Tournament Time 2023

by Scott Sacry

Basketball season bookends winter in Montana - it starts with the last echoes of fall and ends with spring in sight. Starting this weekend, Montana high school girls and boys basketball teams start the fnal leg of that journey in post-season tournaments. From Plevna to Plenty Coups to Power and from Roundup to Roberts to Reed Point-Rapelje, Montana players, coaches, and communities will be vying for eight state basketball titles. Along the way the majority of teams will not win the ultimate prize, but they will be better for the journey as they learn the lessons that come from winning and losing. But at the start, it doesn’t matter if you’ve won every game or lost every game, once the tournaments begin, everyone has a chance.

The six high school boys and girls

Class A

basketball teams from the Bitterroot Valley will be in the thick of the action.

The Victor and Darby schools play in the 13C District Tournament in Hamilton on February 16th-18th.

The Darby girls are the #4 seed and play #5 Valley Christian on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. The Darby boys are the #1 seed and get a 1st round bye. They play the Valley Christian/Granite Co. winner on Friday at 2 p.m. The Victor girls are the #6 seed and play #3 Granite Co. on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The Victor boys are the #6 seed and play #3 Seeley on Thursday at 3 p.m. in Hamilton.

Two girls and boys teams will advance from Districts into Divisionals, which will be held in Butte the following week. The Class C State Tournament will be at the Metra in Billings on March 8th-11th.

Corvallis, Hamilton and Stevensville play in the Southwestern A Con-

Time!

ference. This year the top three teams get automatic byes to Divisionals. The #4 through the #7 seeded teams play in a Divisional play-in tournament on February 16th and 18th.

For the boys, Hamilton is the #2 seed and gets a bye into Divisionals.

On Thursday, #4 Frenchtown hosts #7 Stevensville and #5 East Helena hosts #6 Corvallis.

For the girls, Hamilton is the #3 seed and gets a bye into Divisionals.

On Thursday, #4 Stevensville hosts #7 Corvallis and #5 East Helena hosts #6 Butte Central. The winners of the boys and girls games play Saturday with the higher seed hosting, and the winner of that game earns the #4 seed in Divisionals.

The Western A Divisionals are the following weekend in Ronan on February 23rd-25th. The Class A State tournament will be March 9th-11th at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in

Corvallis Boys

Te Corvallis boys fnished 6th in Southwest A conference and play at #5 East Helena on Tursday, Feb. 16th. Te winner of that game plays on Saturday with a chance to make it to Divisionals. Te Blue Dev-

Bozeman.

The Florence-Carlton girls and boys play in the District 6B tournament on Feb. 13th-18th. The Florence girls are the #3 seed and play at #2 seeded Missoula Loyola on Thursday, Feb. 16th at 6 p.m. The Florence boys are the #2 seed and host #3 Anaconda on Friday. The consolation and championship games for both the boys and girls take place in Anaconda on Saturday, February 18th starting at 11 a.m.

The top four teams advance to the Western B Divisionals in Anaconda on February 23th-25th. The Class B State Tournament will be held at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls on March 9th-11th.

Regardless of the eventual outcome, dedicated players, coaches, referees, and supporters have put in a great deal of time and hard work and effort, so make sure to get out there and give them your support!

Corvallis Blue Devils

ils are a young athletic team who have had their ups and downs this season. Tey have the frepower to beat any team and head coach Cameron Criddle hopes they can make a run into divisionals. Corvallis gets strong play from seniors Aaron Powell, Leif Jessop, and Tyler Weis, while juniors Dillen

Potter, Ryan Hutchinson, Derek Criddle, and Cameron Whiteley are all capable of big games.

Corvallis Girls

Te Corvallis girls fnished 6th in the Southwest A conference and will play at #4 Stevensville on Tursday, Feb. 16th. Te winner of that game plays on Saturday with a chance to make it to Divi-

sionals. Head coach Andy Knapp has a young team this year and they have had a tough go of it in the record books. But they always play tough and have the potential to beat anyone. Tylin Sorensen is the only senior and is a force under the basket. Freshman Ava Loran and Ella Varner have had to step up, and expect major contributions from Megan Jessop, Olivia Lewis, Brecklyn Jessop, Farah Wyche, and Ericka Jessop.

Corvallis Boys Basketball Team:

Back row, l to r: Coach Ryan Potter, Coach Jason Wirt, Tyler Weis, Drew Lewis, Aydan Mayn, Aaron Powell, Coach Carson Schmidt, Head Coach Cameron Criddle

Middle row, l to r: Cameron Whiteley, Lucas Powell, Ryan Hutchison, Lief Jessop, Taylor Brothers, Dillen Potter, Derek Criddle, Logan Avery

Front row, l to r: Cody Humphrey, Sebastian Cardullo, Reese Tucker, Josh Stensether, Jack Davidson, Ledge Conner, Tate Jessop, Domenic Piccolo, Bennett Boelman

Corvallis Girls Basketball Team:

Back row, l to r: Head Coach Andy Knapp, McKenzie Weis, Emilia Schairer, Coach Jef Gilder, Coach Dave Bradshaw

Middle row, l to r: Olivia Lewis, Ericka Jessop, Caitlin Nelson, Tylin Sorensen, Farah Wyche, Autumn Benson

Front row, l to r: Ella Varner, Ava Loren, Shaylee Weidow, Megan Jessop, Hasalyn Schairer, Brecklyn Jessop, Jayde Venema

Good Luck To All Our Valley Teams!

NO ONE HAS MORE LOW PRICES THAN SUPER 1 FOODS!

Hamilton Boys

Te Hamilton boys fnished 2nd in the Southwest A conference and get a bye into Divisionals. Head coach Travis Blome has the Broncs playing at a very high level both ofensively and defensively. Tey have been a top fve ranked team by 406mtsports.com all year. Hamilton made it into the state consolation game last year, and this year’s team has the potential to make a similar run. Seniors Asher Magness and Eli Taylor lead the team, but they have a strong supporting cast and expect major contributions from Cole Dickemore, Canaan Magness, Max Cianfone, Liam O’Connell, Taylor Searle, and Andrew Burrows.

Hamilton Boys Basketball Team:

Back row, l to r: Canaan Magness, Andrew Burrows, Asher Magness, Tyler Jette

Middle row, l to r: Max Cianfone, Liam O’Connell, Jackson Jessop, Taylor Searle, Jesse Villigan, Giuseppe Eldridge

Front row, l to r: Isabella Kanenwisher (manager), Eli Taylor, Cole Dickemore, Antonio Garcia, Lucas Lant (manager), Charlotte Hawkes (manager)

Hamilton

Te

and Taryn Searle, who are two of the state’s best players. Kearns has been injured the last couple of games, so Hamilton’s success will depend on her health. But this is a deep team and expect big things from Taylor McCarthy, Ayda Grifn, Emilee Searle, Madalyn Nelson, Alexes Brenneman, Lavana Wetzel, and Ashlynn McKern.

Hamilton Girls Basketball Team: Back row, l to r: Layne Kearns, Ashlynn McKern, Emilee Searle, Lavana Wetzel, Ayda Grifn

Front row, l to r: Thomas Rockwell (manager), Taylor McCarthy, Alexes Brenneman, Madalyn Nelson, Taryn Searle, Alyssa Rockwell (manager)

Stevensville Boys

Te Stevensville boys fnished 7th in the Southwest A conference and will play at #4 Frenchtown on Tursday, Feb. 16th. Te winner of that game plays on Saturday with a chance to make it to divisionals. Stevensville has had a tough season in the win-loss column. Tey only suit seven players and tend to wear down against deeper teams. Tat being said, head coach Clayton Curley always has the Yellowjackets playing tough and they never fail to compete. Seniors Kellan Beller, Tad Tackes, Gracen Trevino, Hunter Gum, and TJ Brown give it their all every night.

Stevensville Boys Basketball Team:

Back row, l to r: Coach Joe Jessop, Kellan Beller, TJ Brown, Kolton Kaufman, Jake Gavlak, Gracen Trevino, Head Coach Clayton Curley

Front row, l to r: Angus Trangmoe, Lane Cochran, Tad Tackes, Brogan Gard, Hunter Gum, Connor Lenahan, Evan Montague, Spencer Moore

Stevensville Girls

Te Stevensville girls fnished 4th in the Southwest A conference and host #7 Corvallis on Tursday, Feb. 16th. Te winner of that game plays on Saturday with a chance to make it to Divisionals. Te Stevensville girls’ team is hard to read. At times they look like they can beat anyone and at times they look like they can lose to anyone. If the frst team shows up, watch out. Head coach Bill Fulbright has a deep team and anyone from the bench can come in and make an impact. Senior Claire Hutchison is the motor that keeps the team moving, and Cambree Praast, Dawsyn Brewer, Alexia Perez, and Shilo McLain Lampi all will play a major role if they are to make a run into Divisionals.

Stevensville Girls Basketball Team:

Front row: Dawsyn Brewer, Roma Gum, Cheyenne Sannar, Shelby Coleman, Addison Drye, Maddy Davids, Holly St. Germain, Haylie Tolley

Second row: Victoria Uskoski, Sophia Hutchison, Claire Hutchison, Cambree Praast, Shilo McLain Lampi, Kyndahl Plantz, Jaden Fisher, Alexia Perez, Lily Uskoski

Third row: Drake Springer, Coach Luke Price, Coach Mike Davids, Coach Bill Fulbright, Coach Liesl Uskoski, Kaylee Adams

Players, Back row, l to r: Patrick Duchien, Jonathan Luhmann, Ethan Alexander, Jesse Padilla

Players, Front row, l to r: Brodie Hinsdale, Caleb Brossman, Trapper Oster, Tyler Abbott, Quintan Monaco

Florence Girls

Te Florence girls are the #3 seed in District 6B and will play #2 seeded Missoula Loyola on Tursday, Feb. 16th at 6 p.m. Te winner goes to the Championship game and the loser goes to the consolation game, both held in Anaconda on Saturday. Te Florence girls have had a solid regular season and they come into Districts on a three-game win streak. Head coach Bryan Neuman has them peaking at the right time, and they have hopes for a deep postseason run. Te Lady Falcons have plenty of frepower, with any number of girls able to lead. Seniors Josie Lewis and Trista Williams are strong leaders, and expect major contributions from Maggie Schneiter, Olivia Coulter, Taylor Pyette, Quinn Skaggs, and Kenzy Pickering.

Florence Falcons

Florence Boys

Te Florence boys are the #2 seed in District 6B and host #3 Anaconda on Friday, Feb. 17th. Te winner goes to the championship game and the loser goes to the consolation game, both held in Anaconda on Saturday. Head coach Tony Anderson loves where his team is at. “I’m feeling very optimistic,” he said. “We are fnally healthy and playing good basketball at the right time.” Te Falcons are on a fve-game winning streak and look poised to make a run in the postseason. Senior Patrick Duchien returned from an injury and is a force on the court. Jesse Padilla and Ethan Alexander are reliable scorers, and expect big things from Tyler Abbott, Brodie Hinsdale, Caleb Brossman, and Jonathan Luhmann.

Players, Back row, l to r: Josie Lewis, Trista Williams, Rylee Yeoman

Players, Middle row, l to r: Taylor Pyette, Kendyl Meinhold, Kenzy Pickering, Heidi Lambson, Shelby Crocker, Olivia Coulter, Aislynn Campbell, Quinn Skaggs

Players, Front row, l to r: Jadyn Dobberstein, Maggie Schneiter, Alyx Monaco, Madigan Hurlbert, Taryn Appelhans

Florence Boys Basketball Team:

Florence Girls Basketball Team:

Darby Tigers

Darby Boys

Te Darby boys had an excellent regular season and are the No. 1 seed in the 13C District Tournament and get a 1st round bye. Tey play the Valley Christian/Granite Co. winner in Hamilton on Friday at 2 p.m. Experienced head coach Richard Grifn is in his frst year at Darby and has the boys playing hard. Tey are an athletic team who plays solid defense and can beat anyone on any given night. At one point in the season they went on a nine game winning streak. Tey have the potential to make a deep postseason run. Hooper Reed and Will Martin control things in the middle, Cullen Duggan is a great all around player, and watch out for Nolan Lenney, Devyn Hundley, and Stevan Gabric.

Darby Girls

Te Darby girls are the #4 seed in the 13C District Tournament and play #5 Valley Christian on Tursday at 10:30 a.m. in Hamilton. Tey have had a solid season this year and head coach Heather Berry said, “I’m proud of the season my girls have put in. We have made improvements throughout the season and we’re excited about postseason play.” Te Lady Tigers have a well rounded team with fve senior leaders in Makena Hawkinson, Samantha Shull, Madison Nelson, Kylie Schlapman, and Maya Smith. Other players who are key to Darby’s success are Kimberlie Berry, Georgia Fisher, Sierra Reed, and Kyleigh Flux.

Back row, l to r: Coach Heather Berry, Coach Lilly Berry, Kyleigh Flux, Kylie Schlapman, Madison Nelson, Maya Smith, Sierra Reed, Petra Mustafa (manager), Coach Sarah Nelson

Front row, l to r: Natalie Anderson, Samantha Shull, Makena Hawkinson, Georgia Fisher, Kimberlie Berry

Darby Boys Basketball Team:

L to r: Austin Ward, Carden Nelson, Devyn Hundley, Cullen Duggan, Will Martin, Hooper Reed, Stevan Gabric, Nolan Lenney, Gavin Polson, Payton Ehmann, McCoy Townsend

Darby Girls Basketball Team:

Jace Martin, Russell Drewin,

Victor Girls

Te Victor girls are the #6 seed in the 13C District Tournament and play #3 Granite Co. on Tursday, Feb. 16th at 4:30 p.m. in Hamilton. Te Victor girls have had some good stretches and bad stretches of play this year, but they have the potential to give anyone trouble in the tournament. Head coach Aimie Kay has a core group of seniors that lead the team in Tia Allred, Virginia Brown, Abby Kay, Nola Smorowski, and Kyla Tacker. And expect major contributions from juniors Sadie Allred and Taylor McKinley.

Victor Boys

Te Victor boys are the #6 seed in the 13C District Tournament and play #3 Seeley on Tursday, Feb. 16th at 3 p.m. in Hamilton. Victor has been up and down this year, but they have a ton of potential - when they put it all together they are tough to beat. Head coach Matt Warren hopes they play their best ball of the season at Districts. Victor has a well rounded team, where any player can lead. Jordan McLane, Landon Nuttall, Brandon Bowen, and Russell Drewien are always a threat, and expect major contributions from Roan Jackson, Josiah Berk, Alec Rowlan and Cale Alber.

Victor Boys Basketball Team:

Front row L-R: Jordan Mclane, Landon Nuttall, Brandon Bowen, Roan Jackson, Cale Alber

Back row L-R: Evan Silva,

Aiden Wilkes, Price Johnson, Josia Berk, #11 Alec Rowlan, Kyle Glasser, Tyson Nuttall

Victor Girls Basketball Team: Front row, l to r: Sadie Allred, Dez Neider, Nola Smorowski, Abby Kay, Tia Allred, Virginia Brown, Taylor McKinley Back row, l to r: Cyrrieanna Ames, Asia Parks, Chloe Pollan, Whitney Bugli, Nicole Bugli, Hannah Buchanan, Iris Foster, Sadie Davis