The Break: Boys’ teams off to brisk beginning in tough leagues
Winter sports have the unique feature of having a break for the holidays, meaning there are two distinct chunks of Montana high school sports before and after Christmas and New Year's. While the bulk of league action remains, the handful of games already played has given us a chance to take stock of how high school boys’ basketball leagues are shaping up.
So far, Lake County teams have done plenty well for local fans to consider preparing their travel plans for the postseason.
In the Class A Northwest Conference for boys basketball, Whitefish and Browning are already off to good starts with identical 4-2 records. Whitefish finished fourth in the conference in 2022-23 and is just one win away from its total win total from last year.
Columbia Falls was the toast of the league last season with an 11-1 record. Meanwhile, Ronan and Libby were at the bottom with just two conference wins each.
The 2023-24 season is shaping up differently, as Columbia Falls has stumbled out of the gate with a 1-4 start. Browning was second last year, with a 10-2 conference mark, and looks powerful again this year.
Ronan has won three games, half their win total from last year. They toppled Mission by 41 points to begin the season, and after losses to Hamilton and Frenchtown, they evened their record with a 74-35 victory over Stevensville. They lost to Butte Central by 13 on Dec. 19 but finished their pre-holiday schedule with a thrilling 53-50 overtime win over Corvallis two days later.
The Chiefs have the second-highest-scoring offense in the conference, notching 340 points or 56 points per game. Ronan and Whitefish have nearly identical points scored and points given up. Browning is different in that it scores 70 points per game, but its defense gives up 65 points per game.
Ronan has demonstrated some balance, with five players reaching double-digit scoring totals in games this year.
Polson, it must be noted, is 1-5 on the season.
Class B
In Class B boys, Arlee is the lone undefeated team in Lake County. The Warriors are 5-0 and currently the toast of the Western 6B league, along with Missoula Loyola at 7-0. Arlee is averaging nearly 75 points per game, and Ben Harlow-Old Person is a big part of that, scoring 17.8 points per game.
Missoula Loyola also appears to be a big power, averaging 74 points per game.
With just three varsity returners from a squad that landed a bucket away from the state tournament last season, Mission remains winless at the break.
Class C
Charlo is off to a great start in Class C, posting a 4-1 record and sitting atop the Western 14C. Two Eagle has as many wins and sports a 4-3 record.
The Vikings started the season with three straight wins, defeating Salmon, Idaho, by six, Class B Deer Lodge by eight, and Superior by 37. They've shown that they can have two players score 20 points in one game, showcasing some serious firepower.
Charlo lost to Seeley Swan 50-47 on Dec. 21, but bounced back the next day with a win over Two Eagle River on Dec. 22, by a score of 72-61.
Two Eagle started the season 3-0, then went 1-1 against out-of-state foes in Billings. The Eagles then lost to Lincoln and Charlo. Right now, Two Eagle and Charlo look to be among the best squads in the Western 14C and will no doubt be players in the postseason when that rolls around.
Two Eagle's Talon Addison looks for an opening during a close game against local rival Charlo Dec. 22. The Vikings prevailed 72-61. (Christa Umphrey photo)