Stillwater Christian School girls basketball coach Denise Topp has no complaints on how the season has played out to this point.

The Cougars, winners of their final six regular-season games, finished with an impressive 17-3 mark overall. In league play, SCS claimed the second seed from the West Division of the Montana Christian Athletic Association with a 4-2 record.

"They connected as a group," Topp said.

"They have that family-like atmosphere. They're supportive to each other, encouraging. They don't care who scores just as long as they have more points than the opposing team."

That's not only made this group special, but a fun one for Topp to coach.

This weekend, Stillwater has an opportunity to make the 2010-11 campaign even more memorable. The Cougars have a legitimate shot to claim the state MCAA championship.

Play starts today at the McLaughlin Center on the campus of the University of Great Falls. The tournament ends Saturday.

"They are peaking at the right time," Topp said.

"They are on top of their game right now."

Topp says her four returning starters - Jordan Danz, Linnea Hashley, Samantha Red Elk and Morgan Paolini - have all stepped up their game from a year ago.

"Maturity," Topp said.

"That is different from last year. We have matured as a team, and as basketball players."

Danz and Paolini, thrust into starting roles last year as freshmen, have adjusted to varsity ball quickly.

"Having one year of high school ball under their belt just makes a world of difference," Topp said.

Senior leadership from Julia Smith and Hashley is another reason for this year's success.

Paolini and Danz are the team's scoring leaders, averaging 14 and 11 points, respectively.

Hashley is at 10 points and Red Elk at nine.

Danz leads in rebounding, averaging six per game. Paolini, Hashley and Smith are next with four each.

SCS opens state play at 3 p.m. versus Foothills Community Christian School of Great Falls. Those two teams met once during the regular season with SCS winning 63-30.

Red Elk and Hashley were the offensive leaders in that outing with 16 points each.

"I think we'll do just fine with them," Topp said of FCCS.

"But you can never tell. You hate to take a team too lightly."

Two of SCS's losses this season, five and 12 points, were to division rival and last year's state champ Helena Christian School.

"They have a lot of pressure on the ball," Topp said of HCS.

"They do a nice job of converting turnovers into points."

Stillwater's last state championship was in 2009.

The Flathead Valley Homeschool boys, like the SCS girls, fell one-game short of capturing a state basketball championship last year in Great Falls.

The Crusaders lost to Foothills Community Christian School in the title game 63-56.

Three of FVHS' leading scorers from that contest are back - Josh Jarvis, who led with 15 points, Stephen Sprunger, who finished with 11, and Jace Voigtlander, who wound up with eight.

The other returning starter is Isaac Rajkowski.

The Crusaders, 16-4 overall and 5-1 league, open state play today at 6 p.m. versus Rimrock Christian High School.

Those teams did not play during the regular season.

Rajkowski, Jarvis, Sprunger and Voigtlander are all averaging between 10-12 points per game. Nick Peterson, the other starter, is at 6.5.

Voigtlander leads in rebounding, seven per game.

"Everyone is contributing," FVHS coach Tim Peterson said.

"It's hard to stop us when they don't know where it's coming from. A team effort; a lot of unselfish play."

Coach Peterson says the power is again in the west this year regarding state. He's says it's possible the Crusaders and SCS (19-2, 5-1) could wind up playing each other for the state title.

Those two rivals split during the season with FVHS winning by two and SCS coming out on top by six. The points difference in the two games gave SCS the top seed from the West.

FVHS claimed the No. 2 seed.

The Crusaders won state three straight years, beginning in 2002.

Stillwater Christian School starts state play at 10 a.m. versus Gallatin Valley Homeschool.

The Flathead Valley Homeschool girls, consolation champs at last year's tournament, face Yellowstone County Homeschool today at 4:30 p.m. in another first-round matchup.

Montana Christian

Athletic Association

State Basketball Tournament

Thursday

At Great Falls

College of Great Falls

Girls

Thursday

11:30 a.m. - Gallatin Valley Homeschool vs. Helena Homeschool

1 p.m. - Helena Christian School vs. Rimrock Christian High School

3 p.m. - Stillwater Christian School vs. Foothills Community Christian School

4:30 p.m. - Yellowstone County Homeschool vs. Flathead Valley Homeschool

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West Division Seeds

1. Helena Christian School

2. Stillwater Christian School

3. Helena Home School

4. Flathead Valley Homeschool

East Division Seeds

1. Yellowstone County Homeschool (Billings)

2. Gallatin Valley Homeschool (Bozeman)

3. Foothills Community Christian School (Great Falls)

4. Rimrock Christian High School (Billings)

Boys

8:30 a.m. - Helena Homeschool vs. Heritage Christian School

10 a.m. - Stillwater Christian School vs. Gallatin Valley Homeschool

6 p.m. - Rimrock Christian High School vs. Flathead Valley Homeschool

7:30 p.m. - Foothills Community Christian School vs. Helena Christian School

West Division Seeds

1. Stillwater Christian School

2. Flathead Valley Homeschool

3. Helena Homeschool

4. Helena Christian School

East Division Seeds

1. Foothills Community Christian School

2. Heritage Christian School (Bozeman)

3. Rimrock Christian High School

4. Gallatin Valley Homeschool