The State C dream for the Tigers will have to wait until next year.

Although it may seem like a long time ago now, the St. Regis Tigers boys basketball team won third place in the Western C divisional tournament in Butte two weeks ago, falling to West Yellowstone 65-38 in a Monday night challenge March 2 for the right to represent the division at the State C tournament in Missoula this week.

The Wolverines of West Yellowstone broke open a relatively tight game with the Tigers, the score was only 30-23 West at halftime, by running away with the third quarter 21-7, taking a 51-30 advantage into the final period.

Coach Jesse Allan’s Tigers were led by Conner Lulis with 21 points in the game, Barrett Bessette added six, Isaac Kelly five, and Chet Hill, Sterling Gray and Nate Bohn two each.

Abrams Clark led a balanced West Yellowstone scoring attack with 17 points, Austin Haley chipped in with 16, and Noah Flores and Diego Allen 12 apiece.

The Tiger boys complete season play with a school record 23 wins and a final mark of 23-2 for the season. Ranked as high as No. 3 in the State C power poll during the season, the Tigers were No. 6 in the final regular season poll.

“Great season for our boys, our program and our community,” Allan said. “Really thought we had enough to get to State this year, unfortunately it just wasn’t in the cards.”

St. Regis won the District 14C regular season and tournament titles this winter. The regular season crown is the Tigers’ fifth straight 14C championship, an impressive measure of success for the program. With seniors Bessette and Kelly departing to graduation, Allan says the Tiger’s youth of today will need to step up.

“We've graduated the nucleus of our core over the past 3 seasons,” he said. “It will be up to the younger group of freshmen to work their tails off this summer if they want to help keep this run going.”

Allan has two really good ones to build around in returning 14C first teamers Lulis and Bohn. “Conner and Nate are certainly capable of leading this squad next season,” he said. “This summer will be crucial moving forward.”

Manhattan Christian and West Yellowstone, the two Western C teams playing in the State C tourney this week, were the only two teams St. Regis lost to this season.

“Proud of our kids for battling back for third and giving us another chance Monday night,” Allan said of the Tigers’ postseason run this winter. “West Yellowstone has been improving all year, and certainly showed they are deserving of that spot at State.”

A spot the Tigers hope to earn next season.