On Saturday night in Butte, the Box Elder boys basketball team was looking for a second straight perfect season as well as another state championship. The 2025 title game would be against their 2024 opponent, Manhattan Christian. The result would be the same, a victory, this time (65-60)
There were many fouls called in the first quarter with little offense to show for it from both squads as the Eagles took a (13-8) lead after the first eight minutes.
Manhattan Christian went on a run to begin the second, but the Bears punched back, scoring nine unanswered points to get it back to within a 1-point deficit halfway through the frame. Tayshaun Seaton knocked down a 3-pointer with under 10 seconds to go in the half to give Box Elder a (25-23) edge heading into the break.
Both teams would fight for the lead in the third quarter and when the dust settled, it was (50-42) in favor of the Bears after ending the frame on a (9-1) run. The Bears were led by Tuarie Stiffarm-Rosette and Tracen Jilot yet again as both made key plays on the offensive side of the ball. With every Manhattan Christian run, there was always a Box Elder answer and that would prove to be the case.
Stiffarm-Rosette led all scorers with 26 points. Jilot scored 21. Box Elder forced 14 Manhattan Christian turnovers.
This is the fifth overall state championship for the Bears and second in a row, which includes another (26-0) season. The team will end this season on a 52-game winning streak dating back to two seasons ago, tied for third in MHSA history.
