Josh Sandry was named co-MVP of the Class B boys state basketball tournament last weekend. Zach Handley of Malta shared the honor with Sandry.
The Vikings’ junior guard averaged 18.6 points per game in the Vikings’ three tournament matches. He scored 25 in Bigfork’s 68-56 win over Huntley Project in the semifinals and had 23 against Columbus in the state championship game, which Bigfork won 71-62.
Senior Christian Evans was named to the first team and Isaac Martel and Cameron Nissen earned second team.
Columbia Falls senior Haley Belgarde and junior Ciera Finberg were named to the Class A girls all-tournament team. Belgarde and Finberg guided the Wildkats to third place at state last weekend in Great Falls. It was the team’s first top-three state trophy since 1988.
The latest hardware came at the conclusion of the best season in recent history for the Wildkats. The top-ranked girls finished the season 22-2 overall. Last weekend in Great Falls, they narrowly lost in the semifinal round before rallying back through the consolation bracket to defeat Laurel in overtime of the third-place game. Belgarde scored 20 points, junior Winter Kemppainen had 12 and the Wildkats edged the Locomotives 54-52 in overtime on March 15. Freshman Cydney Finberg had nine points and sister Ciera, a junior, added six.
On March 14, Columbia Falls lost to Hamilton 44-39 in the state semifinals after rallying back from a 22-7 deficit in the first half. In loser-out action on the morning of March 15, Ciera Finberg scored 18 points and Belgarde added 14 as the Wildkats eliminated conference rival Frenchtown, 60-44, to advance to the consolation game against Laurel, last year’s state champs.
Havre defeated Hamilton 52-43 to claim its first Class A girls state championship since 1997.
Class B All-Tournament Teams
Boys
Zach Handley, Malta and Josh Sandry, Bigfork — MVP
First Team
Christian Evans, Bigfork
Michael Harris, Huntley Project
Tanner Osborne, Columbus
Jeremy Costin, Malta
Bradley Schaff, Florence-Carlton
Second Team
Philip Holten, Columbus
Tanner Oblender, HP
Kade Osborne, Columbus
Jason Thiebault, Glasgow
Isaac Martel, Bigfork
Cameron Nissen, BigforkGirls
Jill Barta, Fairfield — MVP
First Team
Janie McRae, Shepherd
Kourtney Coverdell, Fairfield
Kaylynn Coverdell, Fairfield
Baylee Senecal, Powell County
Mercedes Stiles, Malta
Second Team
Rebecca Smith, Malta
Brooke Jones, Manhattan
Sophia Stiles, Malta
Hailey Nicholson, Malta
Kaylee Zard, ForsythClass A Girls All-Tournament Team
Brandy Lambourne (MVP), Havre
Jaylee Alberta, Hamilton
Haley Belgarde, Columbia Falls
Taylor Goliogoski, Hamilton
Morgan Mazurkiewicz, Havre
Vanessa Stavish, Frenchtown
Ciera Finberg, Columbia Falls
Allie McGrath, Laurel
Beth Sutter, Miles City
Abby Lohof, Laurel