2021 Havre Daily All Hi-Line Boys Team

The season was shorter. There was a global pandemic going on. We saw masks on benches, on coaches and on referees, and we saw gyms with less fans, sometimes no fans and even more strange things this past boys basketball season. In other words, high school hoops was anything but normal.

On the other hand, though, high school hoops in our coverage area was indeed normal at the same time. That's because there were so many exciting moments, and great teams filled with great players. That is never different on the Hi-Line and 2021 was no exception.

The breakdown of this year's All Hi-Line Team includes six repeat performers, as well as a whopping 10 seniors. As always, all three classifications, A, B and C are represented on the squad as well.

Hayden Diekhans, Fort Benton

Diekhans makes his third straight All Hi-Line Team after averaging more than 20 points and six rebounds per night for the Longhorns, who repeated as 9C and Northern C champs before winding up in the Class C state consolation game. Diekhans, who is headed to Montana Tech to play hoops this fall, was also a three-time Class C All-State selection.

Kellen Detrick, Havre

Detrick will continue his athletic career on the football field as he heads off to the University of Montana. But he ended his high school hoops career with a bang. He earned his third straight All Hi-Line Team selection by putting up 17 points and eight rebounds a game for the Ponies, on his way to Class A All-State honors for the third time, as well. Detrick, a two-way standout in football for the Ponies, also helped HHS to the Northeast A regular season title this winter.

Ethan Bell, Chinook

Bell had a monster senior year for the Sugarbeeters. He led the 9C in scoring at nearly 24 points per game, while also dishing out more than five assists per night, as he makes his second trip to the All Hi-Line Team. Bell is also a three-time All-State selection for the Beeters, who earned yet another trip to the Northern C this winter.

Josh Warp, Havre

Warp makes his second straight All Hi-Line Team, and the senior completes a journey that has seen he and his brothers Dane and Isaac combine for eight All Hi-Line Team appearances. In his final season of Blue Pony basketball, Warp averaged more than 10 points per game, while leading the Ponies in assists, 3-pointers and free-throw shooting as he earned First-Team All-Conference honors. Warp also finished fifth in Class A golf this past fall and is an All-Conference tennis player at HHS. Warp is headed to Providence for both golf and hoops.

R.J. Ramone, Harlem

Ramone is making his second straight All Hi-Line Team. The Harlem junior has been a scoring machine the last three years for the Wildcats, and on his way to Class B All-State honors, he averaged 21 points per night. He also helped Harlem to a third-place finish at the Northern B last month.

Reese Elliot, Chinook

The biggest big man on the Hi-Line, Elliot makes his second All Hi-Line Team in a row. A three-year starter for the Beeters, he averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks a game this past season, on his way to Class C All-State accolades. Elliot is also a star tight end in football, and that's where he'll play starting next fall for the MSU-Northern Lights.

Tyrus LaMere, Box Elder

Part of an exciting young nucleus of talent at Box Elder, LaMere is on the all Hi-Line Team for the first time. He made Class C All-State honors this season, while averaging 17 points per night for the steadily improving Bears.

Ben Crebs, Rocky Boy

Crebs has been a four-year starter for the Stars and helped them, once again, reach the Northern B Divisional. The senior guard/forward averaged 15 points and seven rebounds for the Stars on his way to 1B and Class B honors this season.

Jace Thompson, Fort Benton

It's been quite the run this year for Thompson, who helped the Longhorns to another great football season. Then, in basketball Thompson averaged 11 points per night as the senior leader in helping Fort Benton repeat as 9C and Northern C champions. Thompson was named Class C All-State in basketball, just as he was in football, and next fall, he'll head to Montana Tech.

Clint Owens, Havre

A senior for the Blue Ponies, Owens makes his first All Hi-Line Team. He was also an All-Conference performer for head coach Walynn Burgess, as he averaged six points and eight rebounds for the Northeast A champion Ponies. Owens also competed in golf at HHS.

Joe Demontiney, Rocky Boy

Demontiney is one of two Stars to make their first appearance on the All Hi-Line Team. He led Rocky Boy in scoring at 18 points per night and was also a top three-point shooter on his way to Class B All-State honors, as well as District 1B honors for the second year in a row.

Gabe Saddler, Box Elder

The second Box Elder Bear to make the list, Saddler also averaged in double figures this season for head coach Jeremy MacDonald, as he, too, earned Class C honors. Saddler also earned 9C honors for the second year in a row, as he helpd the Bears finish fourth in the 9C tourney back in February.

Devin Bird, Fort Benton

The third Fort Benton standout to make the All Hi-Line Team, Bird had a breakout season for the Longhorns, in which he averaged double figures and led the team in assists. Bird also is following in the footsteps of his older brother, who was also an All Hi-Line standout for the Longhorns.

Shane Kimmel, Turner

While the Tornadoes had another tough season, Kimmel was a very bright spot. Averaging 20 points a game for the third straight season, Kimmel makes his first trip to the All Hi-Line Team and is the first Tornado to get there since 2018. Kimmel also earned 9C All-Conference honors for the third year in a row.

Editor's Note: The All Hi-Line Team is selected from votes by available area coaches, as well as the Havre Daily News Sports Staff. The list does not reflect the opinion of any single individual.