Local teams doing area proud

It’s March Madness on the high school basketball courts — and our local teams are acquitting themselves quite well.

At three different venues on the other side of Montana, four Flathead County teams opened state tournament play Thursday — and all four emerged victorious.

Glacier Wolfpack boys and girls teams in Class AA, Columbia Falls girls in Class A and Bigfork boys in Class B roared into the semifinals of their respective tournaments.

Each team now is only two wins away from hoisting state championship trophies, so here’s hoping for continued success for the Vikings, Wildkats and Wolfpack.

Bigfork’s basketball juggernaut is aiming to complete an undefeated season — the Vikings have notched 24 wins with no defeats.

Columbia Falls’ quest for state is noteworthy, too, since it represents a chance to make unique history for the Wildkats and coach Cary Finberg.

Finberg and the Wildcat boys last week won the Class A state crown — the fifth Montana title in 11 years under Finberg’s leadership. He is the winningest boys coach at Columbia Falls ever.

Now Finberg — head coach of both boys and girls programs at Columbia Falls — has the chance for a rare accomplishment if his Wildkats can give Columbia Falls a sweep of both state tournaments.

We’re rooting for Cary and his girls — and also for the Wolfpack and Vikings.

Get in the ‘swing’ of things

“We can swing it!”

That’s the upbeat message of the Salvation Army and its charitable supporters this month. The venerable institution is holding its first local fund-raiser gala dinner event next Saturday, March 22.

Buying a ticket is a great way to support an organization which is a vital component of the safety net in the Flathead Valley for those who are down on their luck.

The charitable event has a 1940s and ’50s theme and will feature swing music from that era, along with auctions, a vintage car show and a dance competition.

Tickets are available at the Salvation Army Community Center (110 Bountiful Drive), the Salvation Army thrift store, The Bookshelf and Kalispell Toyota in Kalispell; Third Street Market and Trails West Real Estate in Whitefish; Cimarron Cafe in Columbia Falls; Trails West Real Estate in Bigfork; and the Salvation Army thrift store in Polson.

Editorials represent the majority opinion of the Daily Inter Lake’s editorial board.