BASKETBALL: Glacier's Hailee Bennett named all-state for third time
Hailee Bennett has been named a Class AA all-state selection for the third consecutive season, putting one final exclamation mark on the Glacier point guard’s record-setting career.
A four-year starter for the Wolfpack, Bennett is the program’s all-time leader in assists and — with more than 1,000 points in her career — Glacier’s second leading scorer in school history.
The daughter of longtime Glacier football coach and teacher Grady Bennett, Hailee signed before the start of her senior season to play basketball at Division II Seattle Pacific University next year.
Bennett is the only all-state selection from the two Kalispell schools, and one of six players from Glacier and Flathead, combined, to be honored as either all-state or all-conference.
Bennett averaged a career-best 15.3 points per game, third-best in the state, in leading the Wolfpack to a 12-9 record as a senior. The 5-foot-7 guard also ranked second in the state in assists with 83 (4.0 per game), shot 81.5 percent from the free-throw line and nabbed 50 steals.
In addition to her third straight all-state selection, Bennett landed on the all-conference first team for the third year in a row. She made four all-conference teams in her career, picking up an honorable mention as a freshman.
Glacier’s Taylor Salonen joined Bennett in earning all-conference commendation, landing on the second team. The senior averaged 6.4 points and 5.0 rebounds this year. Wolfpack junior forward Nikki Krueger (8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds per game) was named honorable mention all-.conference.
Flathead junior Tiana Johnson was the Bravettes’ lone honoree, making the Western AA all-conference second team for a second straight season. The 6-2 guard made more 3-pointers (44) than anyone in the state and averaged 14.3 points per game, fourth-most statewide. Johnson led Flathead in scoring 19 times in 21 games.
On the boys side, Flathead’s Matt Marshall and Glacier’s Noah Lindsay merited all-conference honorable mention.
Marshall, a senior, averaged 10.5 points per game in his final prep season. Lindsay, a junior, was the Wolfpack’s leading rebounder at 5.8 per game to a along with 7.7 points.
2015-16 Class AA Basketball Honors
GIRLS
All-State
Shannon Worster, Jr., Missoula Sentinel
Haylea Elkin, Sr., Billings West
Hailee Bennett, Sr., Glacier
Nora Klick, Sr., Great Falls
Tjaden Pallister, Sr., Helena Capital
Kola Bad Bear, Fr., Billings Senior
Kamden Hilborn, So., Helena
Hannah Collins, Jr., Great Falls
Kylie Frolich, So., Missoula Sentinel
Cody Rogers, Jr., Billings West
Anna Gragg, Sr., Missoula Big Sky
Caitlin Lonergan, Sr., Bozeman
Western AA All-Conference
First Team
Shannon Worster, Jr., Missoula Sentinel
Hailee Bennett, Sr., Glacier
Tjaden Pallister, Sr., Helena Capital
Kamden Hilborn, So., Helena
Kylie Frolich, So., Missoula Sentinel
Anna Gragg, Sr., Missoula Big Sky
Second Team
Tiana Johnson, Jr., Flathead
Darby Henthorn, Sr., Missoula Hellgate
Katie Stahl, Sr., Missoula Hellgate
McKenna Arledge, Sr., Missoula Big Sky
Jordyn Schweyen, So., Missoula Sentinel
Savanna Bignell, Sr., Helena Capital
Taylor Salonen, Sr., Glacier
Honorable Mention
Kendall Mooney, Sr., Missoula Big Sky
Mary Bryggman, Jr., Helena Capital
Taelyr Krantz, Jr., Helena
Shanna Floerchinger, Sr., Helena
Kylie McWilliams, Sr., Missoula Hellgate
Nikki Krueger, Jr., Glacier
BOYS
All-State
Connor Schenk, Sr., Missoula Hellgate
Brendan Howard, Jr., Great Falls
Ragen Shein, Sr., Helena
Braydon Deming, Jr., Billings West
Jake Tabish, Sr., Missoula Big Sky
Aaron Weidenaar, Sr., Bozeman
Taylor England, Jr., Helena
Bennett Hostetler, Sr., Bozeman
Daniel O’Malley, Sr., Helena Capital
RayQuan Evans, Jr., Billings Skyview
Western AA All-Conference
First Team
Connor Schenk, Sr., Missoula Hellgate
Ragen Shein, Sr., Helena
Jake Tabish, Sr., Missoula Big Sky
Taylor England, Jr., Helena
Daniel O’Malley, Sr., Helena Capital
Second Team
Derrius Collins, Jr., Missoula Hellgate
Alex Simmons, Jr., Missoula Big Sky
Connor Dowdy, Sr., Helena Capital
Mitch Roberts, Jr., Missoula Sentinel
Peter Vandam, Sr., Missoula Hellgate
Honorable Mention
Bradley Haller, Jr., Helena Capital
Matt Marshall, Sr., Flathead
A.J. Kanthack, Sr., Helena
Drew Sheridan, Sr., Missoula Big Sky
Noah Lindsay, Jr., Glacier
Nick Yovetich, Jr., Missoula Big Sky