BILLINGS — The Lodge Grass girls basketball team extended its winning streak to four with a 55-49 Class B victory over Fairfield at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday night.
Lodge Grass (7-7) trailed 16-12 after one quarter but took a 27-22 lead into halftime. Fairfield (9-5) cut its deficit to 37-36 through three quarters and went ahead 43-39 early in the fourth, but an 11-3 run propelled the Indians to a win.
“In the first half, I thought they were going to take off on us,” said Lodge Grass junior Shantell Pretty On Top, who called Saturday’s win the best of the season. “We started working together, talking, communicating.”
Pretty On Top led all players with 22 points, and sophomore Diamond Amyotte added 14.
Emma Woods led the Eagles with 15 points (five 3-pointers), and fellow junior Tori Jones scored nine.
This 3 was the third straight for Fairfield’s Emma Woods, whose nine points lead all players. pic.twitter.com/05TAR7sMd8
— Victor Flores (@VictorFlores_BG) February 14, 2021
END 3Q: Lodge Grass 37, Fairfield 36
— Victor Flores (@VictorFlores_BG) February 14, 2021
LG’s Shantell Pretty On Top beat the buzzer. #MTscores pic.twitter.com/F74bPpTpHX
Lodge Grass answered a 7-0 run with a 7-0 run, capped by this Diamond Amyotte and-1.
— Victor Flores (@VictorFlores_BG) February 14, 2021
LG leads 48-45 with 4:03 left. pic.twitter.com/E6TRLGaOd2
It was the regular season finale for Lodge Grass (7-7), which last lost to Hardin 70-32 on Jan. 30 at the Metra. Despite the lopsided score, Indians coach Gary Stevenson viewed that game as a bit of a turning point because his team jumped out to a 21-3 lead over the No. 3-ranked team in Class A and defending state co-champion.
Lodge Grass followed that defeat up with wins of 54-50 at Huntley Project, 59-48 over Joliet and 69-55 over Lame Deer heading into Saturday (Friday’s game against Forsyth was canceled because of the frigid weather).
“We’re just now seeing the fruit of all the labor we’re doing,” Stevenson said. “We feel really great.”
Saturday’s game was Fairfield’s seventh this season with a single-digit margin of victory. The Eagles are 3-4 in those games, with two losses to Belt by a combined three points and a 50-42 loss to Class B now-No. 3 Missoula Loyola on Jan. 21. Their other defeat was to Class A No. 2 Havre, 80-42 on Jan. 26.
Attendance for Saturday's Fairfield-Lodge Grass girls and boys basketball doubleheader at the Metra was capped at 2,900 spectators.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Lodge Grass' Shantell Pretty On Top blocks a shot by Fairfield's Alexa Johnson during their game at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Lodge Grass' Tyressa Pretty On Top drives toward the basket as Fairfield's Madison Rosenbaum defends Saturday at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Lodge Grass' Diamond Amyotte (32) drives to the basket during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Lodge Grass' Shantell Pretty On Top (12) drives through traffic during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Fairfield's Avery Pitcher (11) looks to pass during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Fairfield's Tori Jones (21) and Lodge Grass' Saraya LeftHand (52) go after a loose rebound during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Fairfield's Emma Woods (13) dribbles during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Lodge Grass' Jordan Jefferson (22) shoots during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Fairfield's Cheyenne Maddox (24) passes during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Lodge Grass' Diamond Amyotte (32) tries to hold onto the ball as she falls to the ground during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Fairfield's Kyler Bake (30) looks to shoot during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Lodge Grass' Shantell Pretty On Top (12) looks to the basket as she breaks away down court during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Fairfield's Avery Pitcher (11) passes during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Lodge Grass' Diamond Amyotte (32) puts up a shot during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

The Lodge Grass Indians’ bench reacts after a basket during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

Lodge Grass' Shantell Pretty On Top (12) breaks away down the court during the Lodge Grass Indians’ game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
Lodge Grass vs. Fairfield

The Lodge Grass Indians listen to Lodge Grass' head coach Gary Stevenson, right, after their game against the Fairfield Eagles at First Interstate Arena in Billings on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021.
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