From the Yellowjackets to the Red Dog
THE 2004 STATE champion Libby Loggers, from left: Coach Wally Winslow, Vance Vincent, Mitch Mohr, Kyle Stantus, Blaine Baker, Aaron Sutton, Jake Swartzendruber, Brady Turk, Chris McElmurry, Dave Horelick, Ken Orr, George Mercer, Whitney Gautreaux. Up front is Jared Winslow and Phil England. (Sarah Barrick/Western News)
Libby’s 2003-04 boys basketball season was one for the ages. It began with an opening-weekend loss and ended with about the most epic championship game you could imagine: A 96-89 triple-overtime win over Belgrade, on the Panthers’ home floor.
This reporter saw the Loggers play their first game at the State A tournament, a hard-fought 60-48 win over the Sidney Eagles. When both the Eastern A teams lost that first day — Belgrade beat Glendive in yes, overtime — the Billings Gazette sent me over to Butte just in case Forsyth won the State B (the Dogies fell in the title game to Fairfield).
Those that didn’t stick around Belgrade missed a classic. Five seniors led the Loggers, including scoring machine Kyle Stantus. Junior Aaron Sutton ran the point. Libby went 23-2 and got its second state championship. The first came in1966, when a guy named Marc Racicot suited up in the blue and gold.
Support Local News
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
Daily Inter Lake - everything
Print delivery, e-edition and unlimited website access
- $26.24 per month
Daily Inter Lake - unlimited website access
- $9.95 per month