Class AA basketball playoffs start Tuesday
Flathead and Glacier, which wrapped up Western AA regular-season play just a couple of days ago at Glacier High School, will square off again as postseason boys basketball action gets underway.
Seventh-seed Glacier (6-14 overall, 3-9 league) will play at sixth-seed Flathead (7-13, 4-8) Tuesday night for a play-in game. That contest will tip at 6 p.m.
The Glacier/Flathead winner then moves on to face third-seed Helena Capital (11-9, 6-6) on Friday at 6 p.m. in Helena. That victor qualifies for the Class AA state tournament, March 10-11 in Bozeman.
Fifth-seed Missoula Sentinel (9-11, 5-7) plays at fourth-seed Missoula Big Sky (11-9, 6-6) on Friday at 7 p.m. That winner also moves on to state.
Missoula Hellgate (17-3, 10-2) and Helena High (12-9, 9-3) qualifed for state by finishing first and second, respectively, in the final regular-season standings.
The Flathead girls (4-16, 0-12), seeded seventh, travel to sixth-seed Helena Capital (11-9, 5-7) for a play-in game on Tuesday at 6 p.m. That winner moves on to play third-seed Missoula Hellgate (12-8, 7-5) on Friday at 7 p.m for a trip to the Class AA state tournament, also March 10-11 in Bozeman.
Fourth-seed Glacier (12-8, 6-6) hosts fifth-seed Missoula Big Sky (11-8, 6-6) on Thursday at 7 p.m. with a state tournament berth on the line.
Missoula Sentinel (19-1, 11-1) and Helena High (13-7, 7-5) are the automatic qualifers for Western AA girls for finishing first and second, respectively.
Class AA Postseason Schedule
Boys
Western AA
Missoula Hellgate, Helena High automatic byes to state
Tuesday
6 p.m. — No. 7 Glacier at No. 6 Flathead
Friday
6 p.m. — Glacier/Flathead winner at No. 3 Helena Capital
7 p.m. — No. 5 Missoula Sentinel at No. 4 Missoula Big Sky
Eastern AA
Bozeman, Billings Skyview automatic byes to state
Tuesday
6:30 p.m.— No. 7 C.M. Russell at No. 6 Butte
Thursday
6 p.m. — No. 5 Billing Senior at No. 4 Great Falls
Friday
6 p.m. — CMR/Butte winner at No. 3 Billings West
Girls
Western AA
Missoula Sentinel, Helena High automatic byes to state
Tuesday
6 p.m.— No. 7 Flathead at No. 6 Helena Capital
Thursday
7 p.m. — No. 5 Missoula Big Sky at No. 4 Glacier
Friday
7 p.m. — Flathead/Capital winner at No. 3 Missoula Hellgate
Eastern AA
Billings West, Great Falls automatic byes to state
Tuesday
5 p.m. — No. 7 Billings Skyview at No. 6 Butte
Thursday
6 p.m. — No. 5 C.M. Russell at No. 4 Billings Senior
Friday
6 p.m. — Skyview/Butte winner at No. 3 Bozeman
Final Regular Season Standings
Boys
Western AA
Conference All Games
W L W L
Missoula Hellgate 10 2 17 3
Helena High 9 3 12 8
Helena Capital 6 6 11 9
Missoula Big Sky 6 6 11 8
Missoula Sentinel 5 7 9 11
Flathead 4 8 7 13
Glacier 3 9 6 14
Eastern AA
Bozeman 10 2 18 2
Billings Skyview 9 3 17 3
Billings West 8 4 15 5
Great Falls 7 5 12 8
Billings Senior 5 7 10 10
Butte 2 10 4 16
C.M. Russell 1 11 4 16
Girls
Western AA
Conference All Games
W L W L
Missoula Sentinel 11 1 19 1
Helena High 7 5 13 7
Missoula Hellgate 7 5 12 8
Glacier 6 6 12 8
Missoula Big Sky 6 6 11 8
Helena Capital 5 7 11 9
Flathead 0 12 4 16
Eastern AA
Billings West 9 3 16 4
Great Falls 9 3 16 4
Bozeman 9 3 12 8
Billings Senior 8 4 11 9
C.M. Russell 4 8 8 12
Butte 2 10 2 18
Billings Skyview 0 12 3 17