Class B girls topple AA's for the HIT crown

In recent years, the Class C girls have dominated the annual Hi-Line Invitational Tournament (HIT), but finally, after a three year run, somebody else was finally able to grab the HIT title.

Chinook's Makhayla Farmer, middle, passes around Havre's Neya Bischoff during an Hi-Line Invitational girls game Saturday at the Armory Gymnasium.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Armory Gymnasium in Havre, some of the best high school girls basketball players in the state came together for the 27th annual HIT tournament. And after the Class C girls were able to win three straight titles, this year it was the Class B girls who earned a 71-61 win over the Class AA girls in the title game.

The Class B team had suffered just one loss before earning the title, that loss coming at the hands of the AA team 78-60 on Friday. The Class B defeated the Class C 54-48 on Thursday, as well as the Class A 81-61 on Friday. The Class AA squad also had a strong showing, as they dominated the Class A 86-56 on Thursday, before edging out the Class C 68-60 in overtime on Saturday morning.

Havre's Lacey Waid, right, runs down court during a HIT girls game Friday in Havre.

The Class C team also swept the Class A girls. They won in dominating fashion, 85-48 in the consolation game, as well as 68-48 on Friday.

And just like most of the games had been this weekend, the championship game was determined by scoring runs.

After the AA girls took an early 10-2 lead, the Class B team answered with a 20-4 run of their own, taking a 22-14 lead after the first frame. The Class B utilized the scoring ability of Skylar Baldry of Three Forks, as she proved she could score from outside and inside. Baldry and Jill Barta of Fairfield sparked the run with back-to-back three-pointers, but Baldry had her way with the AA defense early on.

Fairfield star Jill Barta, right, drives to the basket during the HIT girls championship game Saturday in Havre.

The scoring was back and forth through the second quarter as the Class B took a 36-34 lead into the break. But in the third, the AA girls found a way to get back on top. Taylor Kumm from Great Falls High hit several crucial buckets from behind the 3-point arc, while Natalee Faupel from Butte High found a way to scor inside, helping the AA take a 51-49 lead after three complete quarters.

In the final frame, the Class AA defense just didn't have an answer for the Fairfield duo, Barta and Jordan Johnson. With a 66-61 lead and with about 3:30 left to play, Barta and Johnson combined for four consecutive buckets, and eight straight points to stretch the lead to 68-58. It was the cushion the Class B team needed, as they continued on to win by 10 points.

Barta paced the Class B girls with 20 points, while Brooke Jones from Manhatta added 15, and Johnson finished with 12. Courtney Henry from Malta also finished with 11. Faupel led the AA girls with 13 points, while Kumm added 12, hitting four treys in the game.

After the awards were handed out, several local players made their mark on the weekend.

Havre High junior Peyton Filius competes in the HIT 3-point contest Friday night at the Armory Gymnasium in Havre.

The All-Tournament team was made up of Jill Barta, Fairfield (MVP); Martha Dembek, Winnett-Grass Range; Jordyn Johnson, Fairfield; Nora Klick, Great Falls High; Liz Klinker, Great Falls High; Kyla Paulson, Stevensville; Courtney Henry, Malta; Natalee Faupel, Butte; Michaela Dowdy, Helena Capital; Kara Gerke, Belt; Karie Fertterer, Belt.

The Miss Hustle award was given to Havre High's Morgan Mazurkiewicz, while the Miss Defense was given to Britta Young from Augusta. Johnson also won the 3-point contest, while Barta was the scoring leader with 87 points on the weekend. Martha Dembeck from Winnett/Grass Range was the rebound leader with 43. Henry and Katie Fetterer (Belt) both earned the Steals award with 13 each, while Peyton Filius and Mazurkiewicz both earned the assists award, earning 16 assists each.

THURSDAY

Class B 54, Class C 48

Class B - Jordyn Johnson 5, Courtney Henry 5, Skyler Baldry 5, Tianna Hanson 6, Jill Barta 24, McKenzie Lepley 5.

Class C - Kara Gerke 14, Britta Young 8, Frankie Bignell 6.

Class AA 86, Class A 56

Class AA - Kaye Bignell 12, Michaela Dowdy 14, Markaela Francis 16.

Class A - Peyton Filius 18, Morgan Mazurkiewicz 15, Kyla Paulson 14

FRIDAY

Class C 68, Class A 48

Class C — Morgan Mazurkiewicz 13, Kyla Paulson 12, Laci Waid 7.

Class A — Katie Fertterer 11, Kara Gerke 9, Martha Dembek 15.

Class AA 78, Class B 60

Class B — Jordyn Johnson 18, Jill Barta 19, Brooke Jones 13.

Class AA — Natalee Faupel 11, Welch 15, Liz Klinker 20.

Class B 81, Class A 61

Class A — Morgan Mazurkiewicz 12, Neya Bischoff 8, Kyla Paulson 15.

Class B — Jordan Johnson 21, Brooke Jones 12, Jill Barta 24.

SATURDAY

Class AA 68, Class C 60, OT

Class AA — Nora Klick 11, Michaela Dowdy 16, Kaye Bignell 9, Natalee Faupel 9.

Class C — Katie Fertterer 12, Britta Young 11, Martha Dembek 14.

Third place

Class C 85, Class A 48

Class A —Peyton Filius 13, Morgan Mazurkiewicz 10, Tori Mazurkiewicz 8.

Class C — Katie Fertterer 13, Makhayla Farmer 13, Martha Dembek 29

Championship

Class B 71, Class AA 61

Class AA — Taylor Kumm 12, Natalee Faupel 13, Kaye Bignell 9.

Class B — Jordyn Johnson 12, Jill Barta 20, Brooke Jones 15.