Class B girls prevail in Hi-Line Inviational final

For the second consecutive year, Fairfield standout senior Jill Barta was named the MVP of the annual Hi-Line Invitational Tournament. But unlike last year, this time around, to go along with the MVP honors, Barta led the Class B all-stars to the team title.

The 28th annual HIT concluded Saturday night at the Armory Gymnasium on the campus of Montana State University-Northern in Havre. All-star teams built up of Class C, Class B, Class A and Class AA girls competed at MSU-N for three days, and in the title game, the Class B knocked off the Class C team 75-62. The Class B girls had not won the tournament since 1996, and before Saturday, the Class C girls took the title four straight years.

In the consolation game, the Class A girls also defeated the Class AA girls 81-61 Saturday evening.

But before the Class B girls went on a run in the second quarter, it looked like the Class C squad was going to win another title. Katelin Smith of Simms-Augusta hit a big time 3-pointer late in the first quarter to keep the Class C team out in front 18-15. Smith’s timely trey was the answer to back-to-back treys by the Class B’s Ruby Kallenbach (Forsyth) and Paige Larson (Cut Bank).

But while Class C led early, including the 20-19 first quarter lead, the Barta-led Class B team couldn’t be stopped down the stretch.

After a poor shooting second quarter by the Class C, the Class B girls used transition buckets to take a 36-30 lead at halftime. And in the second half the trend continued as whatever big shot the Class C team was able to hit, the Class B had an answer. In the game the lead changed 16 times, and the game was tied another 13 times.

Barta had somewhat of a quiet first half, but in the fourth quarter she drained back-to-back triples to start. Her hot shooting stretched the B lead to 62-45. Class C did cut the deficit to 62-52 before the five-minute mark, but settled for too many poor 3-point attempts late in the frame as the Class B team was able to maintain the lead for the win. The Class C girls were just 5-of-31 from 3-point range and shot just 35 percent from the field. Both teams were 24-of-67 from the field, but the difference for Class B was one more triple, and 21 made free throws. Class C made just 12 free throws in the game.

Barta’s 28 points led the Class B, while Brina Hull added 13 for the only other double digit finisher. Barta also had 15 boards, while Kallenbach and Larson also finished with nine points each.

Britt Cooper led the Class C girls with 14 points, while Makhayla Farmer and Katelin Smith both finished with 11. Frankie Bignell also had nine points.

Alongside Barta, Hull, Sophia Stiles, Morgan Mazurkiewicz, Bignell, Farmer, Katie Fetterer, Vanessa Stavish, Britt Cooper, Markaela Francis and Jacy Thompson made up the All Tournament Team. Thompson, who’s coming to play for MSU-N, also won the 3-point contest, while Stiles was the assist leader and Fetterer was the steals leader. Barta was the rebound leader, while Miss Hustle was given to Kallenbach, and the Miss Defense was given to Fetterer.

HIT Girls

Thursday

Class A 83, Class AA 54

A – Peyton Filius 9, Lacie Waid 4, Mikaela Olson 9, Brandy Lambourne 5, Vanessa Stavish 19, Morgan Mazurkiewicz 23, Dani Wagner 12, Tori Mazuriewicz 2.

AA – Sierra Bignell 9, Taylor Edwards 12, Markaela Francis 11, Katelyn Niebauer 7, Molly Herron 5; Ricki Powers 3, Marca Herron 7.

Class B 77, Class C 55

C –Kara Gerke 7, Whitney Molina 3, Frankie Bignell 11, Hannah Dean 6, Katelin Smith 6, Katie Fertterer 5, Britt Cooper 10, Makhayla Farmer 9.

B – Ruby Kallenbach 3, Mercedes Stiles 8, Jacy Thompson 9, Janie McRae 4, Jill Barta 19, Paige Larson 3, Brina Hull 12, Sophia Stiles 13, Kaylee Sard 6.

Friday

Class C 92, Class A 57

C – Krissy Paske 10, Katie Fertterer 6, Whitney Molina 10, Britt Cooper 8, Makhayla Farmer 22, Katelin Smith 13, Kara Gerke 4, Frankie Bignell 2, Hannah Dean 17.

A – Peyton Filius 15, Morgan Mazurkiewicz 4, Brandy Lambourne 9, Tori Mazurkiewicz 5, Vanessa Stavish 10, Lacie Waid 4, Mikaela Olson 2, Dani Wagner 8.

Class B 75, Class AA 60

B – Ruby Kallenbach 5, Mercedes Stiles 1, Jacy Thompson 10, Janie McRae 4, Jill Barta 26, Paige Larson 2, Brina Hull 11, Sophia Stiles 9, Kaylee Zard 7.

AA – Sierra Bignell 10, Ricki Powers 4, Markaela Francis 22, Katelyn Niebauer 14, Molly Herron 8, Marca Herron 2.

Class B 102, Class A 52

B – Brina Hull 17, Jacy Thompson 6, Sophia Stiles 5, Kaylee Zard 3, Jill Barta 38, Ruby Kallenbach 10, Mercedes Stiles 6, Paige Larson 6, Janie McRae 11.

A – Morgan Mazurkiewicz 8, Mikaela Olson 3, Dani Wagner 4, Brandy Lambourne 9, Vanessa Stavish 16, Peyton Filius 5, Lacie Waid 7.

Saturday

Class C 69, Class AA 44

C – Krissy Paske 10, Kara Gerke 5, Katie Fetterer 2, Britt Cooper 11, Hannah Dean 10, Katelin Smith 2, Whitney Molina 6, Frankie Bignell 6, Makhayla Farmer 12.

AA – Sierra Bignell 13, Ricki Powers 5, Markaela Francis 9, Katelyn Niebauer 16, Marca Herron 1.

Consolation

Class A 81, Class AA 61

A – Peyton Filius 11, Mikaela Olson 7, Dani Wagner 8, Brandy Lambourne 12, Vanessa Stavish 14, Lacie Waid 3, Morgan Mazurkiewicz 22, Tori Mazurkiewicz 4.

AA – Sierra Bignell 24, Ricki Powers 3, Markaela Francis 15, Katelyn Niebauer 8, Molly Herron 11.

Championship

Class B 75, Class C 62

B – Brina Hull 13, Jacy Thompson 3, Sophia Stiles 5, Janie McRae 4, Jill Barta 28, Ruby Kallenbach 9, Mercedes Stiles 2, Kaylee Zard 1.

C – Whitney Molina 7, Britt Cooper 14, Frankie Bignell 9, Makhayla Farmer 11, Katelin Smith 11, Krissy Paske 3, Katie Fetterer 5, Hannah Dean 5.