Class B Girls win HIT over the weekend

The Hi-Line Invitational Tournament made its return to Havre this past weekend and local basketball fans were in for a treat. At Armory Gymnasium, some of the best high school girls basketball players in the state of Montana competed in the 36th edition of the all-star tournament.

The all-star players played in teams representing each class in high school basketball in Montana: Class AA, Class A, Class B and Class C. There were many great games through the weekend, but Saturday afternoon, the Class B team won the tournament with a 77-67 win over the Class C team in the championship game.

"It was great," Class B head coach Pat Goldhahn said about winning the HIT. "It's obviously a great feeling to come in here and win, especially against this much talent, and Montana has a lot to offer with the talent we have."

The Class B team started the game strong taking a 21-19 lead in the first quarter. However, Class C struck back to take a 35-33 lead into halftime. Class B responded and was able to cut its deficit to 50-49 heading to the fourth.

Class B dominated the fourth quarter to pull away for the win. Paige Lofing of Huntley Project led the way with 25 points for Class B. Madison O'Connor of Baker also played well with 19 points for Class B. Isabelle Heggem of Roy-Winifred led Class C with 22 points.

Earlier on Saturday, the Class A team took third in the tournament with a 79-58 victory over the Class AA team in the consolation game. Class A started strong taking a 20-11 lead in the first quarter. By halftime, Class A had a 35-20 lead.

Class A continued to play well in the second half to further pull away. Havre's own Ariana Gary led the way with 16 points for Class A. Layne Kearns of Hamilton also played well with 14 points for Class A. On the losing end, Cadence Graham of Butte High led Class AA with 14 points.

The tournament got started all the way back on Thursday night with a contest between the Class C and Class A girls teams. In the opening game of the tournament, Class C defeated Class A 89-79. Heggem led Class C with 20 points while Kearns scored 18 points for Class A.

The tournament continued Friday morning with Class A defeating Class AA 90-78. Alyse Aby of Laurel led Class A with 24 points while Lauren Cummings of Billings Senior scored 23 points for Class AA. Later on Friday, Class B survived for an 87-81 win over Class C. Lofing led the way with 18 points for Class B while Chinook's Hallie Neibauer scored 20 points for Class C.

On Friday afternoon, Class B played well again for a 93-68 win over Class A. Lofing had another strong game with 19 points for Class B. Meanwhile, Lainey Smith of Miles City scored 18 points for Class A in the losing effort. Friday wrapped up with Class C pulling out a 68-66 win over Class AA. Heggem and Ava Bellach of Manhattan Christian each scored 13 points for Class C. Meanwhile, Alex Bullock of Helena High and Tailyn Black of Bozeman High each scored 14 points for Class AA in the loss.

Before the consolation and championship games Saturday, the day opened up with Class B defeating Class AA 82-71. Malea Egan of Colstrip had a strong game with 18 points for Class B. Meanwhile, Avery Burkhart of Bozeman High led Class AA with 18 points.

At the end of the weekend, many players were honored for their play. Paige Wasson of North County, Lofing, O'Connor, Egan, Heggem, Aby, Kearns, Neibauer, Bullock and Black were named to the Girls All-Star Team with Lofing winning Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.

Over the course of the weekend, Lofing led all players in scoring and assists. Heggem finished the tournament as the rebounding leader. Egan earned Miss Hustle while Neibauer earned Miss Defense. In the 3-point contest Friday night, Kameryn Ketcham of Sweet Grass County won the event.

While the HIT has been going on for nearly four decades, it continues to go strong. While the tournament lost some players, that did not stop another weekend of exciting all-star basketball.

"There was a lot of talent here girls-wise and on the boys side, too. It was amazing," Goldhahn said. "Class C lost a girl to the Under Armour boot camp this weekend and we lost two actually but with the girls that filled in, it was still great."

Thursday

Class C 89, Class A 79

A - 17 16 19 27 - 79

C - 18 23 25 23 - 89

Class A - Layne Kearns 18, Alyse Aby 16, Ariana Gary 14, Amaya Jarvis 8, Mecca Bullchild 6, Dymon Root 6, Jerel White Grass 5, Lush Spoonhunter 4, Brooke Badovinac 2.

Class C - Isabelle Heggem 20, Emma Konen 16, Hallie Neibauer 14, Ava Bellach 11, Allie Dale 8, Laynie Sattoriva 7, Laynee Ellness 5, Paige Wasson 5, Teagan Erickson 3.

Halftime: Class C 41-33. 3-pointers: A 12-35 (Alyse Aby 4), C 9-28 (Hallie Neibauer 4). Rebounds: A 49 (Layne Kearns 10), C 48 (Isabelle Heggem 9).

Friday

Class A 90, Class AA 78

A - 36 9 22 23 - 90

AA - 30 11 20 17 - 78

Class A - Alyse Aby 24, Ariana Gary 14, Layne Kearns 13, Dymon Root 11, Jerel White Grass 7, Brooke Badovinac 6, Lainey Smith 5, Lush Spoonhunter 4, Amaya Jarvis 3, Mecca Bullchild 3.

Class AA - Lauren Cummings 23, Tailyn Black 15, Cadence Graham 10, Avery Burkhart 8, Alex Bullock 7, Tyra Opperman 6, Kacey Christenson 6, Avery Kraft 3.

Halftime: Class A 45-41. 3-pointers: A 9-28 (Alyse Aby 3), AA 6-21 (Tailyn Black 2). Rebounds: A 61 (Dymon Root 11), AA 59 (Lauren Cummings 11).

Class B 87, Class C 81

C - 15 18 23 25 - 81

B - 36 18 14 19 - 87

Class C - Hallie Neibauer 20, Teagan Erickson 16, Isabelle Heggem 13, Laynie Sattoriva 11, Laynee Ellness 9, Paige Wasson 5, Ava Bellach 5, Allie Dale 2.

Class B - Paige Lofing 18, Kameryn Ketcham 15, Malea Egan 12, Izzy Gurie 9, Gracie Millimen 7, Ellie Baxter 7, Madison O'Connor 6, Bailey Finn 6, Allison Kunze 4, Ada Bieler 3.

Halftime: Class B 54-33. 3-pointers: C 9-31 (Hallie Neibauer 3), B 11-44 (Kameryn Ketcham 3). Rebounds: C 52 (Paige Wasson 11), B 51 (Ellie Baxter 10).

Class B 93, Class A 68

A - 19 17 16 16 - 68

B - 28 36 19 10 - 93

Class A - Lainey Smith 18, Layne Kearns 11, Amaya Jarvis 8, Dymon Root 6, Ariana Gary 6, Jerel White Grass 5, Lush Spoonhunter 5, Brooke Badovinac 4, Mecca Bullchild 3, Alyse Aby 2.

Class B - Paige Lofing 19, Malea Egan 16, Madison O'Connor 14, Allison Kunze 11, Gracie Millimen 10, Ada Bieler 7, Izzy Gurie 6, Kameryn Ketcham 5, Bailey Finn 3, Ellie Baxter 2,

Halftime: Class B 64-36. 3-pointers: A 7-28 (Lainey Smith 3), B 13-45 (Madison O'Connor 4). Rebounds: A 53 (Layne Kearns 7), B 60 (Malea Egan 8).

Class C 68, Class AA 66

AA - 23 10 16 17 - 66

C - 17 15 17 19 - 68

Class AA - Alex Bullock 14, Tailyn Black 14, Avery Kraft 9, Avery Burkhart 6, Lauren Cummings 6, Tyra Opperman 5, Brityn Stewart 5, Cadence Graham 3, Ashlyn Jones 2, Kacey Christenson 2.

Class C - Ava Bellach 13, Isabelle Heggem 13, Hallie Neibauer 12, Allie Dale 9, Laynee Ellness 8, Paige Wasson 5, Emma Konen 5, Laynie Sattoriva 3.

Halftime: Class AA 33-32. 3-pointers: AA 6-23 (Tailyn Black 2), C 7-29 (Ava Bellach 3). Rebounds: AA 45 (Lauren Cummings 9), C 63 (Isabelle Heggem 10).

Saturday

Class B 82, Class AA 71

B - 20 6 33 23 - 82

AA - 22 15 26 8 - 71

Class B - Malea Egan 18, Paige Lofing 17, Gracie Millimen 12, Allison Kunze 10, Madison O'Connor 6, Kameryn Ketcham 6, Ellie Baxter 4, Izzy Gurie 4, Ada Bieler 3, Bailey Finn 2.

Class AA -Avery Burkhart 18, Alex Bullock 15, Tailyn Black 11, Tyra Opperman 10, Ashlyn Jones 5, Kacey Christenson 5, Cadence Graham 3, Lauren Cummings 2, Avery Kraft 2.

Halftime: Class AA 37-26. 3-pointers: B 10-33 (Paige Wasson 3), AA 6-27 (Alex Bullock 2). Rebounds: B 51 (Bailey Finn 7), AA 53 (Avery Burkhart 11).

Class A 79, Class AA 58, Consolation

AA - 11 9 23 15 - 58

A - 20 15 24 20 - 79

Class AA - Cadence Graham 14, Alex Bullock 10, Brityn Stewart 7, Avery Burkhart 6, Lauren Cummings 6, Tyra Opperman 4, Ashlyn Jones 3, Kacey Christenson 3, Tailyn Black 3, Avery Kraft 2.

Class A - Ariana Gary 16, Layne Kearns 14, Brooke Badovinac 12, Amaya Jarvis 11, Lainey Smith 9, Dymon Root 8, Alyse Aby 4, Jerel White Grass 3, Lish Spoonhunter 2.

Halftime: Class A 35-20. 3-pointers: AA 7-27 (Cadence Graham 4), A 4-20 (Lainey Smith 1). Rebounds: AA 44 (Alex Bullock 10), A 69 (Layne Kearns 10).

Class B 77, Class C 67, Championship

B - 21 12 16 28 - 77

C - 19 16 15 17 - 67

Class B - Paige Lofing 25, Madison O'Connor 19, Malea Egan 13, Allison Kunze 8, Ellie Baxter 7, Izzy Gurie 3, Bailey Finn 2.

Class C - Isabelle Heggem 22, Ava Bellach 15, Allie Dale 10, Paige Wasson 7, Hallie Neibauer 5, Laynee Ellness 4, Emma Konen 2, Laynie Sattoriva 2.

Halftime: Class C 35-33. 3-pointers: B 11-25 (Madison O'Connor 4), C 9-32 (Ava Bellach 4). Rebounds: B 47 (Malea Egan 8), C 56 (Isabelle Heggem 16).