Ayrton Oneill
The Billings West Golden Bears and the Bozeman Hawks are two high school basketball teams with a history of rivalry. In boys' basketball, Billings West has come out on top in several close matches, including a 57-48 victory in the 2024 Eastern divisional tournament semifinals. The Billings West girls' team has also been successful, winning the divisional title in 2024. However, the Bozeman Gallatin Raptors girls' team beat Billings West in the 2025 Class AA state title game, claiming their first championship.
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What You'll Learn
Billings West boys beat Bozeman Hawks in 2024
The Billings West boys beat the Bozeman Hawks in a high school basketball game on Friday, January 25, 2024. The final score was 57-48 in favor of the Billings West Golden Bears.
The game was a semifinal in the boys Eastern divisional tournament, which took place at Alterowitz Gymnasium. With this win, the Golden Bears secured their place in the following week's state tournament and advanced to the divisional title game on Saturday.
The Golden Bears' victory over the previously unbeaten Hawks was a significant upset, as no Class AA team had managed to beat Bozeman High in the 18 regular-season games leading up to the tournament. Bozeman's Kash Embry and Kellen Harrison put up a strong fight, with 20 and 17 points respectively, but it wasn't enough to stop Billings West.
The Golden Bears' success was driven by a team effort, with standout performances from several players. Braden Zimmer led the team with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Cash Rice contributed 12 points, including two 3-pointers. The Billings West boys' determination and desire for victory, as well as their ability to come together at the right time, were key factors in their triumph over the Hawks.
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Bozeman Gallatin girls beat Billings West in 2025
The Bozeman Gallatin girls' basketball team celebrated a thrilling 66-63 overtime victory against Billings West in the Class AA state title game on Saturday, March 15, 2025. This triumph secured the first Class AA state girls' basketball championship for Bozeman Gallatin in their five-year school history.
Bozeman Gallatin junior Makayla Coleman was a standout performer, sparking a 10-2 run for her team with a 3-pointer in the opening minutes of the game. Gallatin's lead extended to 32-19, but Billings West mounted a strong comeback, outscoring Gallatin 6-1 in the remaining second quarter. The momentum shifted back and forth, with the game tied at 36-36 late in the third quarter. Gallatin responded with a 6-0 run, only for West to fight back and tie the game once more.
As the game entered the fourth quarter, Gallatin held a slim 45-43 advantage, and West took the lead at 50-47 with a 3-pointer from Brooklyn Pierce. West's largest lead of 54-49 with less than four minutes remaining seemed to put them in a commanding position. However, Bozeman Gallatin refused to surrender, and Odegard's crucial basket made it a two-point game with the shot clock buzzer sounding.
With the score at 63-63 as regulation time expired, the game headed into overtime. Bozeman Gallatin displayed their resilience and determination, ultimately edging out a hard-fought 66-63 victory over Billings West to claim the Class AA state title. This win marked a significant milestone for the Gallatin girls' basketball program, which had endured humble beginnings with one-win seasons in its early years.
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Billings West boys beat Bozeman in 2024 semis
The Billings West boys beat Bozeman in the 2024 semis with a score of 57-48, securing their place in the state tournament and advancing to the divisional title game. The Golden Bears played against Bozeman Gallatin, winning their second straight divisional crown.
Billings West's Braden Zimmer scored 18 points and had seven rebounds, with Cash Rice adding 12 points, including two 3-pointers. Bozeman's Kash Embry scored 20 points, with Kellen Harrison adding 17. The Golden Bears shot an impressive 63%, with a final score of 21 out of 33.
This win was significant as Bozeman High had not been beaten by any Class AA team in the 18 regular season games that year. Billings West's victory knocked the Hawks out of the tournament and showcased the determination and skill of the Golden Bears.
Following their win, the Billings West boys went on to face Bozeman Gallatin in the divisional title game, where they claimed another victory, making them the 2024 Eastern AA basketball champions.
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Billings Skyview boys beat Billings West in 2025
Billings Skyview's boys team beat crosstown rivals Billings West 48-46 in the 2025 State AA championship game in Bozeman, winning their first state title since 2021.
The victory was particularly sweet for the Falcons, who had fallen to the Bears twice in the regular season. Billings West started strong, jumping out to a 5-0 lead and ending the first quarter 13-9 ahead. However, Skyview fought back, taking their first lead of the game 17-15 midway through the second quarter. The Falcons continued to build their advantage, leading 26-20 at halftime, but a 13-2 run from West to start the third quarter saw the Bears retake the lead, 37-33, going into the fourth.
The game remained close in the final quarter, with Cash Rice giving West a five-point lead with a three-point play with 4:01 left. Tayshaun Williams responded with a 3-pointer of his own to make it 42-40, before Winter Lonebear hit another 3 to put the Falcons on top 45-44 with 2:25 remaining. With 9.5 seconds left, Skyview had a chance to seal the game but Willes Frederick missed a pair of free throws, leaving the score at 48-46. Shaydon Randall attempted a potential game-tying shot, but his effort was off the mark, allowing Zekai Owens to clinch the victory with a celebratory dunk as time expired.
The win sparked joyous celebrations for the Skyview Falcons, who were crowned state champions once again. Owens, who played a pivotal role in the win, reflected on the hard-fought nature of the game and the dedication the team had put in throughout the year. The Billings Skyview boys' triumph, along with the girls' team's divisional title win over Bozeman Gallatin, solidified Billings as the epicentre of Montana's best high school basketball talent.
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Billings West boys beat Bozeman Gallatin in 2024
The Billings West boys beat Bozeman Gallatin in the 2024 Eastern AA Divisional boys basketball championship game. The game took place on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Alterowitz Gymnasium on the Montana State Billings campus. The Billings West Golden Bears celebrated their victory over the Bozeman Gallatin Raptors with a final score of 55-48.
The Golden Bears, also known as the Bears, came back from an eight-point halftime deficit to secure the win. Braden Zimmer stood out with a double-double, scoring 19 points and making 13 boards. Ben Erbacher's two free throws with 17 seconds left gave the Bears a comfortable 53-46 lead. Zimmer's performance led the team to victory, with Darrah commenting, "It helps when we have the best big guy in the post, the best big man in the state." Zimmer himself attributed the win to the team's desire, saying, "We wanted it more."
The Bozeman Gallatin Raptors put up a strong fight, with Grant Vigen scoring 16 points and pulling down seven rebounds. The Raptors also had strong performances from Zad Rodarte, who scored 12 points, and Jack Repescher, who contributed nine points and six assists. The Bozeman Gallatin boys can be proud of their achievement in reaching the divisional title game, and they will no doubt continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
The Billings West boys' victory in the 2024 Eastern AA Divisional boys basketball championship game demonstrates the talent and determination of the team. With a combination of skilled players and a strong will to win, the Golden Bears overcame a challenging opponent and clinched the divisional title for the second year in a row. This game showcased the passion and competitiveness of high school basketball in Montana, with both teams displaying sportsmanship and a drive to succeed.
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Frequently asked questions
Billings West Golden Bears won the 2024 game against Bozeman Hawks with a final score of 57-48.
Bozeman Hawks' Kash Embry scored 20 points, and Kellen Harrison scored 17. Billings West's Braden Zimmer scored 18 points, and Cash Rice added 12 points.
Yes, Bozeman Gallatin beat Billings West in the 2025 Class AA state title game.
