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Skylights, Lights picked as Frontier contenders

MSU-N women tabbed second, men fourth in the Frontier Preseason Coaches Polls

NAIA basketball is coming soon, and, we're less than two months away from the start of Frontier Conference play. Last Friday, the league announced its Preseason Coaches Polls and its Preseason All-Conference Teams.

And both the Montana State University-Northern men's and women's teams garnered plenty of respect.

The Skylights, who were runner-up in the Frontier last season, and have gone to four straight NAIA national tournaments, were picked tied for second in the Frontier Preseason Women's Coaches Poll. Northern and UM-Western both garnered 23 points in the poll, finishing behind defending Frontier champion Lewis-Clark State, which had 36 points, and six first-place votes.

Northern senior Jacy Thompson was named to the Frontier Women's Preseason All-Conference Team. Thompson is a three-time All-Conference selection and won the 2015-16 Defensive Player of the Year award. LCSC's Brittany Tackett was tabbed as the Preseason MVP, while UM-Western's Britt Cooper, Carroll College's Hannah Dean, Rocky Mountain College's Hailee Farvsteet, and Providence' Steph McDonagh rounded out the list.

The Lights, who finished fourth in the Frontier a year ago, were picked fourth in the Frontier Men's Preseason Coaches Poll. Northern tallied 21 votes in the poll, while UM-Western was picked to win the league title, over Carroll, which was second, and LC State, which was third.

Northern senior Ryan Reeves was named to the Frontier Preseason All-Conference Team. Reeves was the Frontier's Defensive Player of the Year last season and was an All-Conference selection. Western's Dom Robinson was named Preseason Player of the Year, while Carroll's Ryan Imhoff and Match Burnham, Western's Cooper Kidgell and Montana Tech's Chris O'Neil were also named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

The Lights and Skylights both open their seasons this Saturday inside the Armory Gymnasium. For much more on Northern hoops, see the Havre Daily News' sports section Wednesday-Friday.

Frontier Conference Women's

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Lewis-Clark State (6) 36

T2. UM-Western 23

T2. MSU-Northern 23

4. Carroll College 22

5. Rocky Mountain 21

6. Providence 12.5

7. Montana Tech 9.5

Frontier Conference Men's

Preseason Coaches Poll

1. UM-Western (4) 34

2. Carroll College (3) 33

3. Lewis-Clark State 26

4. MSU-Northern 21

5. Rocky Mountain 16

6. Providence 9

7. Montana Tech 8

 

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