Harlem, Rocky Boy begin the postseason

There has been some tough teams that have shined this season, but when it comes to Class B, the Harlem High basketball teams have been shining very brightly.

Now, both the Harlem boys and girls will look to march through the postseason, starting with this week's District 2B tournament in Malta.

The tourneys kick off Thursday and go all the way to Saturday, where the top four teams will be punching a ticket to the Northern B Divisional Tournament next week. Five teams will be competing in the tournament - Glasgow, Poplar, Wolf Point, Malta and Harlem.

The Wildcats have had a stellar year and have amassed a 16-2 overall record at the end of the regular season. Under head coach Geno LeValdo, the boys team has thrived and proven to be a force to be reckoned with among Class B. When it comes to the tournament, LeValdo looks forward to seeing his team compete hard to try and earn a 2B title.

"I'm excited," LeValdo said. "These kids put a lot of work in. We're starting to peak and coming together at the right time. I don't want to say anything to jinx us, but it looks like the boys are ready. We trust each other and making the game so much easier with the extra passes. I hope we keep going in the right direction. We're taking it game by game."

The Wildcats will have a bye to start off the tournament, waiting to face off against the winner of Game One between Glasgow and Poplar. Harlem will face the victor of that match in Game Three at 8 p.m. Friday. If the Wildcats win Game Three, they will earn a spot in the 2B Boys championship game Saturday at 8 p.m.

The Harlem boys boast a lot of talent this season, especially from senior standout Brad Cichosz, who has been a potent offensive machine this season. Brad Cichosz has another feat under his belt, though, a 68-point game last Saturday against Poplar, claiming a state record. With him on the court, Harlem will be a tough team to face.

On top of that, the Wildcats have some great depth, too. R.J. Ramone, Daniel Lawrence and Tyler Cichosz all have a lot of skill on the hardwood, helping Harlem put up a lot of points if left unchecked. Meanwhile, others like Truth Brockie and Richard Hoops fill in the holes whenever needed.

At the end of the day, Harlem looks to be a big favorite in the boys tourney, but LeValdo knows that any team can bring a challenge at any time in the 2B.

"Wolf Point has a pretty young, solid team," LeValdo said. "Then I'd have to say Malta is right behind them. Wolf Point did get us, but I have the confidence in my players and I know my guys really want to meet up with them again."

Meanwhile, the girls tournament will be just as tough, with the Wildcats looking to chase down a second straight 2B title.

The Harlem girls have put up a great season this year, earning a school record 17-1.

With head coach Martin Lawrence coaching the Harlem girls to victory, there will be a lot of promise to snag a title this season. Lawrence is looking forward to the tournament this week, as well.

"I think we'll have a battle on our hands," Lawrence said. "Malta is playing very well and Glasgow seems to be playing very well, especially in the regular season. I think it will be tough battle for any No. 1 seed going into it because it seems like teams are bringing their best games."

The Wildcats have a lot of prowess among the squad, too, with standouts like L'Tia Lawrence and Taya Trottier putting up a lot of points for Harlem, while Kailee Henry, Kristyn Kittson and Aria Owens help boost the depth to help the Wildcats put up a great fight against any team they face.

Meanwhile, it has been a regular season full of ups and downs this year, but the Rocky Boy High basketball teams are ready to take their game to the first part of the postseason, the 1B District Tournament. The tournament will take place in Cut Bank Thursday through Saturday, with the Stars and Morning Stars competing to claim a district championship. There have been some incredible moments for Rocky Boy basketball in recent years, too.

For example, the boys made a big run last year in the postseason and are looking to do so again. The Rocky Boy boys sit at a 10-8 record this season and have experienced some adversity throughout the season, but those challenges open the opportunity to rise once more.

Under head coach Adam Demontiney, Rocky Boy has had some promising potential all season to make another great push in the playoffs. And the Stars will get their start fairly soon, too.

The Stars will be the team to kick off the tournament Thursday, playing in Game One against the Cut Bank Wolves at 4 p.m. in the Cut Bank Gymnasium. The boys have competed to the tee with Cut Bank and only fell to the Wolves recently by a two-point margin. Needless to say, the boys are a team that can bring it when it matters most.

The boys were the team to hand the Harlem boys their first loss of the season, too. To beat a big-name team that has only lost two games this season says a lot about how potent the Rocky Boy boys are on the court. The Stars have gone toe-to-toe with tough squads like Fairfield, as well.

With Blake Cantrell and Joe Demontiney at the helm, Rocky Boy has proved that they carry an offensive attack that can push them ahead early in the game. With other players like JoJo Standing Rock backing the squad up, the Stars are a team with some nice depth to compliment the offense.

The Stars and Wolves will be competing in a tough bout to start off the tournament, with the winner of the matchup moving to play Fairfield in Game Five Friday at 6 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Rocky Boy girls will be facing off against Cut Bank Thursday at 7 p.m. to start of the Girls 1B District Tournament.

The Morning Stars swept the Wolves in the regular season, but when it comes to the postseason, every team switches to 0-0 and the competition gets more intense. The Rocky Boy girls finished the regular season with an 8-10 record, facing their own bouts of adversity, but through those challenges comes a battled-tested type of team ready to throw down. In the District 1B, this kind of trait is important to stay ahead of the competition.

The Morning Stars are led by Angela Gopher, Mariah Arkinson and Jerlayn Parker, who have been impressive offensive scorers for Rocky Boy this year. The three girls have a lot of teammates who have their backs, as well, like Sasha Coffee, Kirsten LaMere and Ella Moore, who can add some more baskets to help the Stars stay ahead.

But in a tough conference like the 1B, on any good day, a lower seed can beat a higher seed in an upset. The test will be a difficult one for the Stars, but the team has been looking forward to a shot at reaching a 1B title again this season.

The top four boys and girls teams from the 1B and 2B advance on to divisionals. The Northern B boys tournament is slated for Feb. 27-29 in Malta, while the Northern B girls will be played March 5-7 in Shelby.