C-Falls, Bigfork still atop state
The top-ranked teams from Columbia Falls and Bigfork held on to their lofty rankings in the newest Associated Press Montana prep basketball polls released on Wednesday.
The Columbia Falls boys maintained their narrow lead in the polls for the top spot in Class A, leading Dillon by a single point, garnering four of the seven first-place votes.
Bigfork, which regained the top spot in Class B last week, is tied for No. 1 with undefeated Choteau. The Vikings did earn six of the seven first-place votes.
Glacier, which lost handily to No. 1 Hellgate on Tuesday, is ranked fifth after winning its previous three games.
Belt remains the top-ranked team in Class C.
The Columbia Falls girls are again the unanimous top choice in Class A, after handily beating Class AA Flathead and Northwestern A rivals Frenchtown last week.
Glacier held on to its second-ranked spot in Class AA while Bigfork fell out of the Class B poll after a narrow loss to Plains. The Vals are now the top team receiving votes.
Fairfield is still the unanimous No. 1 in Class B, Helena Capital the unanimous No. 1 in Class AA and Roy-Winifred the overwhelming choice for the top ranking in Class C.
Montana Boys Basketball Prep Poll
BOYS
Class AA
Record Pts Prv
1. Missoula Hellgate (6) 10-1 68 1
2. Billings Skyview (1) 9-2 64 2
3. Billings West 9-1 57 3
4. Bozeman 8-3 49 5
5. Glacier 7-3 18 NR
Others receiving votes: Helena Capital 12, Missoula Big Sky 6, Great Falls 6.
Class A
Record Pts Prv
1. Columbia Falls (4) 11-2 67 1
2. Dillon (3) 11-1 66 2
3. Butte Central 8-4 55 3
4. Havre 8-4 27 4
5. Billings Central 7-4 25 5
Others receiving votes: Hardin 21, Belgrade 12, Laurel 7.
Class B
Record Pts Prv
1. Bigfork (6) 11-1 60 1
(tie)Choteau (1) 12-0 60 3
3. Glasgow 11-1 59 2
4. Big Timber 10-1 50 4
5. St. Labre 9-2 39 8
6. Missoula Loyola 11-2 34 5(tie)
7. Columbus 7-3 20 5(tie)
8. Florence 7-4 19 10
9. Jefferson (Boulder) 9-3 13 NR
10. Shepherd 9-3 10 NR
Others receiving votes: Lodge Grass 8, Huntley Project 4, Rocky Boy 4, Thompson Falls 3, Townsend 1. Lame Deer 1.
Class C
Record Pts Prv
1. Belt (3) 12-0 57 2
2. Manhattan Christian (1) 12-0 50 3
3. Box Elder (2) 11-1 45 1
4. Fairview 9-1 40 5
5. Arlee 12-0 36 4
6. Westby-Grenora 11-1 29 8
7. Hinsdale 11-1 28 7
8. Broadview-Lavina 11-1 15 10
9. Great Falls Central 11-1 11 NR
10. Plenty Coups 9-2 6 NR
Others receiving votes: Highwood 5, Sunburst 4, Wibaux 3, Hays-Lodgepole 1.
GIRLS
Class AA
Record Pts Prv
1. Helena Capital (7) 9-1 70 1
2. Glacier 10-1 63 2
3. Missoula Sentinel 10-1 56 3
4. Bozeman 8-2 48 4
5. Missoula Big Sky 9-3 31 5
Others receiving votes: Billings Senior 6, Billings Skyview 6.
Class A
Record Pts Prv
1. Columbia Falls (7) 12-1 70 1
2. Laurel 9-2 59 2
3. Dillon 8-3 53 3
(tie)Havre 9-2 53 4
5. Miles City 9-2 33 NR
Others receiving votes: Hamilton 12.
Class B
Record Pts Prv
1. Fairfield (7) 12-0 70 1
2. Malta 13-0 63 2
3. Forsyth 12-0 55 3
4. Manhattan 12-0 50 4
5. Choteau 10-2 30 8
6. Colstrip 9-3 24 5
7. Red Lodge 9-3 22 7
(tie)Rocky Boy 9-3 22 9
9. Wolf Point 10-2 15 NR
10. Shepherd 8-4 11 10
(tie)Plains 10-2 11 NR
Others receiving votes: Bigfork 10, Ronan 2.
Class C
Record Pts Prv
1. Roy-Winifred (5) 11-0 59 1
2. Belt (1) 10-2 47 2
3. Seeley-Swan 12-0 40 3
4. Saco-Whitewater 12-1 39 4
5. Harrison-Willow Creek 12-0 34 5
6. Park City 11-1 28 7
7. Fairview 10-1 25 9
8. Cascade 10-1 13 8
9. Circle 9-2 11 NR
10. Gardiner 9-2 10 NR
Others receiving votes: Harlowton-Ryegate 7, Twin Bridges 5, Geraldine/Ft. Benton 4, Chinook 4, Jordan 2, Arlee 1, Scobey-Opheim 1.