Northern set for Frontier home debut against Tech

The Armory Gymnasium might just be what the doctor order for the Montana State University-Northern basketball teams. After a tough road trip to start Frontier Conference play last weekend, the Skylights and Lights make their league home debut tonight against Montana Tech.

First up, the Skylights (0-1, 6-8) will host the Orediggers at 5 p.m. Tech comes into tonight's game at 1-0 in league play, and led by former Chester and MSU-Northern standout Jeff Graham, the Orediggers are off to a great start with a 10-4 overall record.

Last weekend, the Diggers stunned nationally ranked Rocky Mountain College, and paced by Brooklyn Hanwitz, Liv Wangerin, and veterans like Aubrie Rademacher and Soda Rice, the Diggers are a stout offensive team. Tech also features Havre High standout Avery Carlson.

Northern will counter with veterans of its own in Ryley Kehr and Shyan Krass, while Savannah Toms is coming off a big game against Montana Western last Saturday.

Speaking of big games, the Northern Lights (0-1, 8-6) are looking for one tonight when they host the Ordiggers at 7. Northern lost a heartbreaker at Western last Saturday, but with leading scorer Zack Martinez and others, the Lights will be ready to bounce back.

Doing so won't be easy, however. Tech (1,0, 11-3), currently ranked No. 8 in the NAIA, comes to Havre off a huge win over Rocky last weekend. And of course, with All-American Caleb Bellach, as well as Michael Ure, Asa Williams and a cast that also includes former Fort Benton star Hayden Diekhans, Tech is loaded with talent and will give the Lights a tough go, even in the friendly confines of the Armory.

Still, the Lights and Skylights are looking to make a statement tonight at home, as then they'll have to head back out on the road, as they visit RMC Saturday in Billings.

Northern hosts Tech tonight with the women's game at 5 and the men to follow.