There will be no title for Stillwater Christian School to defend at the Montana Christian Athletic Association state girls basketball tournament this weekend in Helena.

The Cougars, who had won three straight championships, lost to Gallatin Valley Home School 42-32 in last year’s championship game.

Stillwater (13-4 overall, 4-0 league) will again be one of the favorites along with Gallatin Valley. The Cougars are holding the top seed from the Western Division. Gallatin Valley (9-4, 6-2) is the top seed from the Eastern Division.

Stillwater opens state play on Thursday at 1:15 p.m. versus Billings Christian School (8-8, 3-5) at Carroll College.

“I am very proud of the way these girls have been playing this season,” Stillwater coach Sarah O’Rourke said.

“They play with a lot of heart and intensity — at practices and at games.  They work as a team and are always encouraging each other. They have been a joy to coach and I’m really looking forward to seeing what they can do at state.”

The Cougars have four key players back from last year in senior forward Sarah Paolini, senior guard Janelle Falk, junior guard Serena Koch and sophomore forward Dori Smith.

Paolini is averaging 13.1 points per game and 15.5 rebounds. She has scored a double-double in every game but one. She had a season high 26 rebounds against the Flathead JV. Her scoring high was 32 points against Helena Christian.

Falk, Koch and Smith are all averaging eight points. Smith, however, has scored in double figures seven of the last nine games.

Flathead Valley Home School, the second seed from the West, opens state tournament play versus Foothills Christian School at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

The Stillwater boys finished third last year and will be looking to improve on that showing.

The Cougars (10-11, 4-1) are the top seed from the Western Division.

“It will be a tight race this year,” Stillwater coach Dana Hashley said.

“We have four or five teams that are quite equal.”

Stillwater opens state play Thursday at 10 a.m. versus Foothills Christian Academy from Great Falls. Those two teams met once this season with Foothills prevailing, 61-56.

“We’ve had our best games the last four games of the season,” Hashley said.

“We’ve played with a lot more desire.”

Sophomore wing Isaac Neumann leads the Cougars in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game.

Junior off-guard BJ Bach is next at 12.5 points.

Point guard Clayton Hashley is at 9.8.

Senior post Matt Van Someren is averaging 5.7 rebounds per game.

“To be successful at state we will also need smart play,” Hashley said.

He said his team’s quickness and strong passing has carried the team to some key victories.

Flathead Valley Home School, the 2013 state boys champions, are the second seed from the Western Division. The Crusaders face Gallatin Valley Home School on Thursday at 6:15 p.m.

MCAA State Tournament

Thursday-Saturday

At Carroll College

Girls

Seeds

Western Division — 1. Stillwater Christian School; 2. Flathead Valley Home School; 3. Helena Christian School; 4. Great Falls Home School.

Eastern Division — 1. Gallatin Valley Home School; 2. Yellowstone County Home School; 3. Foothills Christian School; 4. Billings Christian School

Thursday

11:45 a.m. — Yellowstone County Home School vs. Helena Christian School

1:15 p.m. — Stillwater Christian School vs. Billings Christian School

3 p.m. — Flathead Valley Home School vs. Foothills Christian School

4:30 p.m. — Gallatin Valley Home School vs. Great Falls Home School

—————

Boys

Seeds

Western Division — 1. Stillwater Christian School; 2. Flathead Valley Home School; 3. Helena Christian School; 4. Heritage Christian School

Eastern Division — 1. Yellowstone County Home School; 2. Billings Christian School; 3. Gallatin Valley Home School; 4. Foothills Christian School

Thursday

8:30 a.m. — Billings Christian School vs. Helena Christian School

10 a.m. — Stillwater Christian School vs. Foothills Christian School

6:15 p.m. — Flathead Valley Home School vs. Gallatin Valley Home School

8:15 p.m. — Yellowstone County Home School vs. Heritage Christian School