MISSOULA — Troy Hugs started celebrating as he dribbled out the end of the clock, racing toward the student section. Head coach Michael Claxton applauded the Gallatin fans in attendance. Players embraced on the court, eagerly awaiting the next step.
The East No. 2 seed Gallatin boys held on to defeat East No. 4 seed Great Falls CMR 58-50 in the Class AA semifinals Friday night at the Adams Center. The Raptors will next face West No. 2 seed Missoula Sentinel in the Class AA championship game at 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Senior Zad Rodarte — who missed 12 games this season with a foot injury — said the Raptors never wavered in the final moments.
“It just brings us a lot of joy because of the ups and downs we’ve had this season, especially with my injury,” Rodarte said. “That means a lot to me to be able to go out and play Saturday night with my guys and my brothers.”
Claxton also called the moment joyous, especially seeing Gallatin come out on top in a close game at state. He thought back to the narrow misses each of the past two seasons. That includes being on the wrong side of a late tip-in against Billings Senior two years ago. The Raptors also ended last season with an overtime loss to Kalispell Glacier.
In those losses, “the wheels kind of fell off the bus,” Claxton said. It was a different story Friday.
“We’ve worked day in and day out practice-wise to put ourselves in the position that, if we are in control, we can close games out and at least make safe passes,” he added.
Rodarte (16 points) and junior Kale Fasting (15) scored in double figures for the Raptors. Senior Jack Repscher added nine, junior Grant Vigen scored six and sophomore Carter Dahlke scored five.
After the game, Rodarte said he wouldn’t want to get to this stage with anyone else. He was especially overwhelmed being able to step up in the fourth quarter.
“I can’t even explain it,” he said, “because my family was out there to watch, and I feel like I’m just as close with these guys. Being able to come back and contribute in such a big way, it means a lot.”
Claxton emphasized how proud the entire program is of Rodarte, noting the growth from Rodarte’s freshman year — after his family moved from Gardiner to Bozeman — to a senior season filled with adversity.
“For him to just have a chance to finish the season with his teammates, with the guys that he’s been with for four years,” Claxton said, “I couldn’t be happier for him and his family and for our team.”
The Raptors needed a collective effort to take down the Rustlers, a team that was coming off an overtime upset of West No. 1 seed Missoula Hellgate Thursday. Claxton said that served as a reminder that regular season standings and state seedings “don’t hold much weight out here.”
“We knew they were playing with a lot of confidence and playing very aggressive,” Claxton added. “So we weren’t taking anything for granted.”
Gallatin struck first, with Hugs finding Vigen for a quick layup off the opening tip. CMR answered with a 3 from Jonah Van Tassell, and the Rustlers led the rest of the frame, entering the second quarter with a 15-12 lead.
Dahlke banked in a 3 to open the second, but Dean Blair added two free throws on the other end. Vigen and Blair traded baskets, and Van Tassell scored on a pull-up jumper to make it 21-17 CMR. A Rodarte 3 and a free throw by Fasting late kept the Raptors close, trailing CMR 27-26 at halftime.
Claxton felt good about Gallatin’s position at halftime given its defensive performance. He noted how the Raptors particularly struggled in the paint, giving up eight open looks by the rim.
Blair was a key figure, with eight points at the break. He finished with a game-high 20. Ben Cunningham (11) and Van Tassell (10) also scored in double figures for the Rustlers.
Blair opened the third converting an and-1, followed by a Fasting 3. Fasting helped Gallatin regain the lead with 6 minutes, 2 seconds left in the third by scoring through contact. He missed the free throw, but the Raptors were up 31-30. Hugs later scored on a step-through layup to give Gallatin a 41-38 lead entering the fourth.
CMR took the lead right back after a Van Tassell 3 and another and-1 from Blair. Repscher answered with a layup on the other end, and Rodarte added a floater. After a pair of free throws from Blair, Rodarte scored through contact on a baseline drive. The free throw put Gallatin up 50-46 with 1:42 to play.
About 30 seconds later, Repscher fouled out after a collision with Van Tassell. As players were separated, Blair was assessed a technical by a referee. Van Tassell made both his free throws while Rodarte sank both technical shots. Gallatin retained possession, and Fasting hit two more free throws.
Rodarte compared it to last season, when he stepped up to the line to sink free throws in a loser-out game against Butte. He’d also been struggling at the line recently, making it feel even better to convert in a clutch moment Friday.
“Coaches, we only guide players,” Claxton added. “Players step up to the line and have to get it done. They stepped up to the free throw line concentrated, with that togetherness, that cohesion.”
Vigen and Hugs later hit free throws to close it out. Rodarte credited the Raptors with maintaining their composure late, as well as communicating on defense and playing with consistent effort. Claxton added that Gallatin took care of the ball and made shots — especially free throws — when it mattered most.
“Most of the champions that I’ve seen from the state of Montana or even the state of Washington, where I used to coach, they’ve shot a high percentage from the line when they had the opportunity to earn those points,” he said. “It’s a big factor for us.”
The Raptors will need to continue relying on each other in crunch time Saturday, Rodarte said, something they’ve done all season. Claxton added that Gallatin will be “incredibly motivated” to capture the first state basketball title in program history.
“You never know in a lifetime if you have a chance to be at a stage like this, to play for a championship,” Claxton said. “We’re going to live in the moment. We’re going to take advantage of our opportunity. Get back to our preparation after (Friday’s game). And we’ll put our best game on the floor in the championship matchup.”
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