Clark Fork Lady Cats fall short of state tourney
Kathleen Woodford Mineral Independent | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 6 years AGO
Clark Fork Lady Mountain Cats head coach Toni Labbe talks to her team in Missoula at Districts. The Cats won the Western 13C Districts and traveled to Manhattan Christian for Western C Divisionals where they lost two matches and their chance for a state berth. Host Manhattan Christian won the tournament with Ennis in second place. State will be held in Bozeman Nov. 8-10. (Kathleen Woodford/Mineral Independent)
The Western 13C District champion Clark Fork Lady Mountain Cats traveled to Manhattan Christian for Western C Divisionals on Nov. 1-3. The Cats faced Manhattan Christian in match 1 and were defeated, 25-11, 25-16, 25-14. On Friday, they faced Western C 14C District champion Plains, and lost in a five-set matchup: 25-22, 25-19, 15-25, 18-25, 15-10. The loss knocked the Lady Cats out of the tournament.
Manhattan Christian went on to win the Western C Divisional crown after defeating Ennis, 3-1. Ennis defeated Plains on Friday, and then Charlo, who came in fourth at the tournament.
On Saturday, Ennis defeated Gardiner, who landed in third place. They then faced Manhattan Christian in the championship match and won.
However, the tournament is double-elimination and Ennis faced Manhattan Christian again for the winner-take-all match for the title, which Manhattan Christian won, 25-21, 25-16, 14-25, 25-14.
Both teams earned a spot in the state tournament which will be held Nov. 8-10 at Montana State University at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman.
Western C Divisional
Nov. 1-3 at Manhattan Christian
(Two teams advance)
Thursday
Match 1: Manhattan Christian def. Alberton-Superior 25-11, 25-16, 25-14, first round
Match 2: Twin Bridges def. Plains 25-18, 25-16, 25-15, first round
Match 3: Ennis def. Charlo 25-23, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22, first round
Match 4: Gardiner def. Seeley-Swan 25-12, 25-18, 25-13, first round
Match 5: Manhattan Christian def. Twin Bridges 30-28, 26-24, 19-25, 20-25, 15-11, second round
Match 6: Gardiner def. Ennis 25-19, 18-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-10, second round
Friday
Match 7: Plains def. Alberton-Superior 25-22, 25-19, 15-25, 18-25, 15-10, loser-out
Match 8: Charlo def. Seeley-Swan 25-23, 26-24, 25-21, loser-out
Match 9: Ennis def. Plains 25-19, 25-15, 25-18, loser-out
Match 10: Charlo def. Twin Bridges 25-16, 23-25, 27-25, 25-14, loser-out
Match 11: Manhattan Christian def. Gardiner 25-19, 25-22, 25-16, undefeated semifinal
Match 12: Ennis def. Charlo 25-17, 25-15, 25-20, loser-out (Charlo gets fourth place)
Saturday
Match 13: Ennis def. Gardiner 25-22, 25-13, 21-25, 25-16, loser-out (Gardiner gets third place)
Match 14: Ennis def. Manhattan Christian 25-21, 25-16, 14-25, 25-14, first championship
Match 15: Manhattan Christian def. Ennis 25-21, 25-16, 14-25, 25-14, second championship