Sidelines: Winter sports storm is about to break
JOHN HAMILTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 2 weeks AGO
PLAINS SENIOR Brock Ryan uses some sweet chin music to battle his foe in the Ted Kato Invitational in Thompson Falls January 25. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
It truly is the calm before the storm; but the storm is about to break.
Get ready for steady gusts of basketball and rolling waves of wrestling sports fans as the high school sports seasons swing into action this week across Montana.
In basketball, several local teams will mostly be playing in the Tip-Off Tournament in Hamilton, utilizing the junior high and high school gyms.
With the boys playing in the Hamilton High School gym Friday, the Hamilton JV will square off with St. Regis at 11:30 a.m., Superior and Philipsburg will play at 1 p.m., Alberton and Valley Christian play at 2:30, and Noxon and Lincoln will meet at 4.
In girls’ play at the Hamilton junior high gym Friday, St. Regis will play the Hamilton JV at 10 a.m., Noxon will face Lincoln at 1 p.m., Superior will play Philipsburg at 2:30, and Alberton and Valley Christian at 4.
Back on court in Hamilton Saturday, the girls will play at the high school with Superior playing the Hamilton JV at 11:30 a.am., Noxon facing Drummond at 1 p.m., Philipsburg mixing it up with St. Regis at 2:30, and Alberton taking on Victor at 5:30.
At the junior high gym, the Superior boys will play the Hamilton JV at 10 a.m., the St. Regis Tigers will face Philipsburg at 1 p.m. and Noxon will play Drummond at 2:30, and Alberton will play Victor at 4.
Thompson Falls basketball teams will not start season play until December 12 in the Shelby Tournament.
In wrestling, area teams from Thompson Falls, Plains-Hot Springs and Superior are all scheduled to participate in the Owen Invitational tournament in Polson Friday and Saturday.
Hot Springs officials have decided to cooperate the boys basketball program with Plains this coming season and have canceled the Savage Heat boys’ schedule.
In other news from the Spa City, athletic director Brady Ovitt was originally set to coach the Hot Springs boys this coming season, but has stepped into the head coaching job for the Heat girls instead as previous coach Richard Jackson has stepped down.
Although this move will cause scheduling changes across the board, it was rumored that a last-second round-robin basketball event was reportedly being planned for Saturday in Plains.
“I think it is a good deal for both teams, it drives competition and allows each player to play at a higher level,” Ovitt said. "Hopefully it can help bring the two communities together!”
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