Hi-Line will be a hoops hotbed this weekend

Hi-Line basketball fans will not have to wait long to see one of the most anticipated boys basketball games of the season. In fact, they won't have to wait any longer than tonight, when the Box Elder Bears and Rocky Boy Stars square off in a high-profile matchup to kick start the 2014 Native American Classic.

The NAC, which is held in Havre on the campus of Montana State University-Northern, is one of the most exciting preseason tournaments in the state. And with five boys and girls teams set to be in attendance, it should live up to that billing again this season. The NAC is played at the same time as this weekend's C/J-I Tipoff Tournament in Chester, making the Hi-Line a hoops hotbed.

The showdown between the Bears and Stars is set for 5:15 inside the Armory Gymnasium tonight and will be the first of many intriguing games to be played during the three-day tournament.

Yet, the opening game of the tournament happens to be the one with the most hype surrounding it, which is not a surprise considering both the Bears and Stars are viewed as state title contenders in Classes C and B respectively.

The two teams meet just once a year in the NAC and this year, the Stars are the team out for revenge after suffering a narrow 67-63 defeat at the hands of Box Elder last season. The Bears on the other hand, will be protecting their streak of 28 straight victories and opening their defense of the Class C state championship.

While the Bears are the team to beat in Class C, the Stars advanced as far as the Northern B Divisional tournament a season ago but failed to reach state. However, with a number of key players returning that is something they are hoping to change this season. But the first thing on their mind is knocking off Box Elder.

"It's a really big rivalry game," Rocky Boy head coach Adam Demontiney said. "Our kids are really excited to get a chance to play them again and try to get them back for beating us last season."

Even though Box Elder versus Rocky Boy is the marquee game of the weekend, there will be a number of other boys and girls games to look forward to. For starters, the second game tonight will feature the Box Elder girls team going up against Class B rival Harlem at 6:45. Then, to close out the night, the Harlem boys team will square off against Kainai high school from Alberta, Canada, at 8:15.

Friday morning will consist mostly of junior-varsity action but the night session will showcase three compelling varsity games starting with Two Eagle River and Kainai in boys action at 5:30 p.m. That game will be followed by Poplar against Two Eagle River in girls action at 7 p.m. And the night cap will pit the Poplar boys team against Rocky Boy at 8:30.

Saturday, there will once again be JV games in the morning session before Two Eagle River and Poplar go head-to-head in boys action to start the evening session at 4 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., the Harlem girls will face Poplar, which will be followed by Box Elder against the Harlem boys at 7 p.m. Then the Box Elder girls and Rocky Boy will close out the tournament at 8:30 p.m.

Things will be equally exciting in Chester. The C/J-I tourney kicks off this afternoon with boys and girls games between Chinook and Simms and games between North Star and Helena Christian. Friday, Valier battles North Star in a doubleheader, while Big Sandy opens its season against Roy-Winifred. The night session will feature Chester/J-I's opening game against Helena Christian.

The C/J-I tourney wraps up with six more games Saturday. Chinook returns to face Roy-Winifred, while Big Sandy battles Simms and C/J-I takes on Valier.