Bears Battling to Repeat

Over the last four years, the Box Elder girls basketball team has created both some good memories and also some bad memories inside the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.

The Bears, who are the defending state champions, have played in the Northern C championship game there in three of the past four seasons and advanced to the state tournament from divisionals each time. They also played in the state championship game at the Four Seasons back in 2016, only to fall to Belt, a rival from the Northern C Division.

Memories aside, Box Elder (22-2) is happy it will be playing inside the Four Seasons again this week, as the Bears will get a chance to defend their Class C state championship, starting tonight with a quarterfinal against Ekalaka (17-4) 8 p.m.

"We are excited," Box Elder head coach Joel Rosette said. "A lot of our fans are going to be in attendance. It's nice that our fans won't have to travel so far and our girls are familiar with the rims and they are used to shooting there. I think that we are comfortable there (Four Seasons Arena)."

It's safe to say that the Bears are comfortable at the Four Seasons and in a practical sense, they would have to be at this point, considering this week's state tournament will be the sixth postseason tournament Box Elder has played at the Four Seasons dating back to the 2015-16 season. In all, the Bears have played 14 postseason games in Great Falls with a 9-5 record overall (2-1 state, 7-4 divisionals).

One thing Box Elder hasn't done at the Four Seasons is a win a championship - something the Bears hope they will do Saturday night.

"I think that it's about time we win one in there, as well," Rosette said.

While Box Elder will be among the favorites to take home the Class C title this weekend, after losing in the District 9C championship game two weeks ago to Fort Benton and last weekend in the Northern C championship game to Roy-Winifred, nothing is a sure thing, especially not with Ekalaka awaiting the Bears in round one.

"They are a tough team," Rosette said. 'They made it to state last season, too. They are small but they are quick. They press; they trap; they are a pretty good little team. They won the Southern Division and they are a formidable opponent."

Like Box Elder, the Bulldogs are a team that isn't going away anytime soon but with junior Heather LaBree who is one of Eklaka's best offensive threats, as well as Hanna LaBree and Heidi LaBree, who also contributes. Tori Tooke is one of two seniors on the team and should be another key part of the Bulldogs' offense. The other veteran is Claire Callahan, however, she may miss the game due to injury.

If Callahan is unable to play for the Bulldogs, it could give Box Elder a key advantage since no other player on the Ekalaka roster is taller than 5-foot-6. Lillian Gopher will offer some height for the Bears at 5-foot-10, in addition to Joelnell Momberg, Kyla Momberg and Eve The Boy, who are all at least 5-foot-7.

In terms of offensive production, Gopher and Joelnell Momberg, who each received All-State honors last season, will lead the charge for the Bears. Joenell was spectacular at the Northern C last week for Box Elder scoring 18 points a game despite netting single digits in the championship game. When she gets hot from deep, Box Elder can be nearly impossible to beat. She hit seven combined 3-pointers against Belt and Turner in the Northern C semifinals - two Box Elder wins while making just one attempt from long range in the title game loss to Roy-Winifred.

"We just have to be disciplined," Rosette said. "We need to take care of the basketball, rebound and be smart. We just need to play our game and execute the way we are capable of doing."

Gopher also scored in double figures in both wins at the Northern C for Box Elder, which also relies heavily on senior guards Maddie Wolf Chief and Sarah Parisian, who was the hero against Turner in the Northern C semis. She hit a buzzer-beater which lifted the Bears to win over the Tornadoes.

Had that shot not gone in, it could be Turner, not Box Elder representing the 9C at the state tournament. But after a loss in the championship game the next night to Roy-Winifred, the Bears have to open with one of the four divisional champions.

"The first game is going to be key for us," Rosette said. "This team has been resilient all season long. They are comfortable being able to do what they have to do. I am excited to see how they respond to everything (Northern C loss), especially in the first game. We need to come out with that energy and that fire."

Prior to Box Elder and Ekalaka going head-to-head in the nightcap, Charlo, the champion of the Western C will meet Savage, the second-seeded team from the Eastern C at 6:30.

Savage (21-1) fell to Scobey in the final of the Eastern C Divisional and comes to state fresh off a loss just like Box Elder. Soda Rice will lead the way for the Warriors along with Haylie Conradsen, Kiana Miller and Tyler Lien. The Warriors' opponent, Charlo, also comes in with just one loss and a roster that is highlighted by Liev Smith, Carlee Fryburger, Destiny Manuel and Kaitlyn Cox.

If Box Elder can get past Ekalaka tonight, it would battle either the Warriors or the Vikings Friday night at 8 p.m. A win there would give the Bears a chance to defend their state championship against one of the four teams in the other side of the bracket, which includes the Roy-Winifred Outlaws, the Northern C champs.

Last season, Box Elder lost to Winnett-Grass Range in the Northern C and ended up winning a rematch against its Northern C rival in the state title game. For that to happen again, the Outlaws (15-5) will need to knock off Wibaux, the No. 2 seed from the Southern C. Juniors Duani Boyce and Cassie Smith were huge in the upset of Box Elder last weekend and will need to play key roles along with senior Trinity Edwards. Wibaux (20-5) comes into the tournament after losing in the postseason for the second straight weekend to Ekalaka. Yet, with a lineup that includes Marni Schieffer, Layne Schieffer, Ceara Miske and Zayda Grove, the Longhorns can't be counted out. Tip-off in that is set for 12:30 p.m. in the opener.

The other first-round matchup in Great Falls this afternoon (2 p.m.) features Scobey, the champions of the East taking on Arlee, the second seed from Western C. The Spartans, who have lost just once this season, have won 12 of 13 games and the only setback came to Wolf Point, which is headed to the Class B state tournament.

Kortney Nelson and ShaAnn Danelson will be key contributors for Scobey along with Gracee Lekvold. Arlee may not have the record of some of the other teams, but it has the talented Alyssia Vanderburg, along with Louette Conko-Camel as the Warriors will try to upend the Spartans and got into the semifinals.

"We played Arlee early in the year," Rosette said. "We are familiar with some of the other teams, too, but when you get to this time of year, you know everyone you play is going to be really good. We just have to try to go out and play our best and see what happens, but right now, I think everyone has a chance."

The teams that win in the semifinals will meet Saturday night at 8 inside the Four Seasons Arena for the Class C state championship. Box Elder opens defense of its state title tonight at 8 against Ekalaka.