Class C girls top the HIT in Havre

Over the last four years, the Class B girls squad dominated the Hi-Line Invitational Tournament, held annually at Montana State University-Northern. But this past weekend, the Class C girls were on a mission to change that.

And by the time the championship game rolled around Saturday at the Armory Gymnasium, that's exactly what they did, defeating Class B for the second time in two days, 99-81 to win the team championship. Kailee Oliverson of Twin Bridges, who was named MVP of the tournament, spearheaded Class C to the championship with 37 points in the title game. She also was the leading scorer in the tournament with 84 points for an average of 21 per game.

In the championship, Class B simply couldn't stop the University of Nevada commit from scoring inside and it helped Class C build a 29-13 advantage at the end of the first quarter. After 34 points in the second quarter, Class C led 63-40 and despite a valiant effort, the outcome was never really in doubt. Box Elder's Cecilia Vielle added 14 points, Lillian Gopher pitched in with 13 and Dani Urick of Belt had 12. Kyle Olson from Three Forks, who won the 3-point competition Friday night, scored 16 to lead Class B. Imani Bighorn of Poplar also finished with 14.

The win in the title game helped Class C finish off a perfect 4-0 weekend, which started Thursday against the girls from Class A. Alyssa Vandenburg of Arlee led the charge in the 73-64 win, while Oliverson had 16 and Gopher managed 12. Kyndall Keller of Havre scored 15 in the loss.

On Friday, the Class C team also knocked off Class B in pool play, 104-81. Oliverson scored 17 points in that outing; Vanderburg contributed with 16 and Gopher had 14. Vielle also reached double figures with 13. Olson scored 16 in a losing effort, and Bighorn scored 15.

The other win for the Class C girls team came over the Class AA team. In a more defensive battle, Class C rolled 89-61. Vandenburg continued her spectacular tournament, finishing with 24 points. Gopher, who scored in double figures in all four games, was next with 15, followed by Oliverson with 12 and Vielle with 11. Tylee Manuel and Clara Vandenbosh both scored 13 in defeat to lead the AA's.

In other games Friday, the Class A beat the AA girls 90-65 thanks to 18 points from Keller, as well as 15 from Leah Gannon, who played with the Class A team, despite being from Fort Benton. Vandenbosh led the AA squad with 15 in defeat. The other contest Friday featured Class A against Class B. The game would decide which team would play Class C for the title and ultimately, Class B came out on top, 89-81. Bighorn scored 18 to pace Class B, while Olson scored 15. Gannon added 11 for Class A. Keller finished with 10.

On Saturday, Class B closed out group play with a 92-85 win over Class AA. Manuel scored 21 points in a losing effort for Class AA, Kamden Hilborn also pitched in with 14. Bighorn was the high scorer for Class B, as the junior post player finished with 24.

In the consolation game, Class AA avoided going 0-for-4 in the tournament, by knocking off Class A 97-80. Manuel poured in 29 points. Teammate Shayla Montague also added 18 points, thanks to four 3-pointers. Marca Herron had 10 in the loss for Class A, Keller had nine.

Oliverson took home the MVP award and the scoring title, but she was joined in awards by Kamden Hilborn, who had the most assists, Gopher, who finished with the most steals and Bighorn, who grabbed the most rebounds. The Miss Hustle award went to Morgan Mason of Froid Medicine-Lake.

Hi-Line Invitational Tournament Girls

Thursday

Class C 73, Class A 64

Class C 21 19 16 17 – 73

Class A 19 11 20 14 – 64

Class C – Dani Urick 5, Morgan Mason 4, Mackenzie Dethman 8, Kailee Oliverson 16, Cecilia Vielle 5, Jessie Maruska 2, Alyssa Vandenburg 21, Lilly Gopher 12. Totals 29-76 13-19.

Class A – Marca Herron 4, Kyndall Keller 15, Ronnal Jordan 8, Brynley Fitzgerald 12, Shannon Reny 5, Kaylee Nystrom 4, Micalann McCrea 3, Olivia Hall 6, Sydnie Peterson 6, Ryley Kehr 1. Totals 22-77 14-23.

Friday

Class A 90, Class AA 65

Class AA 18 9 20 18 – 65

Class A 18 24 28 20 – 90

Class AA – Shayla Montague 8, Clara Vandenbosh 15, TyRaa Manuel 10, Kamden Hilborn 12, TyLee Manuel 7, Taylor Henley 7, Mary Heaton 6. Totals 26-80 6-12.

Class A – Micalann McCrea 4, Kyndall Keller 18, Ryley Kehr 14, Brynley Fitzgerald 4, Marca Herron 6, Leah Gannon 15, Olivia Hall 4, Sydnie Peterson 14, Ronnal Jordan 9, Shannon Reny 2. Totals 33-89 13-16.

Class C 104, Class B 81

Class B 26 17 22 16 – 81

Class C 28 20 32 24 – 104

Class B – Sen Henry 8, Danielle Zahn 9, Kyle Olson 16, L'Tia Lawrence 6, Imani Bighorn 15, Mariah Dietrich 2, Darcy Walker 4, Makenna Liles 6, Aubrey McMaster 5, Jaylynn Mitchell 10. Totals 30-79 13-23.

Class C – Soda Rice 10, Joelnell Momberg 10, Jessie Maruska 6, Lilly Gopher 14, Cecillia Vielle 13, Dani Urick 4, Morgan Mason 10, Alyssa Vandenburg 16, Mackenzie Dethman 4, Kailee Oliverson 17. Totals 33-71 38-33.

Class B 89, Class A 81

Class B 22 24 22 21 – 89

Class A 22 19 19 21 – 81

Class B – Sean Henry 8, Danielle Zahn 6, Kyle Olson 13, L'Tia Lawrence 7, Imani Bighorn 18, Mariah Dietrich 6, Darcy Walker 11, Makenna Liles 5, Aubrey McMaster 5, Jaylynn Mitchell 10. Totals 35-72 13-17.

Class A – Micalann McCrea 9, Kyndall Keller 10, Olivia Hall 2, Ronnal Jordan 7, Shannon Reny 6, Kaylee Nystrom 8, Marca Herron 9, Leah Gannon 11, Sydnie Peterson 4, Ryley Kehr 5, Brynley Fitzgerald 10. Totals 31-75 12-23.

Class C 89, Class AA 61

Class C 16 26 28 19 – 89

Class AA 9 14 23 15 – 61

Class C – Joelnell Momberg 3, Jessie Maruska 1, Lilly Gopher 15, Kailee Oliverson 12, Cecilia Vielle 11, Dani Urick 7, Soda Rice 3, Morgan Mason 3, Alyssa Vandenburg 24, Mackenzie Dethman 10. Totals 33-79 15-24.

Class AA – Taylor Henley 8, Clara Vandenbosh 13, Erin Watt 1, Mary Heaton 2, Kamden Hilborn 7, TyLee Manuel 13, Shayla Montague 10, TyRaa Manuel 5, McKayla Kloker 2. Totals 22-64 10-16.

Saturday

Class B 92. Class AA 85

Class AA 24 16 17 28 – 85

Class B 17 19 23 33 – 92

Class AA – TyLee Manuel 21, Taylor Henley 3, Mary Heaton 8, Kamden Hilborn 14, McKayla Kloker 9, Shayla Montague 14, Clara Vandenbosch 9, TyRaa Manuel 7.

Class B – Sean Henry 2, Danielle Zahn 21, Kyle Olson 20, Darcy Walker 2, Imani Bighorn 24, Mariah Dietrich 3, T'Tia Lawrence 8, Makenna Liles 1, Aubre\y McMaster 4, Jaylynn Mitchell 7

Class AA 97, Class A 80 (consolation)

Class AA 17 29 26 25 – 97

Class A 22 19 20 19 – 80

Class AA – TyLee Manuel 29, Shayla Montague 18, Erin Watt 3, Kamden Hilborn 12, McKayla Kloker 7, Taylor Henley 7, Clara Vandenbosh 8, Mary Heaton 4, TyRaa Manuel 15. Totals 40-86 16-23.

Class A – Micalann McCrea 11, Olivia Hall 4, Sydnie Peterson 7, Ronnal Jordan 5, Shannon Reny 9, Marca Herron 10, Leah Gannon 4, Kydnall Keller 9, Ryley Kehr 3, Brynley Fitzgerald 18. Totals 25-79 21-32.

Class C 99, Class B 81 (championship)

Class B 13 27 21 20 – 81

Class C 29 34 28 8 – 99

Class B – Sean Henry 5, Danielle Zahn 12, Kyle Olson 16, Darcy Walker 3, Imani Bighorn 14, L'Tia Lawrence 7, Makenna Liles 10, Aubrey McMaster 10, Jaylynn Mitchell 4. Totals 27-73 18-29.

Class C – Joelnell Momberg 2, Jessie Maruska 4, Lilly Gopher 13, Kailee Oliverson 37, Cecilia Vielle 14, Dani Urick 12, Soda Rice 5, Alyssa Vanderburg 12. Totals 39-75 12-21.

Girls All-Star Team

Danielle Zahn-Florence-Carlton

Dani Urick-Belt

Cecilla Veille-Box Elder

Kyle Olson-Three Forks

Lilly Gopher-Box Elder

Alyssa Vandenburg-Arlee

Tylee Manuel-Billings West

Imani Bighorn-Poplar

Kyndall Keller-Havre

Kaylie Oliverson-Twin Bridges

Girls Awards:

Most Valuable Player-Kaylie Oliverson-Twin Bridges

3-Point Champion-Kyle Olson-Three Forks

Assist Leader-Kamden Hilborn

Rebound Leader-Imani Bighorn-Poplar

Steals Leader-Lilly Gopher-Box Elder

Scoring Champion-Kaylie Oliverson-Twin Bridges

Miss Hustle-Morgan Mason-Froid-Medicine Lake