George Ferguson Havre Daily News sports editor gferguson@havredailynews.com
Boy’s basketball players from across the Hi-Line were on display this weekend at state tournament’s around the state. And local prep talent didn’t disappoint. In Great Falls, at the Class C state tourney, a combined six players from Class C state champion Hays-Lodge Pole and runner-up Big Sandy were named to the all-tournament team, including HLP sophomore A.J. Long Soldier, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Long Soldier averaged 21 points, nine rebounds and six assists in three games at the state tournament, as the Thunderbirds captured their second state championship of the decade. Long Soldier also earned the Northern C MVP for the second year in a row, and this is his second straight Class C all-tournament team as well. Joining Long Soldier on the all-tourney team were teammates Lance Brockie and Lenny Gray. Brockie poured in 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds per game this weekend, and Gray averaged 16 points per game. Gray also scored a game-high 27 points in the state title game Saturday night. Big Sandy, which finished second for the second time this decade, had freshmen Blake Brumwell and Corbin Pearson earn all-tournament honors. Brumwell averaged a double-double in four games, scoring 25 points and grabbing 10 rebounds per game. Brumwell scored 35 points in the semifinals. Pearson was equally sensational, averaging 22 points per game for the Pioneers. The tournament’s leading scorer was Froid-Medicine Lake senior Dane Hancock, who averaged 28 points per game for the fourth-place Redhawks. At the Class B state tournament in Butte, Harlem’s Rick Haluszka earned first-team honors. Haluszka averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds per game in helping guide the Wildcats to a fourth-place finish. Teammate Neeko Bigby earned honorable-mention honors as well. Plentywood’s Andrew Rickett was named the MVP despite the fact that his Wildcats lost to Huntley-Project in the Class B state title game.
