Frontier Notebook: Montana Tech men rising up

It's pretty much official, the Frontier Conference regular season men's title is down to a two-team race. And while Carroll College is used to battling for the league title, the Montana Tech Orediggers haven't been atop the Frontier standings this deep into a winter in a long while.

Once a perennial contender, Tech fell on hard times, but, in the last two years, former Westminster coach Adam Hiatt has really turned things around. So much so that, Tech is on a seven-game winning streak, the longest in the league this season, and the Diggers sit at 9-1, one game in front of the Fighting Saints.

And while Tech has gotten to this point with the experience of veterans like Sindou Diallo, Taylor England and Drew Huse, there addition of former Montana State Bobcat Caleb Bellach cannot be understated. Averaging 16 points and eight rebounds per game, as well as being one of the top 3-point shooters around the league, Bellach has helped Tech ascend to the upper echelon of the league. And with five games left in the regular season, the Diggers are on the verge of something very special. And that means, the Feb. 10 game against Carroll in Helena will be a huge one.

Poll Power

Last week's NAIA Women's Coaches Poll was something to behold for the Frontier Conference. For starters, Providence climbed to its highest ranking ever, coming in at No. 22, while Carroll was still in the Top 10 at No. 7. Then you had Rocky Mountain at No. 18 and Montana Western still receiving votes. So, that poll showed just how tough the league is again this year.

And it showed this past weekend.

Last week's carnage included Rocky beating Carroll Thursday night, then turning around and falling to Western in overtime Saturday. Carroll then rebounded by blowing the Argos out Saturday afternoon.

The last weekend leaves UP and RMC tied atop the league standings at 8-2, while Carroll is one game back. And with just two weeks left in the regular season, it's obvious that, the Frontier women's title may come down to the final night.

Columbia Falls Connection

The MSU-Northern women got a much needed win Saturday afternoon, and once again, the senior duo of Peyton Kehr and Sydney Hovde helped in big ways. Kehr scored 20 points and Hovde yanked down 10 rebounds as the Skylights won for the first time in league play.

The duo, who won a state title together at C. Falls, is leading the way for Northern again this winter. Kehr is fourth in the league in scoring at 15 points per game, while Hovde is second in the conference with her 10 rebounds per game. Hovde is also fourth in the league in field goal percentage as she and Kehr are nearing the end of what has been a great run at Northern the last five years.