The Bruins boys proved that Capital High isn't just a football powerhouse anymore.

This season, the quick, disciplined and confident Bruins squad has smothered opponents on defense, taken high percentage shots and hustled everywhere with a swagger that had been lost somewhere between the gridiron and the hardwood.

On Thursday, however, they proved the swagger was all around.

Junior forward Matt Miller, who has averaged 19 points per game to lead Capital all season, scored a game-high 16 points to help lead the Bruins to their first-ever Western AA Conference crown with a 49-39 win over Missoula Sentinel.

Capital has compiled a 14-5 record, 10-1 in conference play, and plans to make some noise at next month's state tournament in Butte.

In three years under head coach Guy Almquist's guidance, the Bruins have continued to advance their presence in the world of Montana basketball.

Last year's team entered state ranked third and advanced as far as the semifinals. But Almquist feels there's something special about this year's squad.

"This achievement, this team, it didn't just happen," Almquist said. "These six seniors are leaders, and this team put in the work. From 7 a.m. skill sessions to weight lifting and dots. I've never seen such commitment in the offseason."

That type of commitment showed against the Spartans, as the Bruins simply outplayed their long-time conference foes.

Two minutes in and tied, 6-6, Miller hit a twisting bank shot a moment later, and the Bruins would lead for the remainder of the contest.

The Bruins played like a well-oiled machine.

Senior guard Kelan Farry controlled the tempo and distributed the ball; senior post Tyler Erickson pounded buckets and boards down low; and senior guard Ben Ternes' sharpshooting kept the Bruins in the game.

Farry finished with four assists, Ternes hit two 3-pointers and put in 14 points while Erickson's double-double (14 points, 16 rebounds) dominated the paint.

Miller, meanwhile, was the gas that kept them all running.

Up 12-9 to start the second quarter, Miller made a pair of 10-foot jumpers to ignite the Capital offense. Erickson followed with a hard-earned post shot and Ternes added a big 3 from the corner.

The quarter was all Capital. It wasn't until five minutes in that Missoula even scored, and Capital went into the half with a comanding 31-14 lead.

"The balance of our offense has improved all season," Almquist commented. "It makes us very tough to defend."

While the Spartans didn't exactly threaten in the third quarter, the Bruins visibly let up, appearing content to maintain their lead rather than add to it, and Missoula was able to cut the lead to 11.

"We got tentative." Almquist said. "This was a position we'd never been in before, but I was proud of how we battled through it."

The Spartans continued cutting into the lead to start the fourth.

After Kendall Myer nailed a 3 to bring the Spartans within five, 43-38, with 3:56 left, Almquist called a time out.

"We were tired, and we let up." Erickson said. "The timeout helped."

He was right. The Bruins were able to hold off the growing threat.

A pair of Ternes free throws followed by a quick Miller strike put the Bruins up 47-38 and gave the home crowd a shared sigh of relief as Capital walked away with the title.

Almquist echoed Erickson's sentiments: "These guys not only understand their roles, they accept their duties, and that plays a huge part in our success."

Seth O'Connell: 447-4070 or seth.oconnell@helenair.com

Sentinel 9 5 16 9 -- 39

Capital 12 19 10 8 -- 49

Sentinel -- Kostelecky 1-2 0-0 2, Wagenmann 0-3 1-2 1, Maier 4-16 2-2 14, Roberts 6-10 1-2 13, King 1-3 0-0 3, Olson 2-5 0-0 6. Totals -- 14-40 4-6 39.

Capital -- Ben Ternes 5-10 2-3 14, Kelan Farry 0-2 0-0 0, Matt Miller 7-10 2-2 16, Tyler Erickson 6-12 2-3 14, Josh Dirks 0-2 1-2 1. Carter Bignell 1-2 0-0 2, Trey Spirlin 1-4 0-2 2.

3-pointers -- Sentinel 7-20 (Maier 4-11, King 1-3, Olson 2-3), Capital -- 2-11 (Ternes 2-6). Rebounds -- Sentinel 21 (Roberts 5), Capital 40 (Erickson 16). Assists -- Sentinel 11 (Kotelecky 4), Capital 16 (Erickson 5, Farry 4). Turnovers -- Sentinel 22, Capital 16. Fouls -- Sentinel 15, Capital 11. Foul outs -- None. Technicals -- None.

Sentinel girls 67, Capital 48

The Capital High Bruins girls basketball team fell to Sentinel Thursday night in Missoula, 67-48.

A Kelsi Brekke 3-pointer put the Bruins up one late in the fourth quarter, but Sentinel was able to regain the lead with four seconds remaining on a Brett Rubie shot that clinched the game.

"This has always been a tough place to play," Capital High coach Bill Pilgram said after. "We played a hard second half and fell just short."

In a game that saw eleven lead changes, the Bruins shot poorly, going 3-10 from beyond the arc and 12-20 from the line.

The game was tied 23-23 at halftime, and close throughout. The Bruins led by four with four minutes to go, but late turnovers proved costly.

Despite the loss, the Bruins, who finish out the season at home against Big Sky, are a lock for second place in the conference (7-4, 13-6 overall).

"A win Saturday would be a great way to send the seniors out in style." said Pilgram.

The Bruins will have their hands full. Big Sky is undefeated on the year (18-0 overall, 10-0 conference). The game is set for a 4:30 p.m. tipoff.

Capital 9 14 12 12 n 47

Sentinel 11 12 11 14 n 48

Capital n Kalli Heller 1 1-2 3, Sammi Bignell 4 1-2 9, Kelsi Brekke 4 6-7 17, Alicia Wilson 4 0-1 8, Jordan Johnston 2 2-4 6, Kelsey Grey 1 2-2 4. Totals n 16 12-18 47.

Sentinel n Caitlin Gaul 3 2-2 9, McCall Hasquet 4 0-0 8, Bryn Hasquet 8 0-0 17, Brett Rubie 2 2-4 6, Sarah Messmer 1 1-3 3, DJ Reinhardt 0 1-2 1, Bree Bates 2 0-0 4. Totals n 20 6-11 48.

3-pointers n Capital 3 (Brekke 3), Sentinel 2 (Gaul 1, B. Hasquet 1). Total fouls n Capital 16, Sentinel 17. Fouled out n none.