CHURCHILL, Mont. — It was a thrilling Saturday night at Manhattan Christian High School, with the West Yellowstone girls and Manhattan Christian boys claiming 12C titles in rematches of championship games from a season ago.
In the girls’ game, the Wolverines of West Yellowstone flipped the script from the 2025 title contest, taking down the Shields Valley Rebels, 58-45.
The Spence sisters dominated for West Yellowstone. Junior Ari Spence scored 29, and freshman Talia Spence added 16. Sophomore Dafne Lujan added 11.
Junior Nicki Swandal paced the Rebels with 19, while fellow junior Gaige Taylor scored 10.
The Wolverines have now defeated the Rebels four straight times, dating back to the Western C a year ago.
In the boys’ game, the Manhattan Christian Eagles trailed most of the way before a late comeback propelled them to a 49-42 triumph over the Wolverines.
The Wolverines, who split the regular season series with the Eagles, led by four after the first quarter and by five at halftime, but were outscored 13-11 in the third and 19-9 in the fourth.
Senior Andrew Kimm and junior Zach Venema attacked the basket down the stretch combining for 30 points. Kimm also had 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. Junior Tate Hamilton had 11 points, including a four-point play late in the first half, to go along with 6 assists, a block and a steal.
Junior Noah Flores made five three-pointers for the Wolverines for 15 total points, while junior Rodrigo Salinas scored 10, sophomore Abrams Clark had 9 points and 8 rebounds, and freshman Austin Hales scored 8.
The win for the Eagles marks the fifth straight 12C title for Manhattan Christian and the ninth in the last 10 years.
All four teams that played in Saturday’s 12C championship games, as well as the Gardiner boys and Manhattan Christian girls, advance to the Western C Divisional next week at the Maroon Athletic Center in Butte.