By Tiffany L. Rehbein
Senior Blue Ponies Tiffany Shrauger and Erin Patera have been invited to play in the 1999 Treasure State Classic basketball tournament.
The senior classic, open to all senior girls in the state, is divided according to districts and divisions. Four teams represent Classes AA, A, B, and C in Montana.
Coaches are selected by the Treasure State committee and they talk to teams in various regions of Montana. The coaches then pick the top players in each region.
Shrauger and Patera will play on the A-Central team, which also includes players from Dillon, Browning, Butte Central, and Anaconda.
At this time, Butte Central and Anaconda have not placed any seniors on the team, giving the A-Central only seven players.
In addition to Shrauger and Patera, Crystal Marshall, Shana Probst, Anna Alberi and Jennifer Kearns, all from Dillon, and Kristin Madman of Browning are on the team.
Cami Kennedy, a KG graduate, and head coach at Dillon, will coach the team.
In the first round, the A-Central will play C-East, which includes players from White Sulpher Springs, Drummond, Charlo, Shields Valley, Harrison, Lincoln and Victor.
The games, set up by Randy Morrison, principal at Castle Rock Elementary in Billings, were set up for two reasons.
"One is to have the girls come in and have good time and play with each other," Morrison said. "The other is that it's a great way to end their season, and, for some, their careers."
Some $100 scholarships are available on a must-need basis, and coaches from colleges attend and scout and possibly recruit.
"It's kind of an all-star team, a 'Who's Who' in Montana girls' basketball," Morrison said.
Game one for the A-Central will begin at 2:30 at Castle Rock Elementary in Billings.
