Fights mar Lewisville-Great Falls games

Boys’ basketball

Lewisville at Great Falls

The game between the Lewisville Lions and Great Falls Red Devils was halted Friday night with 2:34 to play in the first half when several fights broke out in the stands.

Police wanted the Great Falls High School gym to be cleared of all fans and the game was to be resumed with a closed, empty gym. After a long wait, it was decided that the game will be completed at 2 p.m. Saturday at Great Falls with no fans in attendance.

“It’s going to be a little different,” Lewisville coach Mike McCray said. “I don’t really know what to expect.”

McCray said he has some players that will miss the resumption of the game because they have football official visits to colleges on Saturday.

Great Falls was leading 25-23 when play was stopped due to the melee in the stands.

“Unfortunately, we had a few fans that ruined it for the entire fan base,” Great Falls coach Jimmy Duncan said. “Home court advantage is going to be a little different. We’re used to having a loud passionate fan base, and it’s going to be more like a scrimmage. We won’t even have the bleachers pulled out.”

It was a very evenly played game to that point with no issues on the court as far as unsportsmanlike conduct. It was a hotly contested game with both teams being whistled for 11 fouls and numerous charges called on both teams.

Both teams came in at 2-1 in Region 2A in a key rivalry battle. After years of Great Falls’ dominance, Lewisville has won the last five matchups.

The teams traded baskets throughout the first half. The biggest run of points any team had consecutively was five. The Lions led 15-12 after one period. Mikhail Fourney led all scorers with seven points in the period for Lewisville. Great Falls’ Tommy Belk had nine in the second period so far and leads all scorers for the game with 11.

Chester 90, Fairfield Central 67

Chester cruised to a Region 4-3A win at Fairfield Central Friday night.

Girls’ basketball

Great Falls 38, Lewisville 33

The Great Falls-Lewisville girls’ game at Great Falls was stopped with 2:38 left when two players got in a fight after scrambling for a loose ball. Great Falls got the win 38-33.

Fairfield Central 52, Chester 34

Fairfield Central raced to a 35-12 lead at halftime and defeated Chester 52-34 in a Region 4-3A game at Fairfield Central Friday night.

Chester is 1-16 overall and 1-3 in region play.

Sam Copeland contributed

This story was originally published January 19, 2018 at 11:13 PM with the headline "Fights mar Lewisville-Great Falls games."