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Not only were the Three Forks High School girls basketball able to pick up opening round win Thursday evening at the 5B District Tournament in Belgrade, they were able to do so with a victory over arch rival Manhattan. The third-seeded Wolves used a strong fourth quarter performance to come away with a 54-46 win over the Tigers and will advanced to tomorrows semifinals and a rubber match against second-seeded Whitehall in a game scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Kendall Lynn and Ashlyn Swenson both had big nights for Three Forks who outscored the Tigers 17-9 in the final quarter. Lynn led the team with 19 and Swenson added 15 on five-three pointers.

Following the game, Head Coach Mike Sauvageau said his team kept getting the lead and Manhattan came back and was able to get the lead on them a couple of times. He added them were able to get off a couple of quick baskets in a row in the fourth, made some free throws, and were able to hold off the Tigers.

Sauvageau praised the play of Lynn who he said had a great night, Swenson, Kinzee Howey who he said had her best game in a while and Erin Welter on defense.

"It was a good night for our whole team," he said.

The Wolves and Friday's opponent Whitehall split a pair of games during the regular season, each holding serve at home.

"Hopefully we play good enough to win and make it to the championship," he said.

It was a slow start offensively with both teams scoreless for the first three minutes of the game. After the Tigers scored the points of the game at the 4:48 mark, Three Forks would answer back with two consecutive threes by Swenson to take a 6-2 lead. Manhattan would score the next five before Lynn drilled a three to give the Wolves a 9-7 lead. Manhattan would answer right back on a three from Madeline Severson to take a 10-9 late in the quarter.

Melissa Jenkins

Ashlyn Swenson had a big night with five-three pointers.

Three Forks would start strong in the second quarter scoring the first five points of the quarter on two free throws from Breanna Bloch and a three from Kinzee Howey to take a 14-10 lead. The Tigers stormed right back with six straight points to take a two-point lead. Keaton Lynn would score the next four to help Three Forks retake a 18-16 lead. They would push the lead to 21-17 on another three from Swenson, her third of the first half. The back and forth battle would continue with Manhattan scoring the next four to tie the game at 21-21. Two Lily Jones free throws would put the Wolves up late in the half, but Manhattan would score the final three points of the half to take a 24-23 lead into halftime.

After falling behind 26-25 early in the third, Three Forks would quickly take a 30-26 lead after a three-pointer from Swenson and a basketball by Kendall Lynn. The Wolves would take their biggest lead of the game so far, 35-29, after another Swenson three and a Kendall Lynn free throw. Manhattan would outscore the Wolves 6-2 in the final two minutes of the quarter to cut the lead to 37-35 going into the final quarter.

Three Forks would score the first five of the quarter on a Kendall Lynn basket and another three from Swenson.

Keaton Lynn added eight for the Wolves, and Howey had four. Breanna Bloch and Page had three, and Lily Jones added one point.