High school hoops begins full tilt this weekend

Winter sports are here. And to see them in December is a welcome sight. After all, the winter sports season didn’t begin last year until after the new year because of adjustments made due to the pandemic.

However, the new high school basketball season started with a smattering of games last weekend and will really catch fire this week.

Preseason tournaments are on tap all over the place, including in Billings where the All-American Indian Shootout will be held Thursday through Saturday inside First Interstate Bank Arena at the Metra.

The event takes the place of the Native American Classic, which up until last year was held in Havre, Billings and other sites. However, this week, many teams will get together at the Metra, including local squads from Rocky Boy, Box Elder and Hays-Lodge Pole.

The Box Elder girls will play Plenty Coups Thursday and Class A powerhouse Hardin Friday. The Box Elder boys face Heart Butte Friday and Two Eagle River Saturday. The Rocky Boy girls will play White Shield, North Dakota, Friday and Mandaree, North Dakota, Saturday, while the Rocky Boy boys face Class A rival Browning Friday and White Shield Saturday. HLP is also in the field. The girls will face Heart Butte Friday and Plenty Coups Saturday, while the boys will play Plenty Coups Thursday and White Shield Friday.

Preseason tournaments will be the focus this week for many area teams.

The Chinook boys and girls are part of a season-opening tournament in Shelby. while both North Star and Fort Benton are headed to an event in Harlowton. Chester-Joplin-Inverness also gets its season underway with a pair of games in Cascade, while Big Sandy plays in Dutton.

Editor's Note: All area coaches and athletic directors are reminded to please email box scores to [email protected] or fax them to 406-265-6798 immediately after all varsity games, so that we can get your results in our weekly Hi-Line Roundups. All results must be sent to the HDN by the Sunday prior to the next roundups