoula Sentinel on Senior Night

The Butte Bulldogs scored the first nine points of the second half and were able to maintain a comfortable cushion throughout the rest of the game, beating the Missoula Sentinel Spartans 46-31 Friday night at Ross J. Richardson Memorial Gymnasium.  The Bulldogs celebrated "Senior Night", sending their six seniors off in style while getting a glimpse of the potentially bright future that awaits Coach Bryan Arntson's program.

8th-grader Cadence Graham put the hammer down in the game's final three minutes downing three pointers on back-to-back Bulldog possessions and knocking down a pair of free throws after Sentinel had clawed their way back to within 7 at 36-29.  Graham would lead all scorers with 12 and adding to the youth movement was sophomore Brityn Stewart who followed with 11 points, her 4th straight game in double digits.  Senior Laura Rosenleaf had 9 points for the Bulldogs, fellow senior Emmarie Richards added 7, senior Brooke Groesbeck had 5 and senior Payton Clary would add 2.  The win avenges a 43-28 loss the Bulldogs suffered back on January 20.

With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 4-12 on the season but three of their wins have come in their last 7 games.  Seniors and their families were honored before tipoff.  Senior Bulldogs are Payton Clary, Laura Rosenleaf, Emmarie Richards, Taylor Bushman, Rian Ferriter and Brooke Groesbeck.  Also honored was cheer squad member Denver Jackson and his family.

There are two games remaining on Butte High's regular-season schedule and both are against teams from the Capital City.  The Bulldogs will host Helena High on Tuesday and will wrap up the season Saturday at Helena Capital.