9C 2019: Bears, Horns favored in loaded 9C girls field

istrict basketball tournaments. But, inside the Class C ranks, there's really nothing like the District 9C girls tournament - not recently anyway.

For several years now, the 9C has been regarded as the toughest tournament in Class C girls hoops, and, with two of the state's very best teams in the 9C, this week's tourney will be no different.

The 2019 9C girls tournament will begin Wednesday afternoon, and run through Friday night, with three spots in next week's Northern C Divisional on the line. And while eight teams are in the Havre High gymnasium this week to compete for those three spots, getting two of them will be anything but easy.

That's because top-ranked, and defending state champion Box Elder (18-0) and, third-ranked and defending 9C champ Fort Benton (16-2) are in the field this week, and appear headed on a collision course for each other.

Of course, everybody remembers the epic 2018 9C championship game, where the Longhorns upset undefeated Box Elder on an overtime buzzer beater. Fast forward to this season, and Fort Benton comes back to Havre with once again, only two regular season losses - both to the Bears.

And that makes it highly likely Box Elder and Fort Benton will meet for a third time, in Friday night's championship game.

However, Box Elder head coach Joel Rosette, whose unbeaten team is led by stars Lilly Gopher and Joelnell Momberg, as well as a cast of 12 all of whom can lead the Bears on a given night, isn't looking ahead to Friday night. Instead, he's focused on his Bears playing their best basketball of the season, game-by-game.

"Staying focused on our goals for each game and executing offensively and defensively," Rosette said. "We want to be playing our best basketball this week."

The Bears start that task Wednesday at 1 p.m. when they take on Big Sandy (2-16) in the opening round. The Pioneers didn't win a game in conference play this season, and they are a young squad, but do have the likes of Jaylyn Cline, who has been one of the 9C's top scorers this season.

The winner of that game will then play either fourth-seeded North Star (11-7) or fifth-seeded Hays-Lodge Pole (5-13) in the semifinals. Those two squads meet Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., and the Knights could be one of the real dark horses in Havre this week. Led by star senior Paij Peterson, as well as Shayla Borlaug and top freshman Jade Wendland, the Knights have really come on strong in the second half of the season, and are a real threat to get to Great Falls. But, HLP won't be a first-round pushover. The T-Birds won five games in 9C play this season, and are arguably the most improved team in the conference. They also have size and depth, and a prolific scorer in Mulleah Stiffarm.

The other side of the bracket may be a little tougher, with the Longhorns taking on seventh-seeded Chester-Joplin-Inverness Wednesday night. Like Box Elder, Fort Benton has been too strong for everyone else in the 9C this season, and star guards Aspen Giese and Leah Gannon only scratch the surface of how deep and talented Fort Benton is.

But, veteran Fort Benton head coach Cassie Pimperton isn't overlooking anybody this week, including the Hawks (4-14), who are short on numbers, and, led by Peyton Hawks, will be big underdogs this week.

"The 9C tourney should play out to be entertaining. The teams playing the best basketball this week will advance to the next week," Pimperton said. "For us to have success in the tournament, we need to be in shape and play good defense. We need to be resilient and play through adversities."

Fort Benton has had a lot of success in the 9C, advancing to the title game, and winning twice in three of the last four years. But, the Longhorn's half of the draw also includes Turner, last year's 9C Cinderella story.

The Tornadoes (13-5) come to Havre no longer an underdog, especially considering they return their entire team that reached the Northern C a year ago, including leading scorers Shyan Krass and Sarah Billmayer. The Tornadoes also didn't lose a 9C game outside of Box Elder and Fort Benton this season, and they will be battle-tested this week.

Turner will face rival Chinook (7-11) in the first round Wednesday night. The Sugarbeeters, of head coach Lesa MacLeod, have had an up-and-down season, but, they boast star athletes like seniors Kourtney Hanson and Megan Molyneaux, so, they certainly won't be overlooked in a tournament that they once seemed to dominate year-in-and-year out.

Of course, right now, it's Box Elder and Fort Benton who are dominating the 9C, and they'll be the focal points this week. But, as already noted, the 9C tourney is beyond difficult, and, anything can, and usually does happen in Havre.

"Box Elder is obviously the team to beat but Turner is no sleeper," Pimperton said. They will be a team that proves tough to beat as well. and North Star and Hays have both improved over the season.

"9C basketball is one of the toughest conferences in the state of Montana," Rosette added. "And to be able to leave Havre with the first-place trophy will be difficult with having four to six teams that can win a game on any given night."

The 2019 District 9C girls tournament begins at 1 p.m. Wednesday, with four first-round games on tap. The semifinals will be played 7 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Championship night starts with the consolation game Friday at 7 p.m. followed by the title game at 8:30. The top three teams from the 9C will advance to next week's Northern C in Great Falls.