Prep basketball polls: Bigfork boys, C-Falls girls ranked No. 1
The Bigfork boys and Columbia Falls girls each are at the top of their classes in the Associated Press basketball poll released Wednesday.
Bigfork received five of 10 first place votes and retained the top spot in boys Class B for the third straight week after edging out a 48-47 inter-class victory over Columbia Falls and clinching the regular season District 7B title with a 67-22 win over Troy.
The Columbia Falls girls also received five of 10 first place votes, leapfrogging Hamilton and Billings Central in girls Class A after wins over Bigfork and Polson.
The Glacier boys dropped from second to fourth in Class AA after losing to Missoula Hellgate, which moved up to third. Billings Skyview is the new No. 1, followed by Billings West. Helena Capital ranks fifth.
The Glacier girls moved into the Class AA poll at No. 5 after upsetting No. 1 Sentinel, which retained the top spot. Butte is second followed by Helena Capital and Great Falls.
Laurel and Stevensville remain first and second in boys Class A while Browning jumped Butte Central to move into third.
Defending state champion Malta is second behind Bigfork in boys Class B, followed by Florence, Forsyth and Rocky Boy.
Defending state champion Fairview tops boys Class C.
The top five is unchanged in girls Class B with Fairfield the unanimous No. 1 choice.
Belt tops girls Class C, followed by Winnett-Grass Range and Seeley-Swan.
Montana Basketball Prep Polls
BOYS
Class AA
RecordPtsPrv
1. Billings Skyview (6)12-295T3
2. Billings West (4)12-289T3
3. Missoula Hellgate12-2845
4. Glacier11-3502
5. Helena Capital9-443NR
Others receiving votes: Great Falls Russell 33, Great Falls 6.
Class A
RecordPtsPrv
1. Laurel (10)15-01001
2. Stevensville13-2962
3. Browning13-2774
4. Dillon10-3695
5. Butte Central10-5203
Others receiving votes: Columbia Falls 19, Glendive 13, Belgrade 6.
Class B
RecordPtsPrv
1. Bigfork (5)15-1931
2. Malta (3)16-1922
3. Florence (2)15-1856
4. Forsyth13-3674
5. Rocky Boy14-2605
6. Shepherd12-43910
7. Wolf Point11-5389
8. Missoula Loyola11-5343
9. Fairfield11-5218
10. Columbus11-57NR
(tie) Whitehall11-57NR
Others receiving votes: Choteau 5, Baker 1, Huntley Project 1.
Class C
RecordPtsPrv
1. Fairview (9)16-0901
2. Roy-Winifred16-0812
3. Drummond12-2665
4. Melstone15-1597
5. Centerville14-2473
6. Wibaux14-2394
7. Plenty Coups13-33110
8. Broadview-Lavina14-2238
9. Ennis13-3216
10. Belt13-39NR
Others receiving votes: Arlee 8, Twin Bridges 7, Dutton-Brady 5, Seeley-Swan 5, Culbertson 3, Victor 1.
GIRLS
Class AA
RecordPtsPrv
1. Missoula Sentinel (8)16-0981
2. Butte (2)12-2853
(tie) Helena Capital13-1852
4. Great Falls13-3675
5. Glacier11-341NR
Others receiving votes: Billings Senior 24.
Class A
RecordPtsPrv
1. Columbia Falls (5)13-3953
2. Hamilton (5)13-3921
3. Frenchtown11-4715
4. Butte Central11-4704
5. Hardin11-439NR
Others receiving votes: Billings Central 21, Miles City 6, Sidney 6.
Class B
RecordPtsPrv
1. Fairfield (10)16-01001
2. Townsend16-0902
3. Malta15-1783
4. Colstrip17-1704
5. Deer Lodge15-1615
6. Shepherd14-3436
7. Choteau11-4427
8. Forsyth14-3349
9. Baker11-51410
10. Florence11-5108
Others receiving votes: Rocky Boy 5, Eureka 2, Manhattan 1.
Class C
RecordPtsPrv
1. Belt (5)16-186T1
2. Winnett-Grass Range (4)16-085T1
3. Seeley-Swan16-1626
4. Harlowton-Ryegate14-254T3
5. Broadview-Lavina14-2427
6. Westby-Grenora13-236T3
7. Chester-Joplin-Inverness14-2325
8. St. Labre14-230T9
9. Roy-Winifred15-218T9
10. Shields Valley12-3178
Others receiving votes: Drummond 12, Hinsdale 8, Culbertson 6, Arlee 4, Chinook 3.