In the season’s second boys crosstown basketball game, Helena High reserve Dan Marshall – who was inserted in the fourth quarter after two Bengal starters fouled out – drained a free throw with 32 seconds on the clock, breaking a 70-all tie and providing what turned out to be the winning point for the Bengals’ 75-70 upset.

HHS (4-13) went 7-of-8 from the charity stripe over the last 74 seconds, nullifying a tenacious comeback by Capital’s (11-6) cagers, who overcame an 11-point deficit with 5-minutes left.

Bruin Bob Petrino’s 28 first-half points, going 9-12 from the floor and making all 10 free throws, gave CHS a 42-36 advantage seconds before the intermission. But a 35-foot bomb by Helena’s Jim DeMars narrowed the gap to 4 as both teams headed to their locker rooms.

The Bengals owned the third-quarter, outscoring their counterparts 18-8 and taking a 56-50 cushion into the final stanza.

With 43 seconds left, Bruin Scott Robertson popped in a shot from the left corner to even things up at 70s. After Marshall’s tie-breaker, in the waning moments and clinging to a 1-point lead, Helena’s Bruce Porch grabbed a clutch defensive rebound, was quickly fouled and hit both free throws to help ice the win.

The Bengals put four hoopsters in double-digits, led by Brian Tolstedt with 24 points and 20 by Jim DeMars. Next came Dave Campbell and Ed Starke, at 10 markers apiece. Following Petrino’s school-record 40 points, were John Daly (9), Mike Gillespie (6) and Tim Crennen (5). Starting guard Dan Frankino was nursing an injury and tallied four counters.

Several weeks later, the Bruins placed fourth at Divisionals to qualify for the State Tourney.

Capital High’s boys swimmers finished third at the State Swim Meet in Havre, powered by sophomore Jeff Robinson’s 100 breaststroke championship and a pair of runner-up placings by Randy Redpath.

Robinson won the 100 breast in 1:06.66, and also took third in the 50 freestyle. Redpath was second in 200 and 500 free races, both in school-record times of 1:53.18 and 5:08.54. Those two teamed up Todd Cadby and Mike Disney to place third in the 400 free relay.

The Bruins garnered three fifth-place medals as well; Jack Haswell in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke (CHS record), and Bill Anderson with a program mark of 285.90 points in diving.

On the girls side, Capital’s Chris Everett was fourth in both the 50 and 100 freestyles; and Heidi Baum finished fourth in the 100 fly. Coming in fifth were Mary Cal Hanson in the 200 free, and the Lady Bruin 400 freestyle relay unit of Everett, Susie Hanson, Baum and Mary Cal.

Rick Nordahl of Capital High placed runner-up at the 1979 Class AA Wrestling Tournament in Bozeman. The sophomore grappler advanced to the 119 chipper with a decision over Doug Schlosser (BW) in the semis, before finishing behind champ Joe Clevenger (Senior), and wound up at 15-5 overall.

Nordahl went on to coach Dillon’s football and rasslin’ teams, where his sons Brett and Zane were championship matmen for the Beavers in the early 2000s.

Other All-Staters 4½-decades ago were crosstown 105-pounders Glenn Clark of Helena and CHS’ LeRoy Blancher, placing third and fourth. In the consolation finals, having been tied at 1-all after regulation and the O.T.

Local AA matmen tying for fifth-place were Bruins John Oljar (98), Rodger “Skeeter” Nordahl (132) and Bob Marsh (138).

In Class B/C, Townsend heavyweight David Hohn was the lone 1979 Elkhorn Area All-Stater. Future longtime local area grid and mat official Shane Shaw of Whitehall pulled off a huge upset when he halted Simms’ Ben Camphouse’s 51-match win streak for the 185 crown.

In Elkhorn Area hoops, Alan Rieker spearheaded Jefferson High to a 47-37 comeback victory over Big Timber in a Southwestern B challenge game, swishing 16 points as the Panthers garnered a berth in the Class B State Tournament. John Ford and Troy Timmer added 14 and 10 tallies.

At the 1979 State Gymnastics meet, the HHS boys placed fourth, with four top-10 placers. Charlie Schultz finished fifth in the vault and seventh on rings, Kirk Shepherd was fourth all-around and sixth on parallel bars, Paul Serati (eighth) on bars and Rick Heiser (seventh) on high bar.

Two Capital gals finished top-10, including Martha Sheehy, eighth in vault and ninth on uneven bars, and Sue Harris was 10th on balance beam. Lady Bengal Shawn Leary took ninth on balance beam, while CHS’ Barry Strope came in ninth on the boys floor exercise.

Two Helena Salvation Army Boxing Club members captured State Novice championships in Harlem. Ross Johnston won the 80-pound title, while Ben Wrzesinski garnered the 70 crown.

Coach Nels Wilkins’ runners-up placers were Kevin McCarl and Leon Sark, at 125- and 139-lbs. During a local show at Eagles Lodge, Johnston, Steve Guay (125), Jon Hoovestal (95) and Ben and Wes (60) Wrzesinski posted victories. Teammate Palmer Hoovestal was shaded in a split decision at 130-lbs.

In college hoops, the Carroll women shocked Conference leader Rocky Mountain, 56-53 in overtime in Billings, handing the Lady Bears (10-1) their first loss of the season. The game was tied at 45-all after regulation. The Lady Saints out-lasted RMC 11-8 in the O.T., sparked by Shelley Mitchell’s 5 points and a pair of Debby Dirkson free throws.

Carroll (6-4) was led by Mitchell and Lori Lorion, who fired in 16 points each, and Dirkson’s double-double, at 11 counters and 10 rebounds. Sid Malee and Maureen McMahon were the home-grown representatives.

On the men’s side, the Hilltoppers were bested by league-leading Eastern Montana, 69-61. CC was paced by its top scorer, Mike Kelley, who netted 14 points despite playing hurt. Next came Mike Shea and Randy Trinastich, at 10 counters apiece.

On the bowling alleys, Dan’s Glass Shop, led by Ron “Boogie” Briggeman’s 713 series (237-235-241), set a city record of 3218 pins. Rounding out the team were Dan Sturdevant with a 662, Bob Kunz at 642, Lee Hanson’s 607 and 594 by Jim Liebhan. Linda Reed fired a new womens city series record of 686 (238-202-246), breaking the old mark of 679 by Eleanor Regner in 1977.

John Brodersen won the 7th annual Masters Tournament, beating Jay Zuroff in the finals, 258-216. Third-place finisher Ron Poole posted the tourney’s high average, rolling a 219.7 for 16 games.

Top scores during leagues belonged to Mark Olson (253-699), Don Gruel (278-635), Butch Garden (254), Jim Liebhan (697), Jim Tuss (688), Brodersen (674), Frank Pierce (258-650), Dan Phillips (258-650), Bernie Zuroff (255-657), Jim Gorecki (655), Bill “Hooter” Houston (651) and Wally Ashmore (265).

On the womens side, it was Lois Madsen (243-623), Andie Kelly (234-619), Sandi Fernholz (248), Betty Wheeler (592), Ellie Regner (589), Janet Anderson (238-585), Issie Smith (586), Karen Moore (575), Amy Knoepke (227-587) and Vera Manasco (227).

Curt Synness can be reached at 406-594-2878 or [email protected].