An Armory Playoff Double Dip

There's no denying it, the Montana State University-Northern men's and women's basketball teams, like so many college basketball programs, have been through the ringer this season. And yet, the Lights and Skylights stuck with it, and now they've both been rewarded.

Tonight, both Northern squads get to play at home, at least one more time as the Skylights host Montana Tech in a Frontier Conference women's playoff game, followed by the Lights taking on Montana Western in a men's first-round tilt. The action starts at 5 inside the Armory Gymnasium, and Northern head coach Chris Mouat couldn't be more excited to watch his team compete at home one more time.

"I'm excited for our team," Mouat said after the Skylights beat Tech last Saturday night in Butte to lock up the No. 4 seed and a home playoff game. "They wanted to play at home again. That was important to them, and they did what they needed to make that happen."

Now Northern (6-13) will look to extend its season further, hoping to make a run in the Frontier tourney. But, to do that, the Skylights, led by Tiara Gilham's 14 points per night, as well as a near-double-double from Sydney Hovde, and a veteran group that includes fellow seniors Peyton Kehr, McKenzie Gunter and Allix Goldhahn, must get past the Orediggers in what will be the fifth meeting between the two, and the third in less than a week. The Skylights and Diggers (5-13) spilt last weekend in Butte.

"Tech is a good team and we've had four good games with them," Mouat said. "Playing a good team a third time in a week is going to be a challenge, and we are really thankful for the opportunity to be playing on our home floor. I think both teams know each other very well and Carly has done a great job with her team. We will have to clean up a lot of little things that hurt us on Sunday to be successful. They hurt us on the boards at times and did a nice job with their balance offensively. They have excellent, attacking guards, and their posts are physical and athletic. They shot it really well from the three in our most recent game and hurt us at the rim off of the dribble. We will need to be sharp at both ends for 40 minutes."

Mesa Williams, Tavia Rooney and Dani Urick all average double figures for Tech, which Northern went 3-1 against this season, while Mollie Peoples is one of the top point guards in the country.

And yet, no matter how good the Diggers are, the Skylights will be ready to go tonight.

"Just very happy for our kids," Mouat said. "They have battled all year. It's been tough, but they've always kept on battling, and I'm proud of them for that."

The Northern men are also playing a Frontier rival for a fifth time this season when the Lights and Bulldogs tip at 7 tonight. Western held a 3-1 advantage over the Lights (6-11) this season, but Northern earned the No. 4 seed by two percentage points over the Dawgs (6-12), thus giving the Lights at least one more big game in the Armory.

Of course, that big games comes against the Bulldogs, who have certainly been tough on the Lights this season, including sweeping Northern two weeks ago in Havre. In one of those games, the Dawgs got an incredible 39 points from Max Clark, who is one of Western's many talented guards.

"They have shown us they can really score the ball and defend," MSU-N head coach Shawn Huse said about the Bulldogs. "We will have to be on point with execution on both ends, if we expect to have success on Thursday."

The Lights are talented, too though, led by seniors Mascio McCadney and David Harris, who both average double figures. Jomel Boyd has also been a strong presence inside this season, while C.J. Nelson has been steady as a rock at point guard for the Lights, who are more than excited to be back at home in the playoffs.

"I am confident our guys will be ready to prep and get after it to see what we can do," Huse said. "I like where we are at right now, and we just need to give everything we got like we have done all year."

The Lights and Dawgs tip off tonight at 7, with the winner advancing to the Frontier semifinals against either Providence or Carroll College. The Skylights and Orediggers tip tonight at 5, with the winner advancing to the semifinals Saturday at either Carroll or Providence, as well.