Three Glacier players picked up all-state basketball honors.
Senior Cassi Hashley and sophomore Hailee Bennett were named Class AA all-state for the Glacier girls team, which advanced to the state tournament for the third consecutive year and won its first tournament game in program history last weekend.
Glacier senior Evan Epperly earned top honors on the boys team and also joined the Class AA state all-tournament team. Epperly, a University of Montana football recruit, averaged 17.8 points per game this season and 4.6 assists. He had a season-high 32 points against Great Falls in December and 28 against Helena.
Glacier senior Bryan Michaels was named second team all-conference for Western AA. Flathead senior Matt Quist earned honorable mention.
The Glacier boys advanced to the state semifinals for the third consecutive year, defeating Great Falls C.M. Russell 62-47 in the opener. But the boys fell just shy of playing for a championship, losing 63-44 to Helena Capital. On the morning of March 15, a cold third quarter doomed Glacier and the Wolfpack’s state tournament came to an end with a 53-39 loss to Helena in the consolation bracket. Epperly and Michaels finished their successful playing careers with impressive performances: the two boys combined to score 90 points in three games.
Hashley, a Carroll College signee, averaged 15.4 point and 10.4 rebounds per game. She was named to the girls all-tournament team. Bennett averaged 12.5 ppg and 3.7 assists during her second season.
Flathead’s Emma Andrews earned second team all-conference for girls. Teammate Jenessa Heine was honorable mention along with Glacier’s Katie Wiley.
The Glacier girls basketball program continues to make progress. In their third trip, the Wolfpack won their first game at the Class AA state tournament last week in Billings, winning 47-46 over Great Falls in the opening round. In a low-scoring state semifinal game on March 14, Missoula Sentinel was too much for Glacier and dropped the girls 37-26. Billings Senior then eliminated the local squad the next morning 50-41. Senior Cassi Hashley capped her impressive all-state career with 62 points in Glacier’s three games, including 28 against Great Falls.
BOYS
Class AA All-State
Tres Tinkle, jr., Missoula Hellgate; Carson Dummer, sr., Helena Capital; Evan Epperly, sr., Glacier; Kyle Harrington, sr., Helena Capital; Hunter Beto, sr., Helena Capital; Kendal Manuel, jr., Billings Skyview; Oliver Carr, sr., Bozeman; Jayse McLean, sr., Great Falls CMR; Jared Samuelson, jr., Billings West; Brendan Howard, fr., Great Falls.Western AA All-Conference
First team – Tres Tinkle, jr., Missoula Hellgate; Carson Dummer, sr., Helena Capital; Evan Epperly, sr., Glacier; Kyle Harrington, sr., Helena Capital; Hunter Beto, sr., Helena Capital.Second team – Bryan Michaels, sr., Glacier; Jesson Preston, sr., Missoula Big Sky; Chase Walker, sr., Missoula Sentinel; Rhett Baerlocher, jr., Missoula Hellgate; Colin Bingham, jr., Missoula Big Sky; Chase South, jr., Helena.
Honorable mention – Matt Quist, sr., Flathead; Brady Henthorn, sr., Missoula Hellgate; Tyler Tolman, sr., Helena; Kyle Nickol, sr., Helena Capital; Austin Violette, sr., Missoula Sentinel.
Eastern AA All-Conference
First team – Kendal Manuel, jr., Billings Skyview; Oliver Carr, sr., Bozeman; Jayse McLean, sr., Great Falls CMR; Jared Samuelson, jr., Billings West; Brendan Howard, fr., Great Falls.Second team – Danny Betcher, jr., Billings West; Caleb Weidenaar, sr., Bozeman; Kooper Kidgell, sr., Billings Senior; Dallas Cook, sr., Butte; Matt Wyman, jr., Great Falls; Lukas Vining, jr., Great Fall.
Honorable mention – Tre’von Strong, jr., Billings Skyview; Jeremiah Cochran, sr., Billings West; Andrew Langhorne, sr., Great Falls CMR; Nolan McHugh, jr., Billings Skyview; Aaron Weidenaar, so., Bozeman; Andrew Grinde, so., Great Falls CMR.
GIRLS
Class AA All-State
Olivia Roberts, sr., Missoula Sentinel; Michaela Dowdy, sr., Helena Capital; Maddie Keast, sr., Missoula Sentinel; Cassi Hashley, sr., Glacier; Hailee Bennett, so., Glacier; McKenzie Johnston, Helena Capital; Jace Henderson, sr., Billings Senior; Mika Robinson, sr., Billings West; Sammy McGree, sr., Butte; Mercedes Bourgeau, sr., Great Falls; Averie Collins, jr., Bozeman.Western AA All-Conference
First team – Olivia Roberts, sr., Missoula Sentinel; Michaela Dowdy, sr., Helena Capital; Maddie Keast, sr., Missoula Sentinel; Cassi Hashley, sr., Kalispell Glacier; Hailee Bennett, so., Kalispell Glacier; McKenzie Johnston, Helena Capital.Second team – Alexa Welch, sr., Helena Capital; Emma Andrews, sr., Kalispell Flathead; Maddy Shaide, jr., Missoula Big Sky; Dani Baker, sr., Missoula Big Sky; Callie Kanthack, sr., Helena; Jessica Stockton, sr., Helena.
Honorable mention – Sam Harper, sr., Missoula Sentinel; Lexi Steele, jr., Missoula Sentinel; Katie Wiley, jr., Kalispell Glacier; Darby Henthorn, so., Missoula Hellgate; Lexi Duce, jr., Missoula Hellgate; Jenessa Heine, sr., Kalispell Flathead.
Eastern AA All-Conference
First team – Jace Henderson, sr., Billings Senior; Mika Robinson, sr., Billings West; Sammy McGree, sr., Butte; Mercedes Bourgeau, sr., Great Falls; Averie Collins, jr., Bozeman.Second team – Lizzy Klinker, jr., Great Falls; Erin Schreibeis, sr., Billings West; Caitlin Lonergan, so., Bozeman; Nora Klick, so., Great Falls; Taylor Edwards, jr., Great Falls CMR.
Honorable mention – Alli Kieckbusch, jr., Billings Senior; Kortney McNeil, jr., Billings Senior; Paige Vinger, sr., Billings West; Haily Copinga, jr., Billings Skyview; Steph Boehm, sr., Billings West.
State AA All-Tournament Team
BOYS
Carson Dummer, Helena Capital, MVP
Troy Arntson, Helena
Hunter Beto, Helena Capital
Danny Betcher, Billings West
Devin Bray, Missoula Hellgate
Evan Epperly, Glacier
Henry Garrett, Helena
Kendal Manuel, Billings Skyview
Jayse McLean, Great Falls CMR
Kyle Nickol, Helena Capital
Tres Tinkle, Missoula HellgateGIRLS
Olivia Roberts, Missoula Sentinel, MVP
Steph Boehm, Billings West
Michaela Dowdy, Helena Capital
Sam Harper, MIssoula Sentinel
Cassi Hashley, Glacier
Jace Henderson, Billings Senior
McKenzie Johnston, Helena Capital
Alli Kieckbusch, Billings Senior
Taylor Mims, Billings Senior
Mika Robinson, Billings West