WILDCATS FINALLY ON THE PROWL

It's hard to determine when a program has really arrived.

But after beating the second-ranked team in the state, in front of a packed gymnasium, it's safe to say the moment has arrived for the Harlem girls basketball team, even if they are far from where they ultimately want to go.

"I think it speaks volumes for all the hard work these girls have put in," Harlem head coach Laramie Schwenke said. "Winning is always a byproduct of your hard work and dedication and this one tonight (Saturday) speaks volumes."

The win certainly did speak volumes, and not just about where Harlem is in Class B girls basketball, but also about where its headed. If the Wildcats wanted to stay under the radar, that hope is gone. The team was ranked No.7 in Class B going into this past weekend's game, and is now up to No. 4. Part of that is the 9-1 record, the other part, was handing Poplar its first loss of the season, in an unlikely fashion.

Learning how to win is a process that every team goes through. The Wildcats went through it last season. Overall, the team was much improved a year ago, but with a lot of underclassmen, the Wildcats failed to make the Northern B Divisional tournament. It was a disappointment, sure, but the future was still bright and one of the reasons was that the Wildcats found one of the best building blocks they have had in a long time - L'Tia Lawrence.

For Lawrence, the journey to basketball stardom started years ago, just like it did for most of the Harlem team.

"These girls didn't just start putting in the work this past summer or anything," Schwenke said. "It started a long time ago when my assistant coach Marlin (Lawrence) started taking them around to play. That's where it starts. You have to have those building blocks. Winning takes time."

As a freshman, Lawrence earned All-Conference honors. When track season rolled around, she proved what an elite athlete she is, capturing the Class B state championship in the 1,600 meter run. Now, after a season of experience, Lawrence is having an All-State season and as the team's point guard, she is a huge part of what makes it go.

"I started off playing basketball in the fourth grade with my traveling team." Lawrence said. "That is what got us started. A lot of us on the team traveled around with my dad. We started at a young age, I think that is what makes us good, and we pass the ball around, so it's teamwork, too."

One thing for sure, is that Harlem was hungry for a winner. The girls program has had limited success over the years, claiming only some district titles decades ago. The team has never won a divisional or state championship, but it now it seems like a viable possibility and the Wildcat's fans aren't shy in displaying their excitement.

Attendance in high school basketball games in Montana isn't necessarily thriving, but you wouldn't know it from watching a game inside the Harlem High School gymnasium. During last Saturday's showdown against No. 2 Poplar, the gym likely came close to full capacity and those that came out, were treated to quite a show.

"Last year, we didn't do as well," Lawrence said. "But this year, we have gotten a lot of support and that has really helped us. I think it gives us the confidence to keep going and keep fighting."

Against the Indians, Harlem needed a boost. At one point in the third quarter, the Wildcats were down 19 points and it looked as though, they weren't ready for prime time. But seemingly in an instant, it started to change.

Suddenly, the Wildcats started making shots, starting with 3-pointers by Lawrence and Autumn Eagleman. After a 10-0 run, a 19-point advantage was down to nine. By the end of the third quarter, after a 3-point play by Skylee Dirden, Harlem was within four.

While the buckets kept going, the crowd was getting louder, almost as if it could sense what was about to happen. When a key Poplar play fouled out with around five minutes left to go, the roars got louder - the fans could sense it.

"It makes me feel good for them because they have a crowd," Schwenke said. "I don't know the last time before this season that the Harlem girls had a crowd. I don't mean it in a bad way or anything, it's just the truth, so it's been very exciting and very fun."

Saturday night, with around two minutes left, the fun was just beginning.

At the time, things looked bleak for the Wildcats. Riley McDonald just drilled a 3-pointer for Poplar and the Indians were up six. Up stepped Lawrence, who nailed a deep 3-pointer of her own with 1:29 left to get Harlem back within three. Then, Dirden took in a steal for a score and suddenly, Harlem was down just one.

After a few attempts at taking the lead, the Wildcats found themselves still down 53-52, with the ball in their possession and six seconds on the clock. It set the stage for one of those rare moments in sports, the kind you never forget. Eagleman got open and with four seconds remaining on the clock, her 3-point shot went through the net, causing an eruption in the stands. Poplar didn't get a shot off in response and consequently, the Harlem girls got one of their biggest wins in years.

"It felt pretty good, knowing they were undefeated," Harlem senior Mystic Striker said. "When we see the (gym) full like it is, we just want to make our crowd proud and this shows that all things are possible."

Of course, Schwenke and her assistant coach Marlin Lawrence deserve a lot of the credit for the turnaround. Schwenke, who played in four state tournaments for Malta and won a Class B state championship as an M-Ette, said she has close ties to the Hi-Line, which has made coaching the Wildcats, even more rewarding. She also played basketball at Montana State University-Northern before getting into coaching.

"We are from the Hi-Line, my dad lives here," Schwenke said. "So it's close to home and I wanted to coach, and I got the JV job here and I have not regretted it since."

While Schwenke has seen the rewards of hard work and dedication over the past few years, the boys basketball program is attempting to follow the same path under first-year head coach Cole McCabe. Like Schwenke, McCabe was a star player in high school, helping the Hays-Lodge Pole Thunderbirds to the 2007 Class C state championship. He also played on a team that finished third in Class C back in 2006.

Like Schwenke, McCabe has a young roster and so far this season, the Wildcats have taken some lumps. However, they have been competitive in just about every game and McCabe is confident that his team is headed in the right direction.

"We are doing good, but overall, we have a lot of work to do," McCabe said. "We play everyone tough and go down to the wire, but we still need to correct some things and change up some of it. Overall, I think the process is going well."

The Harlem boys have just one senior and two juniors on the squad currently, meaning most of the team will return next season. And while there is still a long ways to go, McCabe said he hopes to follow in the path of the girls team, which is now clearly a contender in Class B.

"I definitely think we could do what they have done," McCabe said. "But we still have some building to do."

Yet, like the girls, the excitement seems to be back when it comes to Harlem boys basketball and for now, at least, that's a start.

"Last season, you could come in and sit anywhere you wanted to sit," McCabe said. "And now, it's tough to find a spot. We now have fans coming in and putting blankets down again, and it's been a long time since Harlem has done anything like that."