Basketball fans in Columbia Falls have plenty to cheer about. Under the direction of head coach extraordinaire Cary Finberg, both girls and boys teams are off to a strong start and are ranked in the first Associated Press high school basketball polls.
The Columbia Falls girls hold the top spot in the state for Class A, edging Butte Central (6-2) and Hamilton (7-1). This week’s sports story in the Flathead Beacon features the Wildkats (6-1), who have jumped ahead in Northwestern A with renewed talent and a noticeable size advantage this season. Junior Haley Belgarde is averaging 15 points per game and more than 12 rebounds. Senior Hope Burlage is averaging nearly 10 points and seven rebounds. The Kats host Glacier tonight at 6 p.m.
Despite losing several key veteran players from last year’s state runner-up team, the Columbia Falls boys are reloaded and ranked third in the state. Laurel (8-0) is ranked first and Stevensville (8-1) is second. Luke Kazlauskas is averaging nearly 16 points per game and Alex Presnell is averaging 14 for the Wildcats (6-1), who host Glacier tonight at 8 p.m.
The Glacier boys are ranked third in Class AA. The Wolfpack is 5-1 and recently beat back-to-back conference opponents — Missoula’s Big Sky by 20 and Sentinel by 24. The Wolfpack have shown versatility on offense, highlighted by 10 different scorers in Glacier’s 56-32 win over Sentinel. Seven-footer Ryan Edwards has been quiet offensively but his defensive presence has emerged as a game-changer.
So far Flathead is proving critics wrong after jumping out to a 4-1 record, including 2-0 in Western AA. The Braves are ranked fifth in Class AA and won their fourth straight game last week, dismantling Big Sky, 59-36. Flathead held the Eagles to 16 points in the second half. Three Braves scored in double figures — Blaine Newman led with 14 and Shea Schroeder and Garth West each had 12. Coaches picked Flathead to finish near the bottom of the conference standings, but the Braves have shown signs of strength early on. The team beat Columbia Falls on the road and now has two conference wins in a row.
The Bigfork boys are ranked sixth in Class B. Christian Evans scored a game-high 21 points in the Vikings’ 57-30 win over Troy last week.
Fourth-year head coach Karly Tait and the Flathead Bravettes picked up a nice breakthrough victory in Missoula last week. Four players scored in double figures and Flathead defeated Big Sky 58-44. It was the Bravettes’ first win over the Eagles in Missoula since 2001. Jenessa Heine scored 13, Emily Russell and Jessika Abbrescia each had 11 and Emma Andrews had 10. Flathead improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference. Russell is the conference’s leading scorer with 14 per game on average. Andrews is third at 13.4.
Associated Press High School Basketball Polls
The top teams chosen by members of the sports media from across Montana, with first-place votes in parentheses and won-loss record, total points and position:
Boys
Class AA
1. Missoula Hellgate (9), 7-0, 108
2. Billings Skyview, 6-1, 91
3. Glacier (2), 5-1, 89
4. Great Falls Russell, 6-1, 78
5. Flathead, 4-1, 49
Others receiving votes: Bozeman 13. Billings West 12.Class A
1. Laurel (10), 8-0, 100
2. Stevensville, 8-1, 83
3. Columbia Falls, 6-1, 77
4. Glendive, 7-1, 67
5. Dillon, 5-1, 60
Others receiving votes: Belgrade 13.Class B
1. Rocky Boy (4), 7-0, 93
2. Malta (1), 6-1, 91
3. Fairfield, 6-2, 62
4. Missoula Loyola, 7-2, 51
5. Florence(3), 9-0, 44
6. Bigfork, 5-3, 42
7. Forsyth, 6-2, 40
8. Wolf Point, 6-2, 38
9. Glasgow, 6-2, 22
10. Red Lodge, 6-2, 15
(tie) Three Forks, 6-2, 15
Others receiving votes: Manhattan 13. Townsend 10. Jefferson (Boulder) 7. Columbus 7. Lodge Grass 6. Baker 5.Class C
1. Fairview (9), 8-0, 98
2. Roy-Winifred, 8-0, 85
3. Wibaux, 7-0, 67
4. Centerville (1), 8-0, 65
5. Ennis, 7-1, 44
6. Highwood, 7-1, 32
(tie)Dutton-Brady, 7-1, 32
8. Broadview-Lavina, 7-1, 27
9. Chester-Joplin-Inverness, 7-1, 23
10. Melstone, 7-1, 16
Others receiving votes: Drummond 12. Westby-Grenora 10. Box Elder 9. Superior 7. Noxon 6. Shields Valley 5. Nashua 4. Harlowton-Ryegate 3. Circle 3. Arlee 1. Frazer 1.Girls
Class AA
1. Missoula Sentinel (9), 8-0, 107
2. Helena Capital (2), 6-0, 100
3. Billings Senior, 6-1, 81
4. Great Falls, 6-1, 78
5. Butte, 5-2, 54
Others receiving votes: Bozeman 12. Billings West 8.Class A
1. Columbia Falls (4), 6-1, 91
2. Butte Central, (3), 6-2, 86
(tie) Hamilton (2), 7-1, 86
4. Dillon (1), 5-1, 58
5. Hardin, 5-2, 48
Others receiving votes: Havre 19. Sidney 6. Belgrade 6.Class B
1. Fairfield (10), 8-0, 109
2. Townsend (1), 8-0, 96
3. Malta, 7-0, 91
4. Colstrip, 7-1, 55
(tie) Jefferson (Boulder), 7-1, 55
6. Shepherd, 6-1, 52
7. Deer Lodge, 7-1, 38
8. Forsyth, 7-1, 25
9. Ronan, 5-2, 18
10. Choteau, 6-2, 16
Others receiving votes: Baker 8. Thompson Falls 7. Plentywood 7. Huntley Project 7. Manhattan 6. Bigfork 5. Columbus 4. Missoula Loyola 3. Three Forks 2. Roundup 1.Class C
1. Westby-Grenora (2), 9-0, 84
2. Grass Range Winnett (3), 8-0, 78
3. Belt (4), 7-1, 71
4. Drummond (1), 6-0, 60
5. Chester-Joplin-Inverness, 8-0, 58
6. St. Labre, 7-1, 34
7. Fairview, 7-1, 28
8. Harlowton-Ryegate, 7-1, 27
9. Augusta, 7-1, 26
10. Broadview-Lavina, 7-1, 21
Others receiving votes: Hinsdale 18. Chinook 18. Roy-Winifred 8. Arlee 5. Richey-Lambert High School 4. Saco-Whitewater 4. Seeley-Swan 2. Wibaux 2. Charlo 2.