FIrst-Round Results: Columbia Falls, Flathead Lose at State Basketball

Flathead High School dropped its first-round game of the Class AA boys state basketball tournament on Thursday afternoon, losing to C.M. Russell 62-37. In the teams' previous meeting during the regular season, the Rustlers beat the Braves 76-29.

The Braves, Western AA's third seed, will now face the loser of Missoula Sentinel and Billings Skyview in a loser-out game on Friday at noon. The Rustlers advance to the semifinals and play at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night.

Also on Thursday afternoon, the Columbia Falls girls lost their first round matchup in the Class A tourney. The Wildkats, Northwestern A's top seed, lost 64-52 to Eastern A's No. 2 Billings Central. Columbia Falls will play the loser of Butte Central and Frenchtown in a loser-out game at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

I will continue to update the progress of all local teams' progress in the state basketball tournaments.