The latest edition of the Montana basketball power poll rankings are in and Bigfork continues its climb in the boys' standings. The Vikings, 13-1, are now ranked third in Class B statewide. Columbia Falls, 11-2, is still second in Class A.
In girls, Polson is fifth in Class A. The Lady Pirates are 11-2. Bigfork, 11-3, is ranked seventh in Class B.
Click "read more" for a full breakdown of the standings.
Western AA Seeding Tournament on Feb. 5-6
Kalispell Wrestlers Close Regular Season Strong
The wrestling teams from Flathead and Glacier wrapped up their regular seasons over the weekend by dominating Helena's two high schools. Flathead defeated Helena High 66-12 and Helena Capital 73-6 on Saturday, while Glacier beat Helena 42-23 and Capital 66-21.
The convincing victories are a good sign for the Wolfpack and Braves as they head into this week's Western AA seeding tournament, held at Missoula Big Sky on Friday and Saturday. That tournament will determine Western AA's seeds for the state wrestling tournament on Feb. 12-13 in Billings. The divisional seeding tournaments for Class A and B/C are on the same days.
Currently, Flathead is ranked No. 2 in the state, while Glacier fell out of the top four in the most recent coaches poll. Great Falls High leapfrogged Flathead to take the top spot.
All classes – AA, A and B/C – will participate at the state tournament on Feb. 12-13. It will be held at MetraPark in Billings. Flathead is seeking its fifth straight AA title.
The convincing victories are a good sign for the Wolfpack and Braves as they head into this week's Western AA seeding tournament, held at Missoula Big Sky on Friday and Saturday. That tournament will determine Western AA's seeds for the state wrestling tournament on Feb. 12-13 in Billings. The divisional seeding tournaments for Class A and B/C are on the same days.
Currently, Flathead is ranked No. 2 in the state, while Glacier fell out of the top four in the most recent coaches poll. Great Falls High leapfrogged Flathead to take the top spot.
All classes – AA, A and B/C – will participate at the state tournament on Feb. 12-13. It will be held at MetraPark in Billings. Flathead is seeking its fifth straight AA title.
Teams and Individuals
Class AA Basketball Statistical Leaders
Updated Class AA statistics are now available for teams and individuals. You can find them below. Check them out by clicking on the links. The statistician does a great job. They're quite thorough, with detailed category breakdowns and lists of the top 40 individuals across the state. I'll update them throughout the rest of the season as they're made available.
-Team Boys
-Individual Boys
-Team Girls
-Individual Girls
-Team Boys
-Individual Boys
-Team Girls
-Individual Girls
Bigfork Boys and Girls in Top 10
Statewide Basketball Rankings for All Classes
With an 11-1 record, Bigfork moved up to fourth place statewide in the latest Class B boys basketball rankings. Columbia Falls, meanwhile, dropped out of the top spot to second place in Class A after losing consecutive games. In girls, Bigfork is tied for 10th and Polson is fifth.
Click "read more" for statewide standings.
[read more]
Click "read more" for statewide standings.
Whitefish's Crittenden to Join Him
Smithwick-Hann to Be a Grizzly
Glacier High School's Shay Smithwick-Hann - File photo by Lido Vizzutti/Flathead Beacon
Shay Smithwick-Hann is off to play quarterback at the University of Montana. He will sign his letter of intent on Feb. 3. Derek Crittenden, a running back and linebacker from Whitefish, will join him.
I have enjoyed watching Smithwick-Hann mature as a quarterback over the last three years. As the only quarterback in Glacier High School history, he holds a variety of school records, a few of which I don't think will be broken anytime soon. His career numbers after his three years as starting quarterback for Glacier are: 451-for-861 passing for 5,584 yards and 37 passing touchdowns. He holds multiple single-game and single-seasons records as well, including most rush yards in 2009. He finished the 2009 regular season with 724 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns.
[read more]
I have enjoyed watching Smithwick-Hann mature as a quarterback over the last three years. As the only quarterback in Glacier High School history, he holds a variety of school records, a few of which I don't think will be broken anytime soon. His career numbers after his three years as starting quarterback for Glacier are: 451-for-861 passing for 5,584 yards and 37 passing touchdowns. He holds multiple single-game and single-seasons records as well, including most rush yards in 2009. He finished the 2009 regular season with 724 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns.
Columbia Falls Suffers First Losses of Season
Northwestern A Basketball Standings, Statistics
The Columbia Falls boys basketball team suffered its first losses of the year over the weekend, dropping back-to-back games to Glacier (65-63 in overtime) and Missoula Loyola (67-52). Since neither Class AA Glacier nor Class B Loyola is in Columbia Falls' league, the Wildcats' Northwestern A record remains unblemished. Columbia Falls is 10-2 overall and 3-0 in the conference.
As of Jan. 26, the Wildcats rank first as a team in nearly every major statistical category in the conference. They rank first in scoring (59.4 per game), rebounding (33.4), field-goal percentage (46 percent), blocks (4.8), free-throw percentage (64.4) and assists (16.6). Despite leading the league in scoring, their highest individual scorer is senior Mitchell Wassam, who ranks sixth in the conference with 10.2 points per game. More than anything, this illustrates the team's tremendous balance, which makes the Wildcats so hard to defend.
For full Northwestern A boys and girls statistics, as well as league standings, click "read more."
[read more]
As of Jan. 26, the Wildcats rank first as a team in nearly every major statistical category in the conference. They rank first in scoring (59.4 per game), rebounding (33.4), field-goal percentage (46 percent), blocks (4.8), free-throw percentage (64.4) and assists (16.6). Despite leading the league in scoring, their highest individual scorer is senior Mitchell Wassam, who ranks sixth in the conference with 10.2 points per game. More than anything, this illustrates the team's tremendous balance, which makes the Wildcats so hard to defend.
For full Northwestern A boys and girls statistics, as well as league standings, click "read more."
Hosted by Glacier Outdoor Center
Skijoring Race to Benefit Humane Society on Jan. 30
The Glacier Outdoor Center is hosting its second annual Dog Skijoring Ski Race on Saturday Jan. 30 in West Glacier. The race benefits the Humane Society of Northwest Montana and will be held at 12 p.m. on the Glacier Outdoor Center's professionally groomed ski track just outside Glacier National Park's west entrance.
In the sport of dog skijoring, a dog wearing a specially designed harness pulls a cross-country skier through a course. At the West Glacier event, there will be both a team and individual category. Instructors will be on hand and no prior experience is necessary to compete. But participants need to make sure their dogs are ready to run.
Participants can register at the Glacier Outdoor Center and the Whitefish Animal Hospital. For more information on entry fees, rentals or anything else, contact the Glacier Outdoor Center at (406) 888-5454. Forty-five percent of registration fees goes directly to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana. For a minimum donation of $5, spectators can enter to win raffle prizes.
In the sport of dog skijoring, a dog wearing a specially designed harness pulls a cross-country skier through a course. At the West Glacier event, there will be both a team and individual category. Instructors will be on hand and no prior experience is necessary to compete. But participants need to make sure their dogs are ready to run.
Participants can register at the Glacier Outdoor Center and the Whitefish Animal Hospital. For more information on entry fees, rentals or anything else, contact the Glacier Outdoor Center at (406) 888-5454. Forty-five percent of registration fees goes directly to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana. For a minimum donation of $5, spectators can enter to win raffle prizes.
Lady Wolfpack Have Two-Game Win Streak
Glacier Basketball Wins Fourth Straight, Flathead Wins Third
Kalispell boys have been unbeatable on the hardwood lately. Glacier High School, coming off consecutive victories over Columbia Falls and Libby, is riding a four-game winning streak. The Wolfpack are 7-3 on the season. They haven't lost since Jan. 7, when they fell to Missoula Sentinel 61-53. During the streak, 6-4 senior Shay Smithwick-Hann has averaged 19.8 points per game.
The Flathead Braves, meanwhile, have a three-game winning streak after beating Whitefish 50-36 on Jan. 21. Their record is 5-4 on the season. Like Glacier, the Braves have been led by their big man, 6-3 senior Karl Ingram, who has averaged 16.7 points during the streak.
The Glacier girls have a two-game winning streak after beating Columbia Falls and Libby at home over the weekend. The Lady Wolfpack are 5-5 on the season. The Flathead Bravettes defeated Whitefish 64-24 on Jan. 22 to improve to 3-6.
The next games for all four Kalispell teams are scheduled on Friday, Jan. 29.
The Flathead Braves, meanwhile, have a three-game winning streak after beating Whitefish 50-36 on Jan. 21. Their record is 5-4 on the season. Like Glacier, the Braves have been led by their big man, 6-3 senior Karl Ingram, who has averaged 16.7 points during the streak.
The Glacier girls have a two-game winning streak after beating Columbia Falls and Libby at home over the weekend. The Lady Wolfpack are 5-5 on the season. The Flathead Bravettes defeated Whitefish 64-24 on Jan. 22 to improve to 3-6.
The next games for all four Kalispell teams are scheduled on Friday, Jan. 29.
