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Columbia Falls Squads Maintain Dominance in Basketball Polls

Bigfork boys hold top spot in Class B rankings; Glacier girls No. 2 in Class AA

By Dillon Tabish

The Columbia Falls boys and girls basketball teams remain ranked No. 1 in Class A, according to the latest Associated Press polls, released Wednesday.

The Wildkats (12-1) were the unanimous top team on the girls side, ahead of Laurel (9-2) and Dillon (8-3).

The Wildcats (11-2) received four first-place votes while runner-up Dillon (11-1) earned three.

The Bigfork boys (11-1) held onto their top spot in Class B, ahead of Choteau (12-0) and Glasgow (11-1).

The Glacier girls (10-1) remain No. 2 in Class AA. The Wolfpack boys (7-3) jumped into fifth place.

Glacier and Flathead play tonight at Flathead starting with the girls game at 6 p.m. and the boys at 7:30 p.m.

The top teams in the Associated Press Montana high school basketball poll with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position last week at right:

BOYS

Class AA
1. Missoula Hellgate (6)  10-1  68  1
2. Billings Skyview (1)  9-2  64  2
3. Billings West  9-1  57  3
4. Bozeman  8-3  49  5
5. Glacier  7-3  18  NR
Others receiving votes: Helena Capital 12, Missoula Big Sky 6, Great Falls 6.

Class A
1. Columbia Falls (4)  11-2  67  1
2. Dillon (3)  11-1  66  2
3. Butte Central  8-4  55  3
4. Havre  8-4  27  4
5. Billings Central  7-4  25  5
Others receiving votes: Hardin 21, Belgrade 12, Laurel 7.

Class B
1. Bigfork (6)  11-1  60  1
(tie)Choteau (1)  12-0  60  3
3. Glasgow  11-1  59  2
4. Big Timber  10-1  50  4
5. St. Labre  9-2  39  8
6. Missoula Loyola  11-2  34  5(tie)
7. Columbus  7-3  20  5(tie)
8. Florence  7-4  19  10
9. Jefferson (Boulder)  9-3  13  NR
10. Shepherd  9-3  10  NR
Others receiving votes: Lodge Grass 8, Huntley Project 4, Rocky Boy 4, Thompson Falls 3, Townsend 1. Lame Deer 1.

Class C
1. Belt (3)  12-0  57
2. Manhattan Christian (1)  12-0  50  3
3. Box Elder (2)  11-1  45  1
4. Fairview  9-1  40  5
5. Arlee  12-0  36  4
6. Westby-Grenora  11-1  29  8
7. Hinsdale  11-1  28  7
8. Broadview-Lavina  11-1  15  10
9. Great Falls Central  11-1  11  NR
10. Plenty Coups  9-2  6  NR
Others receiving votes: Highwood 5, Sunburst 4, Wibaux 3, Hays-Lodgepole 1.

GIRLS

Class AA
1. Helena Capital (7)  9-1  70  1
2. Glacier  10-1  63  2
3. Missoula Sentinel  10-1  56  3
4. Bozeman  8-2  48  4
5. Missoula Big Sky  9-3  31  5
Others receiving votes: Billings Senior 6, Billings Skyview 6.

Class A
1. Columbia Falls (7)  12-1  70  1
2. Laurel  9-2  59  2
3. Dillon  8-3  53  3
(tie)Havre  9-2  53  4
5. Miles City  9-2  33  NR
Others receiving votes: Hamilton 12.

Class B
1. Fairfield (7)  12-0  70  1
2. Malta  13-0  63  2
3. Forsyth  12-0  55  3
4. Manhattan  12-0  50  4
5. Choteau  10-2  30  8
6. Colstrip  9-3  24  5
7. Red Lodge  9-3  22  7
(tie)Rocky Boy  9-3  22  9
9. Wolf Point  10-2  15  NR
10. Shepherd  8-4  11  10
(tie)Plains  10-2  11  NR
Others receiving votes: Bigfork 10, Ronan 2.

Class C
1. Roy-Winifred (5)  11-0  59  1
2. Belt (1)  10-2  47  2
3. Seeley-Swan  12-0  40  3
4. Saco-Whitewater  12-1  39  4
5. Harrison-Willow Creek  12-0  34  5
6. Park City  11-1  28  7
7. Fairview  10-1  25  9
8. Cascade  10-1  13  8
9. Circle  9-2  11  NR
10. Gardiner  9-2  10  NR
Others receiving votes: Harlowton-Ryegate 7, Twin Bridges 5, Geraldine/Ft. Benton 4, Chinook 4, Jordan 2, Arlee 1, Scobey-Opheim 1.