Big Sandy girls make long-awaited return to state

Talk about a long road. 

Once upon a time, the Big Sandy girls basketball team was a fixture at the Class C state tournament. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Pioneers were among the elite programs in Class C.

But, for more than a decade, that all changed. 

Now however, the Pioneers have finally returned to the state tournament, and they'll get to do it in Great Falls, which is essentially a home away from home for the Pioneers of head coach Travis Baumann. And Baumann and the Pioneers make their long-awaited state tournament return when they battle Western C champion Twin Bridges Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

But, it hasn't only been a long road back to state for the Pioneers, it's been a hard one, too.

Big Sandy finished just third in the District 9C last month in Havre, then the Pioneers had to not only play in the play-in game at the Northern C, but, the Pioneers had to win a consolation game and a challenge game at the Northern C, just to make their state tourney dream a reality.

"It just shows you the heart and the amount of grit that these girls have and how hard they work," Baumann said.

The Pioneers have talent, too.

Big Sandy is young, but senior Lainey Terry and juniors Jai Baumann and Eva Yaedon have a ton of experience and are great scorers. Keira Galbavy has also been an amazing start this season, while Jenny Sant is a big part of the equation on what has become a deep and exciting Pioneer squad, a squad that had to beat 9C champion CJI in the Northern C consolation game, among other thrilling wins.

And Big Sandy will be looking for more this week in Great Falls.

First, the Pioneers will look to upset the Falcons, who were runner's up at the state tournament a year ago. Also on the Pioneers' side of the bracket is defending state champion Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale, which takes on Custer-Hysham in the first round Thursday. The winner of that game will face either the Pioneers or Falcons in the semifinals.

Melstone, the winner of the Southern C, meets Plentywood, which took third at state a year ago, while Northern C champion, Roy-Winifred, which took fourth a year ago at state, plays White Sulphur Springs in the final first-round game.

The Class C state semifinals begins Friday at 6 and 7:30 p.m., while the consolation game is set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday and the title is set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday night.