BEARS READY TO ROAR

For the second time in three years, the Box Elder girls basketball team has earned the opportunity to chase the Class C state championship. A title the Bears haven't won since 1998. It's an opportunity the Bears are relishing, and, after playing for a state championship just two seasons ago, the Bears have a great chance to do it again.

Box Elder (22-2) begins its quest for a state championship Thursday afternoon when the Bears take on Western C champion Twin Bridges at 2 p.m. inside the Butte Civic Center.

"It's an honor to be playing in the state tournament," longtime Box Elder head coach Joel Rosette said. "And I am extremely excited for our kids to be playing in Butte."

Indeed. The Bears have been dominant this season, but the last three weeks have also been a roller coaster of emotions.

The Bears went a perfect 18-0 in the regular season, and beat the 9C competition by an average of 14 points per game. However, they ran into a speed bump at the 9C tourney, in what was a last-second, overtime loss to Fort Benton in the championship game. Box Elder recovered at the Northern C, becoming the first team in almost two calendar years to topple the Belt Huskies, but the next night in Great Falls, the Bears fell in the championship game to Winnett-Grass Range.

And while Box Elder didn't quite reach its goals of winning a third straight 9C championship, or a Northern C title, they can still reach their ultimate goal - a Class C state championship. There's no question, Box Elder has the team to do it, with stars Lilly Gopher, Joelnell Momberg and Cecelia Vielle combining to average more than 40 points per game. The Bears are also loaded with depth, including the talents of Maddie Wolf Chief, Eve The Boy, Sarah Parisian and others giving Rosette one of the most complete teams in this weekend's tournament.

Still, as talented and explosive as the Bears are, the state tournament is loaded with teams that can boast the same - even if the Belt Huskies, who have played Saturday night at state in each of the last 10 years aren't there this time around. And Box Elder's first-round opponent, Twin Bridges (21-2), is one of those dangerous teams. The Falcons are a defensive stalwart, and are also led by the prowess of Kailee Oliverson, a star forward who has signed to play NCAA Division I basketball next year at Nevada. RaeAnn Bendon and Hailey Stockett are two more standouts for the Falcons, who are returning to the state tournament after a third-place finish last year.

"Twin Bridges is returning to the state tournament and led by a couple of All-Staters and is a tough draw," Rosette said. "It will be important for our kids to do the little things well, especially rebounding."

Because of the talented field, Box Elder will have to play well no matter which team it faces this weekend. Above the Bears in the draw is Eastern A champion Froid-Medicine Lake (17-5), which took fourth a year ago, taking on Southern C runner-up Harlowtown (19-4). The Engineers survived a Monday night challenge game to reach Butte. The winner of that game will play either the Bears or the Falcons in Friday's semifinal. On the other side of the bracket sits Southern C champ Carter County (18-6), which will take on Plentywood (19-4), the Eastern C runner-up in the opening round. Northern C champion Winnett-Grass Range (19-5) takes on Western C runner-up Ennis (20-4) in the final first-round matchup Thursday night. Like Box Elder, Twin Bridges, Ennis and Froid-Lake are teams that could certainly reach Saturday night.

"It's a tough field and you have to play three great games to come out successful," Rosette said.

And make no mistake, the Bears want and believe they can be successful this weekend in Butte. All year, Box Elder has been looked upon as a team that can win the state championship, and while things haven't always gone their way in the postseason this winter, the win over Belt proved the Bears can beat anybody in the state. Now, they're looking to do just that, three more times.

"We want to end the season playing in the final game," Rosette said. "We want to end the season in the win column on Saturday night."

Box Elder starts that quest Thursday at 2 p.m. in the first round of the Class C state girls tournament against Twin Bridges. The state tourney runs Thursday through Saturday night inside the Butte Civic Center.