PC Represented in H.I.T. Tournament Held in Havre

Two of Malta’s high school basketball players were selected to the class B teams for the Hi-Line Invitational Tournament (H.I.T.), April 2 and 3, at the Havre High School.

This was the thirty-fourth time that the tournament, originally founded by Babsie Bishop, has been held, and has featured some of the finest high school players in the state. This year it was hosted by the MSU-Northern Men’s and women’s basketball programs. Last years’ tourney had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This years tournament featured some of Montana’s top high school hardcourt talent on all-star teams from each of the state’s four classifications (AA, A, B, and C).

Senior Kooper Oxarart was selected to represent Malta on the class B all-star team. Other members of the class B team were: Will Burns-Missoula Loyola, Caden Holgate-Manhattan, Colby Martinez-Columbus, Joe Demontiney-Rocky Boy, Kaelob Flores-Fairfield, Logan Leck-Shelby, Caleb Cole-Colstrip, Noah Bouchard-Huntley Project, Damon Gros Ventre-Lodge Grass, and Rhett Reynolds-Shelby. The team was coached by Jordan Ratliff and Adam Demontiney.

Oxarart said, “It was a really fun time. I got to meet a bunch of new people and gained a lot of new friends.”

The class B all-star team play four games over the weekend. On Friday, they lost a close game to the class C all-stars by three, 62-59. Then lost to the class A team 84-73.

On Saturday, the class B team lost to the eventual champion class AA team 98-46.

“That team was wicked good.” Oxarart said. “There was a lot of talent on that team.”

They then lost another close game to the class C team in the consolation game 67-65.

Oxarart commented, “That was a fun game to play in. It was really close all the way through.”

Overall, Oxarart said it was a good experience.

“It was cool to play with a few of the guys that we went against this past year. It felt good to represent Malta one last time. Kind of sad to think it was the last time, but it was great to do it.”

On the girls side of the tournament, sophomore Allison Kunze represented Malta.

The rest of the class B all-stars team consisted of: Taya Trottier-Harlem, Bailey Finn-Sweet Grass, Payton West-Columbus, Hailee Brandon-Sweet Grass, Tia Stahl-Roundup, Brynna Wolfe-Whitehall, Rachel Van Blaricom-Jefferson, Emily Cooley-Sweet Grass, Lindsey Hein-Forsyth, and Megan Baxter-Thompson Falls. The class B girls were coached by Pat Goldhahn.

The class B girls got things underway on Friday with two big wins over the class A all-stars 72-40, and then over the class C all-stars 56-48.

On Saturday, they faced the AA all-star team and played them to a 61-61 tie. That was good enough to get them into the championship game where the class C all-stars got their revenge, beating the class B girls 61-49.

The champion class C team had three members of the North Country team of Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale on it. Jaycee Erickson, Kia Wasson, and Kaitlyn McColly.