Fifty years ago, Flathead High School dominated Helena 80-63 to win the 1970 Class AA boys state basketball title. The Braves were led by the legendary Brent Wilson, who went on to play at Montana State University and Colorado State University.
According to a 2009 story by Ed West of the Billings Gazette, Wilson scored 51 points in a game during the 1970 state tournament, though I’m not exactly clear if Wilson accomplished the feat in the title game or another game. West says it is still a state tournament record.
I recommend reading West’s story, which is from last year and is focused on Josh Huestis, the C.M. Russell standout who faces off against the Braves in the first round of Thursday’s Class AA tournament. West is a preeminent scholar of Montana high school sports history and a longtime student of the game.
West’s prediction of Huestis’ place in history appears to be coming true. Huestis, a 6-8 power forward and Stanford recruit, is certainly the most dominant big man in Montana high school basketball right now, and maybe for many years to come. Here’s his final 2009-2010 stat line going into the state tourney: 16.9 points per game, 12.8 rebounds and 5.1 blocks.
When West wrote the story, Huestis was a junior. Huestis went on to lead C.M. Russell to the state championship. Now in his senior year, Huestis is looking for back-to-back titles.
But stats only tell a small part of the story for Huestis, who probably alters twice as many shots as he blocks and can dominate an entire game on defense. His offensive skills, by all accounts, are improving, something surely noticed by Stanford coaches.
Below is a YouTube compilation of Huestis’ highlights, though it’s not necessarily the best quality. But you get a feel for what he does. Also, here is a recent story by his hometown paper, the Great Falls Tribune, and a story by ESPN.