From the Fringe - Excited to see Class A hoops together

Class A basketball is joining the party. Or, more aptly put, it’s becoming one big party.

Last week, at a spring meeting of the Montana High School Association in Helena, Class A representatives voted to begin combining the Class A boys and girls state basketball tournaments, with the first combined tournament slated for March of 2019 in Great Falls.

To a sports writer such as myself, that was exciting news. It’s exciting because Havre High has a pretty strong tendency toward making all the way to the state basketball tournament, both girls and boys. No, it may not happen every single season, but it happens often enough that, as someone who covers the Blue Ponies, it’s definitely worth it.

I remember back in 2014, when both Class A state tournaments were held in Great Falls on consecutive weeks, thinking how wonderful it would have been for Havre, if the state tourney was combined that year. The Blue Pony boys had a great ride in the state tourney that season, followed by the Havre girls historic state championship.

I also remember thinking that two weeks I spent at the Four Seasons Arena, driving back and forth from Great Falls each day, that a lot of people weren’t doing what I was doing — that attendance wasn’t what I expected it to be. Initially, with both tournaments in Great Falls, I thought Havre would have a huge presence there for both tournaments, and, while the crowds were good, they weren’t what I expected.

I thought, even back then, had those state tournaments been played out over three days instead of six, there would have been ever more Pony Blue in the stands than there already was. Now, that situation has been rectified.

Of course, there are logistical issues to a combined state tournament. There are twice as many games played out in a single day. There are 8 a.m. games right from the start of the tournament. There are loser-out games that must be played at an alternate gymnasium. Yes, all of those things are true, and for some, they may not be ideal.

I also know that some may not be happy with the decision to combine the Class A state tournaments because venues like Hamilton and Belgrade, which have hosted the girls state tournaments, may lose the ability to host them in the future because of not enough hotel rooms and other accommodations needed for a combined state tourney.

However, Class AA and Class B have been doing it that way for some time now, and the feedback I’ve always gotten from those tournaments is, they’re very exciting, and, they really unite a school’s fan base, especially when a school qualifies both its boys and girls teams. From what I’ve always been told, the Class AA tournament, which was the first to combine its state tournament, has become more exciting than ever since doing so.

And, at the end of the day, the state tournament is for the kids, it’s for the players, and if combining the state tournament makes it an even better experience for the kids, than, it’s an absolute no-brainer.

Honestly, I never really thought about Class A going to a combined state tournament until those six days I spent driving back and forth from Great Falls, watching the Havre Blue Ponies. But it hit me then, and for multiple reasons, I thought, combining the Class A event was the way to go.

Sure, at the time, it was for selfish reasons. I would have spent half the money on gas than I did that week. More Havre fans would have been able to see both Blue Pony teams play, the list of reasons it would have been better combined goes on and on. But, looking back now, and knowing how well the AA and B tournaments go, it really isn’t selfish at all, I just happen to think it will be a better tournament, and a better environment for the teams and for their fans.

And that’s what the state tournament is supposed to be — the best and most exciting environment of the season. It’s a reward for playing well, and, battling it out over three days for a coveted state championship is supposed to be exciting.

So, if combining the state tournaments will make it more exciting for Class A teams, then I’m all for it. I think it’s the right move at the right time, and I think, two years from now, inside the grand old Four Seasons Arena, it’s going to be a big hit.