Area 9C girls named Class C All-State

It was an incredibly exciting girls basketball season along the Hi-line and with the season coming to a close this past weekend, that means it's time for postseason awards to honor some of the outstanding individual efforts we saw on the hardwood this past season.

In terms of local Class C girls basketball, it was another really strong year for the District 9C, which saw the Box Elder Bears win a second consecutive Class C state championship. In addition to that, Fort Benton won the 9C tournament in Havre and the Turner Tornadoes made it all the way to the consolation game of the Northern C Divisional before being eliminated.

With the way those three teams dominated play, it was no surprise to see them dominate the 9C All-District teams as seven of the eight players represented either Box Elder, Turner and Fort Benton. Lilly Gopher and Joelnell Momberg of Box Elder were each named First-Team All-9C again, while Aspen Giese, Leah Gannon and McKenzie Clark made it onto the team from Fort Benton. Turner got both Sarah Billmayer and Shyan Krass, and North Star also had Paij Peterson get selected.

When it came to the Second-Team All-9C, Box Elder had three more players honored as Maddie Wolf Chief, Sarah Parisian and freshman Kyla Momberg each earned the Second-Team distinction. The spots were filled by Mulleeah Stiffarm of Hays-Lodge Pole, Kourtney Hanson of Chinook, Melanie Watkins of Turner, Jade Wendland of North Star and Maci Molinario of Fort Benton.

In addition to having a number of players on the 9C All-District team, Box Elder, Turner and Fort Benton also had girls play their way onto the Class C All-State team. Gopher was named All-State for the third time and joining her was teammate Joelnell Momberg, who joins her as a three-time selection. Billmayer, who was spectacular throughout the postseason, also earned All-State honors, along with her Krass, a sophomore. Giese was the other 9C player to make the All-State team, which was also her second time.

The other players who made the All-State team from the Northern C were Brianna Bergum and Kristen Vincent of Tri-City, Dyauni Boyce and Madeline Heggem of Roy-Winifred, Morgan Cooper and Kolby Pimperton of Belt, as well as Sydney Browning of Winnett-Grass Range.

Northern C Girls All-State

Brianna Bergum, Tri-City, Sr; Sarah Billmayer, Turner, Jr; Dyauni Boyce, Roy-Winifred, Jr; Sydney Browning, Winnett-Grass Range, Jr; Morgan Cooper, Belt, Sr; Aspen Giese, Fort Benton, So; Madeline Heggem, Roy-Winifred, Fr; Shyan Krass, Turner, So; Joelnell Momberg, Box Elder, So; Kolby Pimperton, Belt, Jr; Kristen Vincent, Tri-City, Sr.

District 9C Girls All-Conference

First Team: Joelnell Momberg, BE, Jr; Aspen Giese, FB, So; Lilly Gopher, BE, Sr; Leah Gannon, FB, Sr; Shyan Krass, TUR, So; Sarah Billmayer, TUR, Jr; Paij Peterson, NS, Sr; McKenzie Clark, FB, Jr.

Second Team: Kyla Momberg, BE, Fr; Mulleeah Stiffarm HLP, Jr; Kourtney Hanson, CHI, Sr; Maddie Wolf Chief, BE, Sr; Maci Molinario, FB, So; Melanie Watkins, TUR, Sr; Sarah Parisian, BE, Jr; Jade Wendland, NS, Fr.