HIT basketball tournament returns to Havre

While the high school basketball season has come to an end on the Hi-Line, that does not mean basketball fans don't have anything to look forward to. This Thursday, the Hi-Line Invitational Tournament will begin at Armory Gymnasium with the best boys and girls high school basketball players in the state competing.

Local fans should keep an eye on the Class A girls team. The HHS girls basketball team will be represented by Yelena Miller, Jade Wendland and Avery Carlson who are coming off their second straight state championship.

On their team, the Blue Ponies will be accompanied by players from across the state. Lockwood's Tailey Harris and Manhattan Christian's Ava Bellach will play on the Class A team. Browning's Mecca Bullchild, Laurel's Alyse Aby and Hamilton's Layne Kearns are also on the team. Frenchtown's Sadie Smith rounds out the Class A girls team for this weekend's tournament.

Hi-Line basketball fans should also be familiar with players on the Class B and Class C girls teams. After an all-state season, Taya Trottier will represent Harlem on the Class B girls team. She will be accompanied by players from Jefferson such as Brynna Wolfe and Rachel Van Blaricom. Big Timber will also be well represented by the likes of Bailey Finn and Emily Cooley.

Huntley Project's Paige Lofing and Malta's Allison Kunze will also compete for the Class B team this weekend. Big Fork's Braeden Gunlock, Anaconda's Makena Patrick and Colstrip's Canzas Hisbadhorse will also suit up for Class B.

The Hi-Line will be represented on the Class C girls team by Box Elder's Kyla Momberg who helped the Bears finish second at state this season. On the team, she will be joined by Winifred players such as Madeline and Isabelle Heggem. Belt will also be represented by the likes of Lindsey Paulson and Raily Gliko. From Saco, Jaycee and Teagan Erickson will play for the Class C team. Melstone's Draya Wacker, Plentywood's Liv Wangerin and Elizabeth Field from Grenora, North Dakota, make up the rest of the team.

While there will be no Hi-Line players on the Class AA girls team, there will be many great players on the roster. From state champion Billings Skyview, Cami Harris and Breanna Williams will suit up this weekend. From state runner-up Missoula Hellgate, Keke Davis and Bailee Sayler will play for the Class AA team. Billings West will also be well represented with Taylee Chirrick and Layla Baumann on the team. The rest of the Class AA girls roster will be comprised of CMR's Shaina Gardipee, Gallatin's Avery Walker and Kadynce Couture from Missoula Big Sky.

The Hi-Line will be represented on the boys side of the tournament as well. The Class A boys team will be led by HHS boys head coach Walynn Burgess. While there won't be any Ponies on the roster, there will be some familiar faces. After hitting the game-winning shot in the state title game, Dougie Peoples will represent Butte Central. From state runner-up Lewistown, Bryce Graham, Fischer Brown and Royce Robinson will play for the team. Glendive will be well represented by Riley Basta and Michael Murphy. The rest of the roster will be made up of Livingston's Payton Kokot, Dillon's Jon Kirkley, Polson's Colton Graham and Billings Central's Cayden Merchant.

Another Hi-Line coach for this weekend's tournament will be Rocky Boy head coach Adam Demontiney, who will lead the Class B boys team. His son Joe Demontiney will also represent Rocky Boy on the team while Harlem's R.J. Ramone and Caleb Cole will also play this weekend. Three Forks will also be well represented on the Class B team with Fin Tesoro and Owen Long. Eureka's Gavin Bates, Columbus' Colby Martinez, Malta's Connor Tuss and Fairfield's Kaelob Flores round out the rest of the roster.

On the Class C boys team, the Hi-Line will be represented by Chinook's Oskar Pula. Froid-Medicine Lake has Javonne Nesbit and Mason Dethman on the roster while Winnett-Grass Range's Walker Doman will also play on the team. Other players on the Class C team include Manhattan Christian's Seth Amunrud, Lustre Christian's Kolden Hoversland, Belt's Bridger Vogl, Melstone's Bryce Grebe, Broadus' Dillon Gee and Cade Erickson from Broadview-Lavina.

The Class AA boys team will have many great players on its roster this weekend. State champion Helena Capital will be represented by Braydon Koch and Hayden Optiz. Runner-up Bozeman will have Ty Huse, Trent Rogers and Jackson Bayse on the team. Payton Sanders and Lane Love from Billings Skyview will also play for the team. The rest of the roster will be made up of Gallatin's Eli Hunter, CMR's Rogan Barnwell, Great Falls' Reed Harris and Billings West's Gabe Hatler.

The boys and girls tournaments will follow a round-robin tournament with each team playing each other once. The results of those games will then determine the participants of the consolation and championship games on Saturday. There will also be a skills contest for dunks and 3-point shooting on Friday at 5 p.m.

The tournament begins Thursday night 5:30 p.m. at the Armory Gymnasium on the Montana State University-Northern campus.