Basketball Power Poll

It appears I was wrong about my prediction that Columbia Falls’ loss to Polson wouldn’t drop the Wildcats in the Associated Press boys power poll. Despite a 13-1 record, the Wildcats are now No. 2 behind Laurel in the poll, which was released yesterday. Polson, meanwhile, jumped to fifth place.

In Class AA boys, streaking Glacier is inching closer to the top five. The Wolfpack have won six straight games.

Bigfork, 13-4, is now No. 10 in Class B. The Bigfork girls, with a 17-1 record, are ranked third in Class B.

Below is the complete AP poll, with first-place votes in parentheses.

Boys:

Class AA

1. Bozeman (8) – 12-2
2. Great Falls (1) – 11-3
3. Billings West (1) – 10-3
4. Missoula Hellgate – 11-4
5. Billings Senior – 10-4

Others receiving votes: CM Russell, Billings Skyview, Missoula Sentinel, Glacier.

Class A

1. Laurel (3) – 12-3
2. Columbia Falls (5) – 13-1
3. Dillon (1) – 12-2
4. Sidney (1) – 10-2
5. Polson – 11-4

Others receiving votes: Browning, Corvallis, Butte Central, Glendive.

Class B

1. Wolf Point (10) – 15-0
2. Columbus – 14-2
3. Malta – 13-2
4. Florence – 13-3
5. Rocky Boy – 13-3
6. Cut Bank – 11-3
7. Forsyth – 13-3
8. Manhattan – 14-2
9. Shelby – 11-4
10. Bigfork – 13-4

Others receiving votes: Fairfield (1), Huntley Project, Shepherd, Broadus, Three Forks, Choteau, Townsend, Lodge Grass, Missoula Loyola, Baker.

Class C

1. Roy Winifred (10) – 13-0
2. Froid-Medicine Lake (Froid Lake) – 15-1
3. Dutton-Brady – 14-0
4. Joilet – 15-1
5. Twin Bridges – 13-1
6. Charlo – 14-2
7. Absarokee – 14-2
8. Scobey-Opheim – 14-2
9. Fort Benton – 14-1
10. St. Labre – 13-2

Others receiving votes: Wibaux, Arlee, Shields Valley, Culbertson, Northern Cheyenne, Chinook, Winnett-Grass Range.

Girls:

Class AA

1. Bozeman (10) – 14-0
2. Billings West – 13-0
3. Helena Capital – 12-3
4. Missoula Sentinel – 12-3
5. CM Russell – 11-4

Others receiving votes: None.

Class A

1. Butte Central (7) – 12-2
2. Sidney (3) – 11-2
3. Anaconda – 11-4
4. Miles City – 9-3
5. Dillon – 10-4

Others receiving votes: Glendive.

Class B

1. Fairfield (9) – 16-0
2. Malta (1) – 13-1
3. Bigfork – 17-1
4. Shepherd – 15-1
5. Three Forks – 15-2
6. Missoula Loyola – 14-1
7. Townsend – 14-2
8. Broadus – 11-2
9. Choteau – 13-3
10. Columbus – 13-3

Others receiving votes: St. Ignatius, Forsyth, Wolf Point, Lodge Grass.

Class C

1. Fairview (7) – 15-0
2. Harlowton-Ryegate (2) – 16-0
3. Terry – 15-0
4. Belt (1) – 16-0
5. Winnett Grass Range – 15-0
6. Ennis – 15-2
7. Box Elder – 14-1
T8. Roberts – 14-2
T8. Scobey-Opheim – 14-2
10. Charlo – 13-2

Others receiving votes: Drummond, Circle, Seeley-Swan.