Notebook: AA schools up number of fans allowed
And then there were four.
The Montana High School Association announced last week that Class AA can expand the number of fans allowed into basketball games and wrestling duals from two per home participant to four.
The limit remains two per visiting participant except in cases of a crosstown battle: Then each team is allowed four fans per participant.
The rule went into effect Monday and will continue through the state basketball tournaments March 10-13.
The number of fans could be affected by a limit of 500 fans at the facility, per session -- or 25 percent capacity if that number is lower.
The State AA swim meet, set for March 5 at Great Falls High, still has a limit of two fans per participant.
Still big in hoops
They still excel in basketball in Bigfork, where the wrestling team has made waves while the hoopers keep on cruising.
After a 2-2 start the Bigfork boys have won seven straight, and take a 9-2 record into tonight’s game against Eureka. It’s a rare home game for the Vikings, who have played four straight on the road.
They go back on the road Saturday to face Thompson Falls – the team that handed them their only league loss, 81-75 on Jan. 12. They’re on the road again Tuesday to play Missoula Loyola Sacred Heart.
The Bigfork girls (8-4) had won six straight games before dropping a 56-51 decision to Class A Columbia Falls. The Wiidkats, 13-0, have had one game end closer: A 48-47 win over conference foe Whitefish.
Back on mat
After two weeks cooling their heels because of COVID concerns, the Glacier Wolfpack gets back on the mat for a pair of duals Friday, against Missoula Hellgate and Butte High.
Butte is 6-1 in duals and ranked fifth in the latest Class AA poll – there’s no poll this week, by the way, because of all the postponements last week – and has an unbeaten wrestler at 120 pounds in Kyler Raiha. Glacier has one of its own in state champion Teegan Vasquez.
It remains to be seen if Raiha, 5-0 and ranked fourth, goes at 120 Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Glacier coach Ross Dankers confirmed the top-ranked Vasquez (6-0) will go at that weight.
Flathead duals the same teams Friday, with Butte coming in at 4 p.m. and Hellgate at 7 p.m.
Earlier tip times
Today’s in-town girls’ basketball games have had their tip times moved up because of a lack of sub-varsity action.
Both Glacier’s game against Butte High and Flathead’s against Missoula Hellgate are at 6 p.m., instead of the usual 7:15 p.m.
On Saturday Hellgate’s boys are at Glacier and Butte’s boys are at Flathead. Those games tip off at 4 and 4:15 p.m.
NOTES: Dante Micheli poured in 35 points as Thompson Falls handed Class C Valley Christian its first defeat of the season 79-60 Tuesday. … Hays-Lodgepole’s Tyshawn Shambo scored 34 points in a 78-70 loss to Box Elder Tuesday. … Caden Handren’s 17 points held top-ranked Scobey beat No. 4 Froid-Lake 49-47 in OT. .. 6-foot-6.MSU commit Lindsey Hein broke her school scoring record with 41 points in Forsyth’s 71-25 rout of Lame Deer Saturday. …