MHSA votes to move 2023 AA-B state track to Butte

The Montana High School Association Executive Board on Wednesday approved relocating the 2023 AA-B State Track and Field meet from Gallatin High School in Bozeman to Bulldog Memorial Stadium in Butte.

The move was made due to concerns from the Board and MHSA that Gallatin’s facility would be able to host a meet as large as the state track meet.

Dates for the meet remain unchanged: May 26-27, 2023.

Also reviewed was the status of shot clock installation in gyms for the 2022-23 season after a recent survey was sent to schools.

All schools will use a shot clock for games (this includes varsity and sub-varsity contests). If a school does not have a shot clock installed, the games can be played without one but the school must notify the MHSA and its opponent of the situation.

Further, it is required that all postseason games in ’22-23 be played in gyms with shot clocks.

In ’23-24, shot clocks will become mandatory for all schools. Schools cannot host games if there is not a shot clock installed.

Also in ’23-24, the Master Basketball Scheduling Committee will schedule a maximum of 14 games for each school unless additional conference games can be scheduled. Each school must schedule the remaining four games.

A few adjustments were made regarding the ’22-23 softball season, including allowing Class AA schools to schedule JV and varsity games at the same time four times during the season. There will also be a 9-inning limit for AA players when JV and varsity games are played at different times during a one-game series.

Junior varsity contests will be limited to 1 hour, 45 minutes when played at a different time than varsity. Ties will be broken by putting a runner on second base with two outs at the start of a new inning, giving both teams an opportunity to score.