District Champs: Wolves headed to Divisionals

Following a hard-fought 49-46 win Friday over Big Timber in the semifinals of the 5B District Basketball Tournament, sophomore Hunter Feddes said it was a huge win for the team, but they would need to ready to go for Saturday's championship game.

A little over 24 hours later, the Wolves answered the call and took home a District Tournament title after a three-pointer from Feddes with 3.6 seconds remaining propelled top-seeded Three Forks to a 53-52 win over rival Manhattan.

The Wolves now advance to the Southern B Divisional Tournament in Billings and a March 1 matchup at 4 p.m. against the number three seed from the 3B District Baker.

Going into last week's District Tournament, Three Forks Head Coach Terry Hauser said his team had 50 practices, and each was tremendous with the effort from the team.

"Hat's off to these guys for working so hard all year. The kids were coming together by the end of the year, and it feels unbelievable. I mean to lose eight seniors and to be in a district title game is an accomplishment, and it's a heck of a feat. Last year we won a state title, and we were not in the district final," Hauser said.

Three Forks was led in the scoring in the district final by Dylan Swenson with 15, and Shane Williams was also in double figures with 14. Feddes added nine, Caleb Van Vleet finished with five, Colten Hayder and Tallyn McCauley had four, and Sawyer Andersen finished with two.

SEMIFINALS

The Wolves were dominant in the first half and would take as big as a 28-14 lead after a Hunter Feddes three-pointer with one minute left in the second quarter.

Trailing 28-16 at the break, Big Timber would come firing back in the third, outscoring the top-seeded Wolves 17-6 to cut the lead to 34-33 going into the final quarter.

It was a huge fourth quarter for Feddes. Following a Herder basket to take the lead at 35-34, Feddes quickly put Three Forks back in the lead with a three. He would hit two more huge three-pointers, and the Wolves would hold on for the 49-46 victory.

Feddes said hitting the three to put the Wolves back in the lead was a big moment, but he also praised the fans at the Belgrade Events Center.

"The energy from the crowd really brought us back," he said.

Hauser said he was glad his team had to grind it out against Big Timber.

"It makes you a lot tougher mentally and physically, and it gets you ready for those close battles we're about to encounter," he said.

Feddes led the team in scoring with 12, Caleb Van Vleet finished with 12, Shane Williams had nine, Dylan Swenson finished with eight, Tallyn McCaulley had four, Sam Tesoro had three, and Colten Hayder added two points.