Bigfork Squads Near the Top of Class B Rankings

Better late than never, here’s the latest Associated Press High School Basketball Polls, which were released Wednesday.

The Bigfork squads continue to earn recognition as top teams in Class B. The boys, who escaped with a narrow 50-49 victory over Class A Whitefish last night, are ranked fifth. The Vals, also winners last night, are also fifth.

The Flathead boys held their ground in the fifth spot in Class AA while Glacier fell out of the top five. Next week’s crosstown game looks destined to be another classic.

Columbia Falls remains ranked in Class A, tied for fourth.

Here’s the complete poll results:

Boys
Class AA
1. Billings West (10) 9-1
2. Billings Skyview 8-2
3. Bozeman 8-2
4. Helena Capital 7-4
5. Flathead 6-4
Others receiving votes: Glacier 24.

Class A
1. Browning (8) 10-1
2. Dillon 9-2
3. Stevensville (2) 9-1
T4. Livingston 9-2
T4. Columbia Falls 9-3
Others receiving votes: Laurel 39. Sidney 18. Billings Central 7. Butte Central 7.

Class B
1. Fairfield (6) 11-0
2. Manhattan (4) 12-0
3. Malta 11-1
4. Forsyth 10-2
5. Bigfork 11-2
6. Shepherd 10-2
7. Lodge Grass 9-2
8. Wolf Point 9-2
T9. Florence-Carlton 9-2
T9. Choteau 10-2
Others receiving votes: Florence-Carlton 4. Troy 3. Three Forks 2. Plentywood 1. Whitehall 1.

Class C
1. Plenty Coups (5) 11-1
2. St. Labre (3) 10-1
3. Highwood 11-1
4. Twin Bridges 10-2
5. Culbertson 10-2
6. Fairview 10-2
7. Drummond (1) 10-1
8. Scobey-Opheim 10-2
9. Big Sandy 10-2
10. Melstone 10-2
Others receiving votes: Roy-Winifred 13. Stanford-Geyser 11. Lincoln 6. Stanford 5. Ennis 2.

Girls
Class AA
1. Bozeman (10) 10-0
2. Missoula Sentinel 9-1
3. Great Falls Russell 9-2
4. Billings West 7-4
5. Helena 7-4
Others receiving votes: Butte 13. Billings Skyview 7. Glacier 6. Billings Senior 6.

Class A
1. Frenchtown (6) 10-1
2. Stevensville (2) 8-2
3. Butte Central (2) 9-3
4. Billings Central 7-3
5. Polson 9-3
Others receiving votes: Havre 14.

Class B
1. Fairfield (9) 12-0
2. Townsend (1) 12-0
3. Malta 13-0
4. Baker 10-2
5. Bigfork 11-2
6. Lodge Grass 9-4
7. Missoula Loyola 8-4
8. Columbus 8-4
9. Shepherd 9-3
10. Choteau 8-4
Others receiving votes: Three Forks 7. Plentywood 4. Huntley Project 1. Deer Lodge 1. Broadus 1. Manhattan 1.

Class C
1. Harlowton-Ryegate (4) 12-0
2. Fairview (3) 11-0
3. Winnett Grass Range (1) 12-0
4. Twin Bridges (1) 11-1
5. Box Elder (1) 13-0
6. Drummond 11-0
7. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 11-1
8. Superior 11-0
9. Belt 11-1
10. Scobey-Opheim 10-2
Others receiving votes: Culbertson 10. Circle 7. Ennis 5. Geraldine 3. Chinook 2. Park City 2.