By Dean Rhyneer

The Townsend Star

The BHS Wrestling Team traveled to Billings recently to compete in the State Match. Townsend took nine wrestlers to the event and three of them placed. Topping the team with unprecedented double state championships were the Rauser twins, Jade and Val. Brit Thompson placed fifth.
The team had a great season this year and capped it with the strongest showing Townsend has ever accomplished at State, ending up 8th out of 40 B-C schools. Representing BHS at the event were the Rausers, Thompson, Zach Spritzer, Keagan Larson, Frank Potter, Joel Harvey, Tony Michaelson and Justin O’Myer.
Jade Rauser topped the chart in the 98 pound weight class. “Jade was dominant throughout the tourney, scoring three pins and a technical fall en route to his title,” Coach John O’Dell proudly stated. “He looked brilliant and finished a stellar freshman campaign without giving up a takedown this entire season.”
VallRauser had two pins on his way to his own championship in the 105 pound weight class. “Val was also unbelievably dominant in the tourney and the season this year,” explained O’Dell. “He only gave up one takedown the entire season.”
In the 112 pound weight class, Zach Spritzer narrowly missed placing, but won a pair of matches. “This season, Zach won an amazing 43 matches and tied the single season win record at BHS,” bragged the coach.
Britt Thompson fought his way to fifth place in the very competitive 125 pound weight class. “There are six guys capable of winning this weight and each time you wrestle these guys off they would finish differently,” O’Dell said. “Britt earned four wins in the tourney to cap off a tremendous freshman year for himself.”
The Townsend team scored 73 points in the tournament, earning them eighth place. Glasgow topped the team points with 254, Conrad came in second with 164.5, Colstrip took third with 126 points. Rounding out the top ten were Cascade/Simms, Arlee, Chinook, Huntley Project Choteau/Augusta and Boulder.

Left: Jade Rauser takes down Jacob Bethea of Glasgow in his championship match. Below: Coaches John O’Dell and Harry Hall root on the boys. Upper Left: Val Rauser beats Brandon Hallock of Glasgow in the semifinals. Upper Right: Britton Thompson ties up Michael Beebe of St. Ignatius for a win in the consolation match.
Photos by Rita Rieffenberger

By James Green

The Townsend Star

Thursday, February 21, The Townsend Boys Basketball team headed to Belgrade for Divisional Tournaments. The Bulldogs were lined up against Whitehall in their first game. Both teams had a tough time sinking the ball from the field the first half. Townsend sank 7/17 shots in the first half for a 41% field goal average. The Trojans only averaged 32% average but were able to gain a little ground at the stripe shooting 50% at the line on 12 chances the Trojans had a slight lead going into the half, Whitehall 21 - Townsend 16. Whitehall had a strong third quarter out scoring Townsend 15 to 4. Townsend rallied in the 4th scoring 21 points, Whitehall, able to hold on to their lead, came out on top Whitehall 53 - Townsend 41.
Team Stats:
Scoring:
Townsend: 7,9,4,21,41
Whitehall: 14,7,15,17,53
Team Field goals:
Townsend: 17/47 36%
Whitehall: 19/50 38%
Team Free Throws:
Townsend: 4/4 100%
Whitehall: 14/27 52%
Individual Scoring: Cody Harris 5, Kale McArthur 6, Creath Larson 2, Chis Ahern 10, Collin Williams 4, Mick Moos 4, Tim Gilligan 10
Rebound Leaders: Tom Garrard 4, Mick Moos 3
Assist Leaders Kale McArther 5
On Friday the 22nd the Bulldogs played their second Divisional game against Boulder. The Dogs jumped out to an early lead and looked like they really came to play, but the Panthers were on fire, sinking half of their field goal attempts. They pulled ahead of the Bulldogs in the first half 40 to 30. In the second half, the Panthers could do no wrong at the free throw line nailing 16 of 22 shots for a 73% Free Throw average. Townsend rallied again in the 4th scoring 22 points but the entrenched Panthers held on to their lead. The final score was Panthers 82, Townsend 68.
Team Stats:
Scoring:
Townsend: 15,15,16,22,68
Boulder: 22,18,24,18,82
Team Field Goals:
Townsend: 27/78 36%
Boulder: 26/61 43%
Team Free Throws:
Townsend: 9/20 45%
Boulder: 22/35 63%
Individual Scoring: Cody Harris 14, Tom Garrard 2, Chris Ahern 16, Radlee Turcotte 9, Collin Williams 7, Mick Moos 7, Tim Gilligan 11, Kyland Santos 2
Rebound leaders: Tim Gilligan 9
Assist Leaders: Kale McArthur 3, Radlee Turcotte 3
Coach Racht offered the following encouragement to the team; “I was proud of the boys in that they went out at district and divisional and played what was probably their best basketball of the season. That is not easy to do after having such a tough regular season.
We have a great group of kids. We will miss the six seniors and I wish them all the best of luck in their spring activities and their futures.
Thank you to all of the supporters who stuck with us through the season”.

Tim Gilligan puts up two points against Boulder. Below: Cody Harris eyes the hoop as he drives through the Panther defense. Bottom Kale McArthur leaps for a shot in Friday’s game. Photos by Dean Rhyneer