Longhorns going to Missoula to win

History will be made when the 2020 Class C state basketball tournament tips off Wednesday in Missoula. That's because it's the first-ever combined tournament for the Class C boys and girls.

Wednesday will also be a historic day in Missoula for the Fort Benton boys basketball team. That's because, after winning the Northern C crown two weeks ago, the undefeated Longhorns are making their first-ever trip to the Class C state tournament, and their first to any state tournament since 1992, when they were Class B.

"It should be exciting. I mean, it's obviously the top eight teams in the state and it's cool to say that you're a part of that," senior Max Lane said. "I think all of us here are hoping for something more than to just say that we want to come home with something."

It will be exciting for the Longhorns (24-0), not only because it's their first state tournament in 27 years, but because the Longhorns are one of the favorites, and they're there to win a state championship.

"We're hoping to win. I'm hoping we have our best games because we definitely haven't had our best games yet," Stephen Gannon said. "These boys have been working hard all season. We definitely deserve some wins and to win it all. I'd love to do that."

Fort Benton's quest to win it all starts with a tough game against Twin Bridges, the No. 2 seed from the Western C this afternoon. The Falcons are one of many teams that will be top contenders this week, including defending champs Manhattan Christian, Scobey and Fairview.

"It's going to be a really tough tournament. There's Scobey that's still undefeated. They're really good. Manhattan Christian has been in the state championship four years in a row, so you've got to think they're probably the favorite in it," Fort Benton head coach Tyler Pasha said. "Our side of the bracket, we start with Twin Bridges and their only loss this year is to Manhattan Christian, so it will be a tough matchup. Every single game we've got to come prepared."

State C is always tough, but so are the Longhorns. Led by the dynamic duo of Garrett and Hayden Diekhans, the leadership of Lane, the guard play of the likes of Logan Giles and Devin Bird, and others, the Longhorns are dangerous and deep, and that will play a big role this week in Missoula.

"I think what it has been all year, our depth," Pasha said. "Our senior leadership is going to be huge. None of us have been there, so it's going to be a new experience for everybody, but I think with our four seniors on our team, maturity level is going to be huge."

Fort Benton may not have been this far in a long time, but once the ball is tipped, that shouldn't matter because the Longhorns are really good. Still, it is a big stage, especially with the tournament being combined this year, and an extra day, and that's why Pasha is helping to take the pressure off his squad.

"It's not to try and win a game individually," he said. "We have to play a game and win as a team. Make sure we're passing the ball on and get done everything we've done all year long. We need to vacate any more pressure than there already is at the state tournament."

Fort Benton, which is the second straight 9C team to make a Class C debut at a state tournament, opens the state tournament against the Falcons Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. The boys tourney starts with Jordan battling Fairview at 3 p.m. Scobey takes on Northern C runner-up Belt at 6 p.m. and Manhattan Christian meets Plenty Coups at 7:30 p.m. The boys semifinals are set for Friday night, while the consolation game will take place at 3 p.m. Saturday and the championship game is set to tip at 6 p.m. Saturday night. All of the State C tourney action will take place in Dahlberg Arena on the campus of the University of Montana.

The Class C state girls tournament, which features Northern C champion Roy-Winifred and Belt, also begins Wednesday and runs through Saturday night's state championship game. For complete state basketball coverage, follow the Havre Daily News sports section all week long.