Glacier, Flathead girls host Western AA basketball play-in games
The Glacier and Flathead girls are home for Western AA basketball state tournament play-in games this week while the Flathead boys hit the road for their contest.
All play-in winners advance to the Class AA state boys and girls tournament March 7-9 in Great Falls.
The Glacier girls host Helena High on Thursday at 6 p.m. Glacier finished third in league play with a 9-3 mark (16-4 overall) while Helena High was sixth at 3-9 (5-14).
The Flathead girls will entertain Missoula Big Sky on Friday at 6 p.m. Flathead was fourth in league action with a 5-7 mark (10-9). Big Sky was fifth with a 4-8 record (8-12).
The Flathead boys wound up as the sixth seed with a 4-8 mark (10-10) and will play at third-seed Missoula Hellgate on Thursday at 7 p.m. Hellgate posted a 9-3 record in the league (16-4 overall).
Western AA regular season boys champion Glacier has an automatic bye to state. The Wolfpack posted a 10-2 record in league play (16-3).
The Glacier and Helena High girls have already met twice this season with the Wolfpack winning both outings — 46-39 in Helena on Jan. 25 and 50-45 in overtime at home Feb. 16.
Cassi Hashley scored 20 points in the first contest for Glacier and 19 in the second, which included two free throws to force OT.
The Flathead and Missoula Big Sky girls split their regular-season meetings.
Flathead won the Jan. 5 matchup at Big Sky 58-44 as Emily Russell was one of four Bravettes in double-figure scoring. She led with 14.
Big Sky won at Flathead 46-41 on Feb. 7 thanks to 9 of 12 free throw shooting in the final minute. Russell and Emma Andrews both had 15 points in that contest for the Bravettes.
The Hellgate boys won both meetings with Flathead — 61-56 on Feb. 3 in Kalispell and 68-44 on Feb. 19 in Missoula.
Garth West and Blaine Newman led the Braves in scoring in the first matchup with 13 points each. Shea Schroder had nine points for FHS in the second game.
Western AA
Play-In Games
Boys
No. 1 seed Glacier receives bye to state
Tuesday
Seeds in parenthesis
4:15 p.m. — (7) Missoula Sentinel at (2) Helena Capital
Thursday
7 p.m. — (6) Flathead at (3) Missoula Hellgate
7 p.m. — (5) Helena High at (4) Missoula Big Sky
Girls
No. 1 seed Missoula Sentinel receives bye to state
Tuesday
5:45 p.m. — (7) Missoula Hellgate at (2) Helena Capital
Thursday
6 p.m. — (6) Helena High at (3) Glacier
Friday
6 p.m. — (5) Missoula Big Sky at (4) Flathead
Final Standings
Boys
League Overall
W L W L
Glacier 10 2 16 3
Helena Capital 9 3 13 6
Missoula Hellgate 9 3 16 4
Missoula Big Sky 5 7 10 10
Helena High 4 8 10 10
Flathead 4 8 10 10
Missoula Sentinel 1 11 3 17
Girls
Missoula Sentinel 11 1 18 1
Helena Capital 10 2 17 2
Glacier 9 3 16 4
Flathead 5 7 10 9
Missoula Big Sky 4 8 8 12
Helena High 3 9 5 14
Missoula Hellgate 0 12 1 19
Eastern AA
Play-In Games
Boys
No. 1 seed Billings Skyview receives bye to state
Wednesday
Seeds in parenthesis
7:15 p.m. — (6) Butte at (3) Bozeman
Thursday
5 p.m. — (5) Great Falls at (4) C.M. Russell
7:30 p.m. — (7) Billings Senior at (2) Billings West
Girls
No. 1 seed Great Falls High receives bye to state
Wednesday
5:30 p.m. — (5) Billings West at (4) Bozeman
Thursday
6 p.m. — (7) Billings Skyview at (2) Butte
Friday
6 p.m. — (6) C.M. Russell at (3) Billings Senior
Final Standings
Boys
League Overall
W L W L
Billings Skyview 10 2 17 3
Billings West 10 2 17 3
Bozeman 8 4 12 8
C.M. Russell 7 5 14 6
Great Falls High 4 8 9 11
Butte 2 10 4 16
Billings Senior 1 11 6 14
Girls
Great Falls High 11 1 17 3
Butte 10 2 17 3
Billings Senior 6 6 12 8
Bozeman 6 6 12 8
Billings West 6 6 10 10
C.M. Russell 2 10 7 13
Billings Skyview 1 11 4 16