Prep basketball poll: Bigfork boys retain top spot
The Bigfork boys held on to their top spot in Class B in this week’s Associated Press prep basketball poll, garnering 6 of 13 first-place votes.
The Vikings, who had wins over Class A Whitefish and St. Ignatius this week, stayed at No. 1 despite a big week from defending champion Malta. The Mustangs beat then-No. 4 Rocky Boy, Harlem and Class A Havre, and moved up to No. 2 in this week’s polls, getting five first-place votes.
Florence, fell to No. 3, taking the final two first place votes, with Missoula Loyola and Forsyth rounding out the top five.
Glacier’s boys tumbled to the No. 2 spot in Class AA, thanks in part to their midweek loss to Helena Capital. The Bruins, who still come in unranked this week, have knocked off the last two No. 1 teams.
The Wolfpack was replaced by Great Falls C.M. Russell. Billings West and Skyview tied for the third place position as Hellgate held on to the fifth ranking.
Laurel is unanimous leader in Class A, with Columbia Falls receiving votes. Fairview is No. 1 in Class C.
The Columbia Falls girls were in a group of three teams that split first-place votes among the Class A girls, but still remained at No. 3. The Wildkats took five first-place votes, the same amount as No. 1 Hamilton and two more than new No. 2 Billings Central. Butte Central and Frenchtown rounded out the poll.
The Sentinel girls kept the top spot in AA as the Glacier girls were the only team receiving votes. Belt and Winnett-Grass Range are tied at the top of Class C and Fairfield is the unanimous No. 1 in Class B.
Montana Prep Poll
Boys Basketball
Class AA
Record Pts Prv
1. Great Falls Russell (11) 12-1 128 2
2. Glacier (2) 11-2 107 1
3. Billings West 9-2 94 4
(tie) Billings Skyview 10-1 94 3
5. Missoula Hellgate 11-2 56 5
Others receiving votes: Helena Capital 41.
Class A
Record Pts Prv
1. Laurel (13) 14-0 130 1
2. Stevensville 12-2 114 2
3. Butte Central 9-4 86 4
4. Browning 13-2 84 5
5. Dillon 9-2 75 3
Others receiving votes: Columbia Falls 18. Glendive 13.
Class B
Record Pts Prv
1. Bigfork (6) 11-3 120 1
2. Malta (5) 14-1 117 3
3. Florence (2) 12-1 112 2
4. Missoula Loyola 11-4 77 6
5. Forsyth 12-2 67 5
6. Rocky Boy 12-2 65 4
7. Fairfield 10-4 46 7
8. Wolf Point 10-5 37 9
9. Shepherd 11-4 19 NR
10. Huntley Project 9-5 12 NR
Others receiving votes: Three Forks 10. Baker 10. Choteau 6. Plentywood 5. Red Lodge 4. Jefferson (Boulder) 4. Columbus 2. Roundup 2.
Class C
Record Pts Prv
1. Fairview (10) 14-0 118 1
2. Roy-Winifred (2) 14-0 110 2
3. Centerville 13-1 94 5
4. Wibaux 13-1 72 6
5. Drummond 11-2 56 7
6. Ennis 12-2 50 3
7. Melstone 11-2 49 9
8. Broadview-Lavina 11-2 40 4
9. Arlee 11-3 37 8
10. Plenty Coups 11-2 10 NR
Others receiving votes: Highwood 6. Dutton-Brady 6. Nashua 4. Twin Bridges 2. Box Elder 2. Northern Cheyenne 1. Belt 1. Manhattan Christian 1. Superior 1.
Girls Basketball
Class AA
Record Pts Prv
1. Missoula Sentinel (12) 13-0 129 1
2. Helena Capital (1) 11-0 118 2
3. Butte 10-2 103 5
4. Billings Senior 10-3 68 4
5. Great Falls 10-3 63 3
Others receiving votes: Glacier 39.
Class A
Record Pts Prv
1. Hamilton (5) 12-2 117 1
2. Billings Central (3) 8-5 109 5
3. Columbia Falls (5) 10-4 99 3
4. Butte Central 8-5 92 2
5. Frenchtown 10-4 32 NR
Others receiving votes: Dillon 31. Hardin 18. Laurel 16. Havre 6.
Class B
Record Pts Prv
1. Fairfield (13) 14-0 130 1
2. Townsend 13-0 117 2
3. Malta 14-1 102 3
4. Colstrip 14-1 91 4
5. Deer Lodge 12-1 80 5
6. Shepherd 12-2 65 7
7. Choteau 8-4 47 8
8. Florence 9-4 34 9
9. Forsyth 11-3 23 6
10. Baker 8-4 17 10
Others receiving votes: Plentywood 4. Thompson Falls 2. Huntley Project 2. Jefferson (Boulder) 1.
Class C
Record Pts Prv
1. Belt (6) 13-1 111 1
(tie) Winnett-Grass Range (4) 14-0 111 2
3. Harlowton-Ryegate 12-1 90 3
(tie) Westby-Grenora (2) 13-1 90 4
5. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 13-1 64 5
6. Seeley-Swan 13-1 50 7
7. Broadview-Lavina 11-2 32 8
8. Shields Valley 11-2 29 T9
9. St. Labre 12-2 25 NR
(tie) Roy-Winifred 12-2 25 6
Others receiving votes: Drummond 15. Hinsdale 8. Culbertson 6. Arlee 3. Saco-Whitewater 1.