Glacier Surges to Top of Conference

In just its second year of existence, the Glacier High School boys basketball team is the top dog in Western AA. The Wolfpack are coming off a weekend home stand in which they beat Helena Capital and Helena High on consecutive days. They are now 8-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference. Capital is still ahead in the standings with a 5-1 conference record, but Glacier, with victories over both Capital and Western AA powerhouse Missoula Sentinel, must be considered the team to beat right now.

Capital entered Friday night’s game at Glacier High School with an unblemished 4-0 conference record to go along with its No. 3 state ranking. For the better part of three quarters, the Bruins proved that their record is no fluke. But in the fourth quarter, Glacier’s Ben Cutler – the top scorer in the state – took over. Cutler scored 14 points in the quarter, including a four-point play immediately followed by a steal and a three-pointer to put Glacier up 46-43 with 5:30 remaining. The Wolfpack never relinquished the lead.

Glacier’s girls have been going the opposite direction as the boys. After a fast start to the season, the girls have found themselves mired in a losing streak, including dropping two games this weekend. The Lady Wolfpack are now 4-8 and 0-4 in conference play. Across town, the Flathead Bravettes are still searching for their first win of the season. They are 0-12. Flathead’s boys are 2-10 on the season.

In Class A action, Whitefish took control of the Northwestern A standings this weekend by beating Ronan and then knocking off previously No.1-ranked Libby 58-36 on Saturday. It was the Bulldogs’ seventh straight victory, bringing their record to 9-4 (5-2). Columbia Falls beat Bigfork 80-41 on Friday night to bring its record to 8-4 (3-2). Bigfork hasn’t won a conference game this year.

For girls, Columbia Falls, held onto its No. 1 conference ranking by pulling out a close 49-43 victory over Bigfork. The Wildkats are 5-0 in conference games this season and 7-5 overall. The Valkyries dropped to 7-4 (3-2). Whitefish won its first conference game of the year, beating Ronan 54-49 on the road. Senior Kate Klundt, the conference’s leading scorer, led the Lady Bulldogs with 32 points. Ronan is 0-11 for the year.

Northwestern A Standings:

Boys:

Whitefish: 9-4 overall; 5-2 conference
Libby: 9-4 overall; 4-2 conference
Polson: 6-6 overall; 4-2 conference
Columbia Falls: 8-4 overall; 3-2 conference
Ronan: 8-4 overall; 1-3 conference
Bigfork: 1-10 overall; 0-5 conference

Girls:

Columbia Falls: 7-5 overall; 5-0 conference
Libby: 9-4 overall; 5-1 conference
Bigfork: 7-4 overall; 3-2 conference
Polson: 6-7 overall; 3-3 conference
Whitefish: 4-9 overall; 1-5 conference
Ronan: 0-13 overall; 0-5 conference

Western AA Standings:

Boys:

Helena Capital: 8-4 overall; 5-1 conference
Glacier: 8-4 overall; 3-1 conference
Missoula Big Sky: 6-6 overall; 2-2 conference
Missoula Sentinel: 8-4 overall; 2-2 conference
Helena: 4-7 overall; 2-3 conference
Flathead: 2-10 overall; 1-3 conference
Missoula Hellgate: 3-9 overall; 1-4 conference

Girls:

Helena Capital: 11-1 overall; 6-0 conference
Missoula Big Sky: 12-0 overall; 4-0 conference
Missoula Sentinel: 9-3 overall; 3-1 conference
Helena: 5-6 overall; 3-2 conference
Glacier: 4-8 overall; 0-4 conference
Flathead: 0-12 overall; 0-4 conference
Missoula Hellgate: 1-11 overall; 0-5 conference