The Children Are the Winners at MSUB

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BILLINGS, Mont. -  In a wild and crazy game, KBC (Kick Butt Coaches) edged the BCT (Billings Celebrity Team) 97-93 Tuesday night.  In the final analysis, it was the children who won.  All proceeds from the game went to the March of Dimes to help give infants a healthy start.

The KBC was comprised of Montana State Billings coaches and athletic staff and were coach by Assistant Director of Operations and Media Relations Mike Bond.  The BCT were local celebrities and were coached by KULR8 sportscaster Brandon Sullivan.

The KBC jumped to an early lead.  Natalie Visger (Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach) drained a three-pointer at the 14:15 mark.  That made it 17-13, KBC in the lead.

The BCT came storming back.  Over the next six minutes, the celebrities went on a 25 to 4 run.   They drained five triples in that run including three by Jim Stergar (Billings Senior HS Basketball Coach).

Down 38-21, things looked dim for the KBC. Coach Bond made some substitutions and the squad came roaring back.  Justin Wetzel (Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach) hit two triples and a bucket for eight straight points.

Wetzel’s trifecta at the 4:32 mark made it 16 unanswered points for the KBC.  That closed the margin to one, 38-37 with 4:32 to go in the half.

The teams traded buckets over the next few minutes.  Wetzel drove the lane, scored and was fouled.  He hit the free throw to put his team up, 42-40 with 1:52 to go.

The KBC scored the last seven points of the half.  Eddie Cochran (Former MSUB player) hit a lay-up followed by a triple and a bucket from Stergar.  That made it 47-42, BCT at half.

The second half went back and forth.  Neither squad was really able to pull away from the other.  Eddie Kavran (Highlands Golf Club Head Pro) swished a three and Chris Dixon (Billings Outlaws) hit a jumper.
Once again, the KBC looked in trouble, down 91-84 with 2:27 to go.  Josh McGee (Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach) hit a 15-footer and Dana Cordova (Volleyball Head Coach) hit a tough shot in the paint.  Cordova then came up with a steal and hit Wetzel who drained the triple.

That tied the game at 91-91 with 1:25 to go.  The KBC forced a turnover and Shawn O’Brien (Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach) dropped in a three with 1:01 to go to make it 94-91.  The KBC came away with a steal with 48 seconds.

They held the ball before turning it over.  However, the KBC forced a turnover with 24 seconds left.  Brent Montague (Director of Development, former MSUB player) sealed the contest with a triple with 2.5 seconds left.  Cochran scored a layup at the buzzer.

“Both team really played a great game,” said Coach Bond.  “It was nice to come up with the win.  Honestly though, the kids were the real winners tonight.  I’m glad that we were able to help raise money for a great cause.”

For the KBC, Wetzel had 24 points with three triples, Visger scored 17 with five three-pointers and O’Brien scored 16 with four trifectas.  All of O’Brien’s points came in the second half.

For the BCT, Stergar had 30 with eight triples, Dixon scored 27 with three triples, Cochran had 15 and Sullivan scored 11 with three three-pointers.

KBC 42-45-97
BCT 47-46-93

KBC
37 Field Goals
20 Three-Pointers (5- Visger, 4- O’Brien, 3- B. Montague, Spinelli, Wetzel, 1-Jellum, McGee)
3-4 Free Throws (Wetzel 3-4)
6 Fouls

Wetzel – 24
Visger – 17
O’Brien – 16
B. Montague – 9
Spinelli – 9
McGee – 7
K. Montague - 4
Jellum – 3
Bond – 2
Cordova – 2
Hughes – 2
McNally – 2

BCT
34 Field Goals
18 Three-Pointers (8- Stergar, 3- Dixon, Sullivan, 2- Cochran, Kavran)
7-13 Free Throws (Dixon 2-6, Cochran 3-4, Stergar 2-2, Laurenzo 0-1)
4 Fouls

Stergar – 30
Dixon – 27
Cochran – 15
Sullivan – 11
Kavran – 6
Conlon - 4