Lights host Diggers in huge senior day game

The Montana Tech Orediggers clinched the Frontier Conference' regular season title. But, when they come to Havre Saturday afternoon to close out the regular season, it's still going to be a huge game for the Montana State University-Northern Lights.

The Lights (18-9, 7-7) face the No. 11 Orediggers (23-5, 11-3) on what will be senior day, Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium. The game closes out the regular season for both teams. Because the Frontier switched back to a neutral site conference tournament this season, Saturday's game will be the last in the Armory for this season as well.

And it will be an emotional afternoon, as senior day always is. Immanuel Anderson, Jesse Keltner, C.J. Nelson and T.J. Reynolds, as well as former Havre Blue Pony Dylan Chvilicek (manager) will all be honored for their final home games as Lights.

"This is another special group wrapping up their careers in Lights uniforms," Northern head coach Shawn Huse said. "I can not say enough good things about each and every one of them. The leadership, toughness, dedication, commitment and hard work they have put forth in everything they have done here is something to celebrate. I could not be more proud of a group of seniors, and grateful for what they have given to our program, school and community. Whether it has been games, workouts, lifting, film study, campus activities, or fundraising events, these guys gave their all and have represented us extremely well. They have certainly earned a fantastic finish to this season, their final campaign, if things can go our way down the stretch."

The Lights are indeed in the stretch run, and they are looking to secure the No. 2 seed in the upcoming tournament. MSU-N needs to beat the Orediggers and have Providence lose in order to be the No. 2 seed. Northern is also coming off two tough losses last week on the road, but they also have a season split with Montana Tech on the season, and the Lights beat the Diggers 67-60 last month in Havre.

Still, Tech is indeed the top team in the Frontier for a reason, as they are led by star guard Caleb Belch and former Fort Benton standout Hayden Diekhans.

"Tech has certainly proven to be a formidable foe this year," Huse said. "We will need to be sharp on both ends of the floor come Saturday, if we are going to end the game with more points than them on the scoreboard. They have a lot of guys that can make shots if our defense is not ready. And offensively we will need to be clicking with what we do, and converting on our shots to have success against their D."

The Lights and Orediggers will meet Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium. The Frontier Conference tournament will be held Feb. 25-27 in Great Falls.