Three more days will decide our state basketball champions and over in Billings, the Class A is going to be a test for the Northwest entrants.

The Bigfork Valkyries, runners up at state last year, open the tournament at 9 a.m. Thursday inside First Interstate Arena against Havre.  

Ronan’s boys battle Billings Central at noon, and Browning’s boys take on Glendive at 6:30 p.m. 

The Columbia Falls Wildkats battle the defending champion Billings Central in the nightcap, which is scheduled for 8 p.m. 

Bigfork Vals 

Tommy Brown took the reins from six-time state champion Havre coach Dustin Kraske this season, and not much has changed: The Blue Ponies are 18-3. 

“They definitely have some strong players that we’ve seen in travel ball,” Bigfork coach Courtnee Gunlock said. “They have three predominant scorers, like we do.” 

The big three are point guard Amaya Jarvis (15.4 points a game; she also grabs 6.8 rebounds a night), Sierra Parker (12.7 ppg) and Ariana Gary (12.6 ppg). 

The Valkyries counter with Braeden Gunlock (21.2 ppg), Paeten Gunlock (17 ppg) and Keni Wade (10.6). Ava Davey, a key performer the last two seasons, was battling back from knee surgery but is now questionable this weekend. 

It’s not the deepest team, but it is potent. It helps that Wade has gotten warm: She averaged 16.8 points at the divisional. 

“She had an amazing tournament and shot the ball really well,” Courtnee Gunlock said. “Paeten and Braden see where she’s open when teams start collapsing, and are kicking the ball out to her, and she’s ready to shoot.” 

Beyond that, the Vals are embracing a sort of underdog role. 

“This is the first time they’ve gone to a tournament not being a No. 1seed,” Gunlock said of her seniors, who helped the Vals win the 2023 State B title. “They’re thinking, ‘Oh, this is kind of nice.’ They’re taking it game-by-game, which is what you want to do. 

“They know they can compete with anyone in the state.” 

Two of Havre’s losses came to Billings Central, by scores of 48-32 and, at the Eastern A Divisional, 58-26. Central beat Bigfork for last year’s championship, 41-38. 

Ronan Chiefs 

Ronan started the Western A with an overtime loss to Frenchtown, then handled the Broncs two days later in the boys consolation game. 

It’s notable that Kolby Finley missed much of the first game: He caught an elbow midway through the first quarter and returned from getting stitched up midway through the fourth. 

“Having him the rest of the games was a big deal,” coach George Sherwood said. 

“Even in the Thursday loss, I thought we played well. A couple missed free throws and turnovers came at a time you couldn’t miss a free throw or have a turnover, and Frenchtown outlasted us.” 

Finley leads a very balanced offense that pushed Frenchtown to the limit without him last Thursday. He averages13.7 ppg. Laurance Lozeau (10.5) is next and four more Chiefs average between 6.4 and 8.1 ppg. 

Darcy Merchant II, whose dad was part of Central’s 1996 State A title team, leads the Rams at 15.4 ppg. Toby Stewart is next at 12.1 and Howie Martin is right there at 11.2. They also, like Ronan, have some depth. 

Browning Runnin’ Indians 

Two years ago DJ Fish was coaching the Ronan Chiefs. There was talent coming, but concerns about his mom’s health had him thinking he needed to move back to Browning (he graduated from there in 2008). 

“Then the coaching job came open,” he said. “Dan Connelly had retired, and he reached out and told me it’d be awesome if I applied for that position. He’d like to see it go to one of his former players. With his support and the timing the family situation, it happened.” 

Fish said it’s been one of the more stressful yet rewarding seasons of his coaching career. Jude Reevis (15-1 ppg) couldn’t play until January but has been very good since. The Runnin’ Indians were runner up at the Western A to the defending state champion Dillon Beavers. 

Their approach has been to grind through the first three quarters and get that spurt in the fourth. It didn’t happen against Dillon, but Browning made hay at the Western A against Hamilton and Frenchtown to make the final. 

Now comes the Glendive Red Devils, Thursday in Billings. Fish hopes his depth — eight of his players average 5.1 points or better — wins out again. 

“They’re similar to Frenchtown,” Fish said of the Red Devils, who boast four players who average double figures, led by Ethan Rivas (15.5 ppg on 58 percent shooting). “They’re big. They’re pretty strong and have some good guards. This is a team that we definitely have to play for the fourth.” 

Columbia Falls Wildkats 

New Columbia Falls girls coach Jeremy Grilley took over for a legend, Cary Finberg, and changed things up a bit.  

Early on the Kats were 2-6 but kept at it —  and look at them now. 

“We made sure everyone stayed the course and kept working hard and not focus on the early struggles too much,” Grilley, a player on Columbia Falls’ first-ever boys state champion team in 2003, said. “The girls kept grinding and kept it together. Towards the end of the year we fell into a groove.” 

The Kats have won 10 of their last 14, with Taryn Borgen (11.8 ppg) leading a deep and youngish team: Borgen is one of four seniors.  

“Halfway through the season we were starting three sophomores,” Grilley noted. “Not only is this a good accomplishment for the program, it’s a good experience for these young girls that will be coming back next year.” 

The list includes Onni Larence (8.7 ppg) and Maddy Barker (a team-high 4.9 rebounds per game).  

The reward for their first state berth in three seasons? Unbeaten Billings Central, which has 2024 tournament MVP Coral Old Bull (11 ppg) being overshadowed by Kam Reinker (15.4 ppg, 13 rpg) on a 21-0 team. 

“Defending champs, and unbeaten,” Grilley said. “But if we were going to win State we’d have to go through them one time or other. We’ll play hard and compete and we’ll see how the game goes.” 

State A 

March 13-15, Billings 

First Interstate Arena 

BOYS 

Thursday 

Game 1: Billings Central (16-5) vs. Ronan (16-6), noon 

Game 2: Dillon (20-1) vs. East Helena (11-11), 1:30 p.m. 

Game 3: Browning (14-6) vs. Glendive (18-4), 6:30 p.m. 

Game 4: Lockwood (19-2) vs. Frenchtown (16-6), 8 p.m. 

GIRLS 

Thursday 

Game 1: Havre (18-3) vs. Bigfork (19-3), 9 a.m. 

Game 2: Dillon (20-1) vs. Lewistown (10-12), 10:30 a.m. 

Game 3: Frenchtown (17-4) vs. Lockwood (17-5), 3:30 p.m. 

Game 4: Billings Central (21-0) vs. Columbia Falls (12-10), 5 p.m.