There's a lot riding on crosstown

Final night’s final crosstown basketball game of the season means a lot to the players on the court.

Personal pride, bragging rights, a six-game series winning streak by the Glacier boys and an 12-game series streak by the Wolfpack girls are all on the line.

But there’s more.

Flathead’s boys are trying to reverse a 10-game skid. The Bravettes trying to end a 14-game losing streak.

The Glacier teams are still playing for seeding in next week’s state play-in games.

All of it has built an atmosphere that makes this contest one of the best all season.

“When you play crosstown there’s a little bit more emotion; it’s a little more intense,” Flathead boys coach Fred Febach said.

“Everything is amplified. The calls, the calls that are not called, the turnovers, the made shots, the runs, everything is magnified, but you have to be able to play with some emotional control and play through that, play with some poise, because ultimately down the stretch, that is what you’re going to have to have to win games.”

Flathead’s last win in the series in 2012 was proof of how unpredictable the series can be. Glacier, which had won by 24 at home in the final meeting of the regular season, was caught off guard in the state semifinals and lost not only another crosstown game but a chance at a state championship, ceding that opportunity to the Braves.

“They know it’s crosstown, anything can happen,” Glacier boys coach Mark Harkins said.

“Scores don’t matter, records don’t matter.

“It’s not a hard sell to convince these guys the importance of the game. We’re selling them on the fact that we need this game to have a chance to host a playoff game and to expect the best that Flathead’s going to give us.”

More than any other team on Friday night, the Glacier boys have everything on the line. While every other team knows where it will be playing next weekend, the Wolfpack boys are stuck in the middle of the conference pack in Western AA, and are currently tied with Missoula Big Sky for the chance to host the last home play-in game.

A win against Flathead would guarantee another home game for a team with seven seniors on the roster. A loss could mean a last-chance road game against one of two teams that have beaten the Wolfpack this season.

“Home court advantage in AA is huge,” Harkins said.

“Everybody plays better at home. It would be huge going into the playoffs for us to be able to host that game.

“These are things you talk to your seniors a lot about. It would be important for those guys to get one more at home. We have a great home crowd and our kids love to play in front of them. It would be great for them to play not just this Friday but next week.”

A win for Flathead wouldn’t change its destination next week, but it might change its disposition. And of everything on the line, confidence heading into the postseason can’t be overlooked.

This game will be important to all four teams on the floor as they tip off for the last time of the regular season. It’s just more special that the game means more than a win or loss.