Blue Hawks finish 3rd at divisional tournament

In a season that began with a brief struggle as they found their rhythm, the Thompson Falls volleyball team rallied for success.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 1 HOUR AGO

Trotters go 1-2 at 7B divisional tourney

The Plains Trotters have had, by all accounts, a successful 2024 volleyball season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 1 HOUR AGO

Mineral County standouts earn All-State selections

Two eight-player All-State selections will be back again next year for fans in Mineral County.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 1 HOUR AGO

Hot Springs advances to semifinals

Before the game began, there were notably several Hot Springs High football players limping during warm-ups, testing their season’s injuries as they prepared for their quarterfinal playoff contest against Highwood.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 1 HOUR AGO

Kvelve's Comments: Never give up

Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 DAYS, 1 HOUR AGO

Blue Hawks knocked out at Malta

There will be a time when the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks enter a playoff game with an unbeaten record in 11-player Montana high school football.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

St. Regis volleyball season comes to end

The first of the new Western 13C conference district volleyball tournaments have come and gone for the St. Regis Lady Tigers who faced a gauntlet of the league’s best teams after beating conference rival Hot Springs in a Wednesday play-in match.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

Lady Devils volleyball team battle to the end

It was a busy and no doubt tiring couple of days for the Noxon Lady Devils volleyball team this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

Lady Bobcats test Mission

For the Superior Lady Bobcats volleyball team, a win in the Western 7B conference tournament play-in round would be a boost to a frustrating season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

St. Regis outlasts Hot Springs in volleyball showdown

As is often the case, play-in games for on-the-bubble teams and their hopes for post-season action can be the most intense and hard-fought matches of the tournament.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

Kvelve's Comments: Mega 13C

In theory, it was and probably is, a sound move.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

Playoff football schedules

After the first round of the football playoffs, only one of three Sanders and Mineral counties schools will be moving on.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

Hot Springs outsprints Custer-Hysham, 78-51

Fans who attended the Hot Springs at Custer-Hysham playoff contest, must have thought they went to a track meet and a football game broke out.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

Lady Hawks earn top seed at divisional

The year 2024 will be remembered in local volleyball lore as the year the rivalry between Thompson Falls and Plains reached a new level.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

Plains clinches third seed in divisional tourney

It’s been a whirlwind finish and a successful season for the Plains Trotters volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

Belt Huskies tame Tigers in playoffs

A fierce, game-long pass rush disrupted the St. Regis Tigers’ offense while the Belt Huskies potent running game ran up a big lead during their 57-6 Western B-8 player first-round playoff game this past Saturday in Belt.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 WEEK, 2 DAYS AGO

Hot Springs sweeps Victor in volleyball

With the state volleyball playoffs getting underway this weekend, the Hot Springs Savage Heat will come into the post-season with a 3-0 sweep at home over Victor this past week hopefully giving them some playoff momentum.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Kvelve's Comments: It's playoffs time

And just like that, someone flipped the regular season off-on switch, and the Montana high school sports regular season was done.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Horsemen cap season with win over Arlee

For the Plains Horsemen, the road game against Arlee was a microcosm of their B-8 player football season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Hot Springs' offense lights up Noxon

It was a long-awaited, much-anticipated showdown in the world of Montana six-player football.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Trotters notch win heading into district tourney

In the topsy-turvey world that is the Western 7B volleyball conference, there’s good and not-so-good.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Bobcats miss playoffs with loss to Seeley

Experience is often a priceless commodity.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Lady Hawks sweep Troy

It was a good week and a good test for the Thompson Falls volleyball team, which will host the Western 7B district playoff tournament this Saturday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Blue Hawks earn No. 4 seed in playoffs

The Thompson Falls Blue Hawks football team completed their third regular season among the ranks of Class B-11 player schools with a 23-0 win over the Whitehall Trojans Friday night in T Falls.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

St. Regis volleyball drops two

It was a hard week of volleyball for the St. Regis Lady Tigers, who faced a pair of volleyball powers this one, losing in Drummond, 3-0, then falling at home to Charlo, also by a 3-0 score.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Tigers secure playoff spot with win over Troy

There was a playoff spot on the line for the St. Regis Tigers football team and they showed the wanted that spot at the expense of Troy.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Tulloch scorches XC course for state title

It was a good day for Sanders County’s two high school cross-country teams. And with the youth of the runners from both squads, the future looks bright indeed.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Playoff action begins this week

The Montana high school Fall sports playoffs are about to begin.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Undefeated Florence-Carlton topples Blue Hawks

Yet another tough road game faced the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks football team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Noxon takes care of business at Gardiner

The Devil went down to Hot Springs, he was looking for a 6-player title to steal.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

St. Regis runs past Plains, 48-24

St. Regis amassed 425 total yards of offense in a 48-24 win over Plains last week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Loss drops St. Regis to 4-4 in conference action

If the volleyball match between St. Regis and Lincoln this past Saturday is any indication, the upcoming Western 13C District tournament ought to be a humdinger.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Unbeaten Lady Lions sweep Superior

There was little left to be determined following Eureka’s convincing 3-0 sweep of Superior this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Hot Springs tips St. Regis in volleyball matchup

For the Hot Springs Lady Savage Heat volleyball team, this has been an uncharacteristically tough season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Lady Devils suffer two losses on week

It was not a good week for Noxon’s Lady Devils volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Lady Hawks sweep Trotters in volleyball rematch

In the volatile world of the Western 7B Volleyball conference, there is a sports fan’s paradise on the horizon. Intense competition, down-to-the-wire games played and games to come.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Superior wallops Arlee for 4th straight win

After uncharacteristically beginning the season with a 1-2 record, the young talent that permeates the Superior High football lineup began to gel into a dangerous team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Hot Springs dominates Alberton in 6-man matchup

It was a matter of a long-time, long-successful team going up against a team new to varsity play without being part of a co-op.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Local teams dominate divisional XC meet

Boy, oh boy, this could be good.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Kvelve's Comments: Hunting state titles

I want a champion, or a championship.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS AGO

Kvelve's Comments: Can you feel the heat?

The excitement of what is coming down the local sports pipe is the stuff of which legends are made

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Savage Heat notch road win at Gardiner

The good teams, football purists note, are the ones who bounce back from disappointment and take it out on their next opponent.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Top-rated Valley Christian shuts out Horsemen

Valley Christian is, as Plains head football coach Mike Tatum recognized, “as good as advertised.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks place 5 in top 30 at Pablo race

The Thompson Falls girls and Plains' outstanding sophomore runner continued to represent Sanders County well at the recent Mission Shadows Duels cross country meet at Silver Fox Golf Course in Pablo.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

St. Regis keeps playoff aspirations alive

As regular season, close to post-season crucial games, this one was a must win for both Darby and St. Regis.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Noxon volleyball falls to Troy

The Noxon volleyball team had a “devil” of a time in Troy where they faced the Lady Trojans this past Thursday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Tigers swept in match with Seeley

The St. Regis Lady Tigers put up a tough fight against the always-tough Lady Blackhawks in Seeley-Swan this past week, but it was not enough to overcome the tall, talented home team in a 3-0 Seeley sweep.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks find their form as post season nears

It is almost always best to “peak” as post-season possibilities begin to take shape.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Trotters rebound with wins over Mission, Superior

Following their first loss of the season the week before to league leading Eureka, the Plains Trotters volleyballers were no doubt anxious to get back on the court.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Soccer teams cap inaugural season

With rare exception, starting a new business or fielding a new team in an established, power-laden league, requires willingness to invest in many things, including experience.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Blue Hawks fall to Missoula Loyola

Loyola of Missoula was looking to establish momentum early during their game in Thompson Falls Friday night at Previs Field.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Superior Bobcats rout Charlo, 60-12

After dropping two of their first three games of the season, the young Cats are on a roll that has them in contention for a playoff berth.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Blue Hawks fall to top-rated Lions

One thing is for certain: the Western B 11-player football conference is a tough league.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawk harriers win Hatchery Run

In what could well be a preview of post-season battles to come, Thompson Falls girls edged Plains girls by one team point in the Arlee Hatchery Run this past Friday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Blue Hawks get first soccer win

This was a big week for high school soccer in the Sanders and Mineral counties area.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Wolverines nip Noxon, 48-45

The worst thing about the football game between Gardiner and Noxon this past Saturday in West Yellowstone was that it had to end.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Eureka volleyball escapes Plains with win

If Thursday’s match between unbeaten Eureka and unbeaten Plains was any indication, and it definitely was, the Western B volleyball playoffs this year are going to be awesome.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Thompson Falls improves to 6-3 in win over Troy

After starting their week of volleyball action with a sweep of Troy, the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks journeyed to Eureka for a match with the unbeaten conference leading Lady Lions.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Horsemen hold off Trojans on homecoming night

When Atlas, the Greek mythological figure often shown holding the planet on his shoulders, carrying the weight of the world was probably not the only thing on his mind.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Superior dominates Victor in homecoming win

It could become a new tradition, making the Pirates walk the plank on Homecoming night.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Gardiner Bruins maul Alberton Panthers, 40-6

Gardiner made the long trip from their home turf (308 miles) to Alberton hoping the hours-long drive in a bus was worth the effort.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Kvelve's Comments: Charlie Hustle

One of the greatest of all-time departed the bonds of Earth the other day.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Lynx put damper on Hot Springs homecoming

It was a dark and stormy night, as many aspiring novelists may have written.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawks win third straight

The Thompson Falls Lady Hawks are on a volleyball roll. This past week they won a pair of Western B conference matches to increase their winning streak to three and boost their season record to 5-3.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Bobcats volleyball team falls at Mission

Not only did the Superior Bobcats volleyball team run into the conference co-leaders this past week, they also had to deal with a power outage.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Tulloch fourth at Mountain West Classic

There are big cross country meets, and there is the Mountain West event each year in Missoula.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Soccer teams face tough matches at Columbia Falls

With just one match this week in their inaugural varsity season, the Thompson Falls-Plains co-op Blue Hawks continued to build on improvements they have seen.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Lady Savage Heat sweeps Two Eagle River

It was a mixed bag of matches for the Hot Springs Lady Heat volleyballers, who won two matches and lost one this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Lady Tigers get volleyball win over Victor

After losing to unbeaten Plains this past Tuesday, the St. Regis Lady Tigers were looking for a solid volleyball win.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Trotters volleyball improves to 7-0

To say the Plains High Trotters volleyball team is playing well would be like saying the surface of the sun is hot.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Hawks shut out Anaconda, 28-0

After a grueling and challenging beginning to the 2024 season, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks return from playing four of their first five football games on the road.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Red Devils cruise past Alberton in shutout win

While no game is “easy” in the world of football (that’s where they get the term ‘on any Sunday’), not going down to the wire every time out can be a good thing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Bobcats beat host Plains, 60-28

It’s probably enough to make a grown football coach get misty-eyed: running backs with track speed and wrestler physicality.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Hot Springs posts another shutout

There is an interesting parallel between nature and Montana 6-player football.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Kvelve's Comments: The half-way point

This time fly's thing boggles my mind.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Seeley-Swan outlasts Tigers on homecoming night

Speed, it has been said, kills. When you add power to velocity, it often creates some intense collisions.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 2 WEEKS AGO

Kvelve's Comments: In full stride

Saturday, as is the case with most every Saturday during the school sports year, was a great day for this guy.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Lady Bobcats suffer two losses

It was another challenging week for the Superior Lady Bobcats volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Mission gets best of Plains in key conference game

For a first half of the season game, the Plains at Mission football game in St. Ignatius this past Saturday was a contest both needed to win in a Western Conference standings race that is taking shape.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Heat sweep Arlee for first volleyball win

There were signs of progress this past week for the Hot Springs Lady Heat volleyball team, highlighted by their first win of the season, a 3-0 on-the-road sweep of the Arlee Scarlets Thursday night.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Trotters bounce volleyball rival Hawks

The Trotters needed the win. For themselves and their fans.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Red Devils rally, again

If this trend continues, they may become known as the “cardiac” Red Devils.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Savage Heat scorch West Yellowstone

In what was a crucial mid-season game between two 6-player playoff hopefuls this past Friday night in Hot Springs, the hometown Savage Heat routed West Yellowstone 50-0.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Boulder spoils Blue Hawks homecoming

After three straight weeks on the road to open the 2024 season, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks returned to Previs Field for their annual Homecoming game against highly ranked Jefferson High (Boulder) this past Friday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Alberton notches first volleyball win of season

This was the victory the Lady Panthers were looking for.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Coop soccer squad falls to Bigfork, Whitefish

In their inaugural season of high school varsity soccer, the Thompson Falls-Plains boys’ and girls' teams are experiencing what might be considered a baptism under fire.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

St. Regis tops Superior in I-90 football rivalry

With the new alignment of the Western B 8-player conference, the I-90 football rivalry between Superior and St. Regis will take place each year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Tulloch sets course record at River Bend

There is something special, and very young, brewing in the Plains-Thompson Falls area this year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 3 WEEKS AGO

Blue Hawks rack up 252 yards in loss at Manhattan

It has been, to say the least, a challenging start for the Thompson Falls High football players, coaches and staff.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Kvelve's Comments: What's a sport anyway?

It can be a fine line, other times it is not up for debate.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Plains volleyball notches two wins

Here come the Trotters. No trotting here, it's out of the gate and moving.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls-Plains play to draw with Libby

Being the new kids on the block, or in this case, the pitch, progress can be frustratingly slow.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Plains' Tulloch finishes first at Corvallis Invite

This is shaping up to be an excellent year for the area’s two cross-country schools.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Lady Hawks volleyball back on track with wins over St. Ignatius, Superior

Nothing like a pair of sweeps to lift the spirits of a team that struggled a bit out of the gate.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

St. Regis volleyball snares first win

St. Regis’ volleyball team split a pair of games this past week, picking up their first win of the 2024 season before running into a perennially tough opponent who swept them at home.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Noxon outlasts Lincoln in shootout, 55-53

There may not be a more exciting game this year, especially the second half, than the Noxon-Lincoln thriller this past Friday night in Lincoln.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Hot Springs volleyball falls to 0-4

It has been a tough start to the 2024 season for the Hot Springs volleyball team, but with the core of players they have, things are likely to get better.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Savage Heat bury Big Sandy, 45-0

It was not a good day for the Pioneers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

St. Regis-Mullan sneaks past Arlee

One of the questions coming into the 2024 high school football season was how St. Regis would fare playing their games back in Montana after several years as an Idaho competitor via their co-op arrangement with Mullan, Idaho.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Plains XC runners off to fast start

It would be easy to get really excited about the youthful group of runners on both the girls and boys cross-country teams at Plains High this year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH, 4 WEEKS AGO

Lady Panthers fall in conference play

The combination of Western C conferences 13 and 14 one large 13C conference brings some new foes together on a regular basis this season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Savage Heat drops close game in Centerville

Yogi Berra, the legendary Yankees catcher famous for head-scratching sayings, would have said it was “deja vu all over again”.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs goes 0-2 in opening week

One traditional power, Drummond, and one traditionally average team, Lincoln, were on the menu this past week for the Hot Springs Lady Heat volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis Tigers score big win over Charlo

For the St. Regis Tigers, the football game versus Charlo was just what the gridiron doctor ordered.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks open season 0-2

The Western Conference class B volleyball race is going to be a grind it out matter from the looks of the opening week of conference play.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls girls soccer battles Polson

As newcomers to the world of Montana high school, varsity soccer, the Thompson Falls boys’ and girls’ teams are in the “curve”.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks finish fifth at Timberlake Farragut Invitational

The two best words to describe the status of the local high school cross country scene could be: youthful and talented.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Blue Hawks lose in Joliet, 23-14

It will likely be good for some home cooking for the road-bound Thompson Falls Blue Hawks B-11 football team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Bobcats volleyball take on Wardens

One thing is for certain, the young Superior Lady Bobcats volleyball does not give up.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Tigers notch win in season-opener

It may have been a pretext of things to come this season in the newly combined District 13C West volleyball conference season openers for the St. Regis Lady Tigers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Bobcats swamp Trojans 65-14

After a season-opening 35-20 loss to Valley Christian last week in Missoula, the Superior Bobcats were ready to play as they hosted Troy in Superior.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Trotters fall in five-set thriller with Loyola

If the first match of the 2024 season is any indication, the Plains Trotters volleyball team is going to be an improved, edge-of-your-seat squad.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Horsemen fall in battle with Tigers

Decades ago, a national TV network opened its weekly sports show with the phrase, “the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Barry Fowler fundraiser at Plains Golf Course

This past weekend’s Barry Fowler Clark Fork Valley Hospital fundraising golf tournament was just the latest example of the generosity prevalent in Plains.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Kvelve's Comments: On the pitch

This may be a shocker to folks who know me.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Bulldogs launch season with 34-8 win over St. Regis

The loaded Mission Bulldogs, who are expected to be one of the top teams in this year’s version of the Montana Western Conference 8-player football group, showed they are a team with which to be reckoned when they scored 14 first quarter points to take a 14-0 lead at the …

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Blue Hawks seal opening win over Conrad

An interception with less than 15 seconds to play was the final act in a dramatic opening day football game between Thompson Falls and host Conrad this past Friday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Co-op boys soccer ties Lone Peak 1-1

On a bright, blue-sky day with temperatures hovering in the low 90s and upper 80s, a group of high school athletes were part of history on a field in Thompson Falls.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

St. Regis-Mullan opens with loss

As a student of the sports he coaches, St. Regis head football coach Jesse Allan has a saying indicative of his approach at the bottom of emails he sends.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Superior volleyball shows toughness in loss

It may not be the outcome they hoped for, but the Superior Lady Bobcats volleyball team is going to be better this year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Bearcats escape Hot Springs with win

If this is how the Montana six-player high school football season is going to go, fans should bring Velcro to the games they attend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Little slugger

I was kicking back in front of the boob tube the other day when a glimpse of action from this year’s Little League World Series flashed across the screen.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

T-Falls harriers open season at Ronan

It was a great day for a run, with the Mission Mountains close enough to reach out and touch.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

New ADs take the helm at Plains, Thompson Falls

A pair of home-towners were recently named activities directors at the two biggest schools in Sanders County.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Plains cross-country stacked with fast fleet

Plains 2024 cross country can be at least partially summoned up by one word: loaded.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Kids these days

In my life as a sports reporter roaming the highways and byways of these two counties, I have had a wonderful opportunity to dispel a millenniums old perception about today’s youth.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Five seniors lead Lady Hawks volleyball

This could be a very interesting and rewarding season for Thompson Falls volleyball fans. With Plains, Eureka, Florence and Missoula Loyola in the mix, it can’t help but be challenging.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Lady Tigers reload volleyball roster

By St. Regis' standards, last year would be considered an off year, even a rebuilding year as the young squad struggled with consistency.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Plains volleyball returns top talent

They will be without some key players from last year’s 9-8 team, but the Trotters volleyball team has some solid talent and experience returning for new head coach Kim Lakko.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

'This is our time': Noxon led by groups of seniors

Over the summer, during voluntary weight and conditioning workouts, members of the Noxon High Red Devils six-player football team spent a significant amount of time thinking about the opportunity at hand.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Blue Hawks head into season with confidence

Despite the loss of two college bound players, Thompson Falls head football coach Jared Koskela is optimistic his current group will have the grit to compete in the Western B 11-player conference this season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Horseman ramp up for season with scrimmage

Two things from the Plains High School pre-season football scrimmage this past Saturday: The Horsemen are going to be a factor this year, and watch out for mama!

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls, Plains form co-op soccer team

Soccer fans, your time has come!

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls' cross country squad boasts plenty of youth

There is definitely a youth movement afoot among local high school cross country teams.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Back porch 'saloon' offers escape to the old West

Plains residents Dan and Pat Johnson were looking for a good way for friends and family to “come over, relax” and forget about everything going on these days.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Plains Horsemen plan to ride high this season

After two winless seasons and three losses in 2023, the Plains Horsemen exploded for a streak-busting 68-6 thrashing of Troy, getting a taste of victory. They apparently liked it.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Lift off

There should have been a NASA-like countdown. Three, two, one ... lift off!

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Superior Bobcats hoping youth, speed will lead to victory

The Superior Bobcats may be the most interesting high school football team around.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Lady Heat boast veteran squad

A summer of hard work by a group of nine returning players can never be a bad thing in sports.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

St. Regis Tigers happy to return to Montana football

This year’s St. Regis High School homecoming football game will be at home. That seems like common sense, but for the past several years the Tigers have been part of a co-op arrangement with Mullan, Idaho and have played the majority of their games in the Gem State.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Hot Springs Savage Heat warming up for season's start

There was a quiet confidence, augmented by an aura of optimism, as the 2024 Hot Springs Savage Heat football team hit the field for its first official practice of the season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Family fun at Trout Creek's Huckleberry Days

If you are a parachutist, being under the chute is a good place to be. If you attended this year’s Huckleberry Festival in Trout Creek, under the parachute was THE place to be.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Falls sports season gets into gear

For Sanders and Mineral county high school sports fans, the 2024 season is about to kick into gear.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Out of the darkness

Once again, Father Time has defeated the forces of “darkness.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Sheehy rallies support at Thompson Falls campaign stop

He came to Thompson Falls to meet with a packed hall of energetic voters, telling his supporters the “average” person needs to get involved in the election process.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Superior rodeo packs the grandstands

It was by summer rodeo standards a grand time.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Hot Springs basketball camp teaches the basics

The future of basketball in Hot Springs appears to be in good hands.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Hot Springs basketball camp teaches the basics

The future of basketball in Hot Springs appears to be in good hands.

DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Olympic bummer

You had one job France: put on an Olympics.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Rugby Sevens

The first bit of the 2024 Paris Olympics landed in my living room this past weekend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Lady Hawks play in Veterans Memorial tourney

The honors keep rolling in for a pair of Thompson Falls High softball players.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Blue Hawks looks to get 'stronger and faster'

If effort coupled with condition and desire are key building blocks of a football team, Thompson Falls appears to be, no pun intended, good shape.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Blade runners: Lawn mower races return to Thompson Falls

The only particles in the air Saturday were clouds of dust flying off the tires of the crowd-pleasing riding lawn mowers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Sanders County students take part in 4-H Congress

More than 190 4-H members from across the state visited Montana State University last week for the Montana 4-H Congress, an annual event offering competitive events, workshops, entertainment and social events.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Dream Team

One of the sports highlights of my younger days was watching the USA Olympic basketball team take to the court and beat the best of the rest of the world with our top college players.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Local basketball teams wrap up summer play

One thing is clear as the summer local high school basketball season winds down: there will be some improved teams as several long-anticipated, talented classes enter their junior and senior seasons.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Plains VFW getting a makeover

It is a building that in one way or another has been serving the Plains community for several decades.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: The weight room

I will never forget the memory, no matter how hard I try or how much “Mental Floss” I use.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS AGO

Cool Summer Nights show draws classic cars to Trout Creek

Like all of the owners in the field of polished classic cars, Connie Leech couldn't resist.

DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 4 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs bulks up for return to gridiron

Players and coaches at Hot Springs High are looking for a rebound season after they went 8-1 last year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS AGO

Red Devils use off-season for strength and conditioning

Brian Risch looked up from the weight lifting bench, several pounds of metal weights in his hands.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS AGO

Cool Summer Nights car show draws classic fleet to Trout Creek

Like all of the owners in the field of polished classic cars, Connie Leech could not resist.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Artificial intelligence

The following “broadcast” is brought to you by the fine folks at Artificial Intelligence, Inc. (Aiiiii).

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Two Lady Hawks selected for softball classic

The honors keep rolling in for a pair of Thompson Falls softball players.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Plains Class of 74 gathers for reunion

David Proctor knew he had a big task ahead.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Olympic marketing

Speaking of France... We weren’t? Is anyone, especially when it comes to the 2024 Summer Olympic games?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Mission team wins Passing League title

The eighth edition of the Superior Passing League football experience came to a head last week with the five-on-five passing group from Mission High claiming the championship in Superior.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Recipe for success: Hot Springs hires new basketball coach

Ingredients and the blend. Those, according to new Hot Springs High School boys basketball coach Jim Benson, are the keys to success.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Bargain hunters peruse Yard Sale stops

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

'Passing league' gets kids on football field during summer

Several years ago, eight years by his reckoning, Superior High football coach Jeff Schultz was looking for a way to keep football players active in the sport during the off season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Four-day hoops camp held in Thompson Falls

It was hard to tell who was having a better time and liking basketball more at the Thompson Falls Basketball Camp this past week, the more than 100 kids or the staff of former Blue Hawks players.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Hoop fest draws hundreds of ballers to Plains

If you are an ardent basketball fan who wandered up Montana 200 near the Plains Airport, you most likely did a double-take or pinched yourself to make sure the site wasn’t a dream.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Welcome to Crazyville

Sometimes, more often than I care to admit, sports drive me crazy.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: First fish

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Fun run supports Plains Public Library

For many folks there is nothing like keeping a cold morning at bay with a good book and a warm place to read.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Local hoopers take advantage of summer ball

If you have a favorite sport, one you can’t get enough of, local high school basketball teams have your back.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls' Hanks headed to Boise State

For the vast majority of senior student athletes who participated in high school sports this spring, graduation means the end of their organized sports career.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS AGO

Homesteader Days marks 75 years with rodeo action

The rain stayed mainly above the plains surrounding Hot Springs this past weekend, and that was a good thing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Bobcat lacrosse champs

Griz fans, Velcro down. Preferably with your favorite adult beverages clutched in your hand.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Sports and politics

It is happening, already in a major way in some cases.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Locals shine in 8-man football all-star game

Superior High’s Jaxson Green, who recently signed to play to football this coming fall at Montana Tech in Butte, made a few Orediggers’ coaches feel pretty good about their new recruit.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Softball and track championships in the books

The crowns have been installed and the 2024 Montana high school spring sports season is in the books.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawks land two on All-State roster

Successful seasons are generally the product of teams playing as one unit. Everyone on the same page.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawks end softball season at state

Purists of the sport will tell you that good pitching beats good offense every time.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Demming wins state discus title

The efforts of one junior was for the most part enough to carry the Plains women to fourth place in the team title pursuit at the Montana State Class B track and field championship this past weekend in Laurel.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Braving the elements

So, it appears I learned a big lesson this spring sports season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Lady Hawks softball earn No. 2 seed

This was what makes softball the great sport it is.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Connolly leads Tigers at golf championship

St. Regis high school golfer Jack Connolly fired a two-day total score of 171, good for tenth place individually at the State Class C championship in Hamilton last week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Bobcats claim division championship

Quietly and overwhelmingly the Superior girls high school tennis team has put themselves in line for a State B-C team title.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Plains softball wraps up season

For half an inning, it looked like the streak was over.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

State qualifiers at Western Division B-C

On a weekend when intermittent rain and sunshine, wind and cold played a factor in athletic performance, Twin Bridges’ girls and the Manhattan Christian boys found a path to victory in the Western Division B-C track and field meet in Missoula.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Superior girls third at divisional meet

One thing was not so surprising from the Class B ranks of the Western Divisional track and field championship this past weekend in Missoula.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: End of the season

I can hardly believe it.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 5 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls golfers battled wind, tough course at Anaconda

How windy was it in Anaconda this past week?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS AGO

Locals post strong results at 7B District meet

How important is depth in team sports?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis sends two golfers to state

St. Regis golfers continued to enjoy success this year, with two going to the state championships following a strong showing at the Class C Divisional meet in Great Falls this past weekend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS AGO

Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball gets win over Browning

If the way the first season of Noxon-Thompson Falls varsity baseball ended is any indication, good things may be on the horizon for the Red Devils.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks softball eyes postseason run

For the better parts of three months, they have been running, catching, hitting and working on the many parts of the game of fastpitch softball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS AGO

Lady Bobcats take on top tennis teams

Versatility and depth are part of the arsenal for this year’s Superior Bobcats tennis team, the only high school tennis team in Mineral or Sanders County.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS AGO

Christensen leads Hot Springs to second at 14C meet

On a clear, blue sky Montana day, the stars were out in force over Missoula County Public Stadium this past weekend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: In the field

There has always been an almost mythical attraction about the “field” part of track and field, particularly the events associated with the big and powerful among us.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS AGO

Superior moving back to Class C in some sports

Scorecard, scorecard, can’t tell the players (or conference?) without a scorecard.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Red Devils co-op baseball heads to state tourney

All the planning, all the hoping, all the work...and now the first season of high school varsity baseball is almost done for the Noxon-Thompson Falls co-op team in their first year of existence.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawks stay hot in three wins

If you picked the trifecta for Thompson Falls’ Lady Hawks softball games last week you would be a winner.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Local stars put on show at Archie Roe

When one of our own small town stars shines above the rest, it is a special thing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawks score 13-3 win over rival Plains

If you look purely at the score, you would think the Sanders County rivalry softball game between Plains and Thompson Falls was a rout.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Tracksters tune up at Kim L Haines meet

That was, in basic terms, a clean-up, rest-up and tune-up weekend for area Class B-C track and field teams as post season playoffs get underway this week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Alberton's Fredette flies to second at Anaconda meet

They are few in number, but the few are having a productive track and field season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: A thank you

When describing a sporting event, it is often nearly impossible to put pen to paper without the use of terms like “battling,” “fight to the last minute,” "comeback," etc.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Baseball co-op Red Devils fall to Ronan, Frenchtown

It was an overcast, chilly day in the Northwest corner of Montana...perfect weather for baseball?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Copperheads take one from Trotters

The unofficial score: Anaconda 1, Plains 0, Mother Nature, 1-1.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls-Noxon co-op softball team wins four straight

Momentum with post season play on the horizon is always a good thing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls-Noxon co-op softball team wins four straight

Momentum with post season play on the horizon is always a good thing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Mixed results for Superior tennis team

It was a mixed bag for the Superior tennis team this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Tigers golfers win on home course

The Tigers boys blistered the Trestle Creek Golf Course on the edge of town for a 345 team total over the 18-hole layout to clinch the team title by a wide margin over runner up Thompson Falls, 345-397.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Plains’ Alexis Demming competes at 'Top 10'

It is billed annually as the “Top 10” track and field meet, a measuring stick event featuring the top 10 performers from throughout Western Montana in track and field events.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Plains girls finish 3rd at ARM track meet

Host Whitefish swept the men’s and women’s team titles at last weekend’s ARM track meet, while the Plains women continued their impressive run in the women’s title chase.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Choosing sides

Life, they say, is all about choices.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

St. Regis star John Pruitt signs with Rocky

One of the greatest challenges facing small town athletes who aspire to move on and continue their sports careers in college is that the small number of students at many B and C schools do not typically produce college-level competitors.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls hosts Gary Thompson Invite

It was, as Thompson Falls head golf coach Doree Thiilmony said, “lots of golf.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Superior tennis notches more wins

If tennis is your sport, Superior High is a good place to be.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Seeley-Swan meet draws top teams

It would be a massive understatement to say the sports teams at Loyola Sacred Heart in Missoula are having a good year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Trotters softball shows fight against Eureka

Despite what the scoreboard read at the end of the game, this was maybe the sign the Plains Trotters softball team has been waiting for.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Plains and T-Falls athletes shine at local track meet

This may as well have been a preview of next month’s Montana high school track and field postseason as a pair of local teams strutted their stuff at the Thompson Falls Invitational meet this past Tuesday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball co-op posts 13-2 win over Troy

Move over win column number, you’ve got company.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Steeplechase

As comedian Jerry Seinfeld used to always say, “what is the deal with….?”. In this case, insert the word steeplechase at the end of that inquiry.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Lady Hawks softball scores two big victories

There is a saying in softball/baseball circles that chicks dig the long ball, a reference to fondness for home runs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 6 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Trotters finish second at Dave Tripp Memorial

There’s a new player in the local track and field game, new contender that is, as evident by the results of this past weekend’s Dave Tripp Memorial Track meet in Polson.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

High school soccer coming to Thompson Falls and Plains

The sport, often described as the number one spectator sport in the world based on the number of fans who watch and follow it across the globe, is coming to Sanders County and beyond this fall as a high school sport.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

Swope leads Lady Bobcats with medal in javelin

The Superior boys and girls track and field teams are emerging as a Class B Montana high school state contender, early results continue to show.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Iron Mike back in the ring

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the arena, Tyson is being served.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis golfers win Plains Invite

One thing was certain following the 2024 version of the Plains Invitational high school golf tournament this past Friday in Plains: there are some pretty good young golfers in St. Regis and Florence.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

Trotters softball faces top opponents

It was a tough week for the young Plains Trotters softball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

Lady Cats tennis back on the court

For tennis fans in Superior and around the area, it was a welcome site indeed.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

Noxon-Thompson Falls co-op baseball home opener

This was a scene worthy of an advertisement for America.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks take on top softball teams at Missoula tourney

A couple of things are certain about the Thompson Falls softball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

Local teams post solid results at Libby Invite

Bigfork boys and girls pretty much dominated the Libby Invitational track and field meet this past week at Logger Stadium on a blustery Tuesday afternoon.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS AGO

Prep golfers compete at Florence-Darby Invitational

Despite rain and the threat thereof, there was action on the links Thursday for Plains and Thompson Falls high school golfers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Give us a break

I sometimes get the feeling Ma Nature is not a big fan of springs sports, the kind played in the great Montana outdoors.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawks softball improves to 4-0

Thompson Falls pitching struck out 14 Sandpoint, Idaho batters this past Friday, giving the Lady Hawks a sweep of their two-game road trip and keeping their season record unblemished.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawks notch big wins to open softball season

With the necessary spring practices out of the way, the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks softball team got down to the business of the 2024 Class B high school season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Superior and Noxon impress at Frenchtown meet

It’s the 2024 Montana track and field season in the opening throes, but an interesting trend is potentially developing for Sanders and Mineral county fans of the sport.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Plains cancels baseball season

They are, technically, one for two in baseball’s iconic jargon.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Red Devils tally baseball win over St. Ignatius-Arlee

It’s a classic example of what you do when you fall off a horse….if you like horse riding.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Superior posts strong results at Corvallis meet

It was a good test for the opening meet of the season for several of the Montana high school track and field teams.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Say it ain’t so, Sho!

The Major League season has just begun.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Alberton tracksters have high hopes

Slowly but surely the varsity sports program at Alberton High School, now in it’s second year of existence as a non-co-op team, is producing some quality athletes.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Plains track and field stacked with returning athletes

Loaded is not a bad way to be.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball kicks off debut season

Cold, rainy weather with doses of snow between the raindrops.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Golfers tee off season with practice round

It was a most welcome chance to get out on the golf course for a “practice competition” that was a three-way meet in disguise.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Hot Springs looks to overcome injury bug

There are so many variables to the start of a new sports season, including the dreaded injury bug.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Superior Bobcats feature mix of experience and youth

The theme remains the same for spring sports at Superior High School: a good group of experienced athletes with another year under their belts, and a promising core of underclassmen eager for their chance to shine.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Noxon tracksters put in work as season begins

There’s a new competitor in Noxon these days, a high school baseball team. But the existing spring high school sports program is also still there.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Thomson Falls starts track season with firepower

The overall numbers are down for those who came out for Thompson Falls track and field this spring.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

St. Regis reloads with top golfers

Last year was a good year for the St. Regis High School golf team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Caitlin Clark

This is a great American success story playing out in real time.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 7 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Noxon and Thompson Falls form co-op baseball team

Two ballparks. Two Montana towns. Two groups of baseball hungry young men.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS AGO

Bobcats golfers ready to hit the links

There is a common thread that runs through the high school golf coaching community around here, and perhaps everywhere.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS AGO

Carey and Sneed to lead Plains golfers

A smaller than average turnout this year has Plains High School counting on quality over quantity.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls golf teams tee off season

Building on the success of last year is no doubt a goal of this year’s Thompson Falls High golf team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS AGO

Trotters softball opens season Saturday

Last year’s Plains Trotters softball team was like a tale of two teams. They opened the season losing six straight before picking up a win against Troy.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks have high hopes for softball season

Last year, coach Jared Koskela and the Thompson Falls girls softball team made it to state.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS AGO

Students excel at 4-H Communication Days

Perhaps among the group of 4-H presenters is a future orator of great skill.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Gonzaga Kool-aid

Let the Madness begin.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS AGO

Hannum and LeCoure earn All-State awards

As expected the top two teams in boys and girls Western 7B dominated the recently released state and district all-star teams for 2023-24.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Box Elder wins Class C title with perfect season

It was a great season for Loyola Sacred Heart basketball teams.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Spring is my season

It is perhaps the most under-appreciated thing in our lives.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

12 teams join new 13C conference

Now that the Class C basketball season is almost over, with only the state championships this weekend left to be played, it’s time to bid a fond adieu to the existing 14C conference.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls and Noxon form co-op baseball team

Get ready for the crack, or ping, of the bat.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Go, Joansie, go

Phone. For the love of God, where is my phone?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

St Regis boys finish fourth at divisional

While watching their likely second round opponent, Manhattan Christian, take apart a solid Drummond team during the Western C Divisional tournament this past weekend in Frenchtown, St. Regis assistant basketball coach Brandon Iverson summed up the task at hand regarding the top-seeded MC Eagles.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Lady Hawks season concludes with 14-8 record

It was like old home week for the Thompson Falls girls basketball team this past week at the Western B Divisional tournament at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Plains teams end season with winning records

It’s been a few years since either the Plains boys or girls basketball teams have made it to the Western Divisional tournament.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Hot Springs teams ends season at divisional

They can take consolation in the fact they made it to the Divisional playoffs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Basketball recap

In many ways, it was awesome to watch the Class C and B Divisional tournaments this past weekend in Pablo and Frenchtown.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls boys earn No. 2 seed in Western B

Things pretty much followed the script at the boys 7B District basketball tournament this past weekend in St. Ignatius.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Hot Springs boys beat Noxon in consolation final

Coming out of the District 14C postseason tournament, the Hot Springs boys basketball team as the consolation round winner, had to wait until Monday night before they knew if their season was still alive.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

St. Regis girls win 14C consolation final

As advertised, the St. Regis Lady Tigers are not a team to be overlooked in high school basketball’s postseason battles.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Tigers claim 14C basketball championship

Chaos comes in many forms. It can be horrible or it can, believe it or not, be beneficial.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Lakko nets 23 in Plains' consolation loss

Despite a game-high 23 points from senior forward Blakely Lakko, the Plains Trotters could not fend off the Eukeka Lady Lions in the Western 7B consolation round final Saturday afternoon in St. Ignatius.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Tourney roundup: Trotters clip Superior, 29-28

The 14C and 7B boys and girls basketball tournaments were a treat for local hoop fans from the opening tip-off.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Lady Hawks top Eureka in 7B tourney

This was an important game, a springboard if you will, for future basketball tournament endeavors.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Horsemen take third in 7B hoops tourney

It will go down as a 3-0 sweep for the Thompson Falls boys basketball team during this 2023-24 season, as once again the Blue Hawks came out on top of a rapidly improving Plains Horsemen team, 60-37, in a District 7B boys semi-final playoff game.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Charlo girls tops Hot Springs for 14C title

The Charlo Vikings girls basketball team left no doubt who the District 14C champion is.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Cornhole scholarships?

It’s hard to get me to say “I can’t believe that” in today’s world.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Seedings set for divisional tournaments

First-round pairings are in for this coming weekend’s two Divisional tournaments for schools in Sanders and Mineral counties.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Lady Hawks take second in 7B tourney

Form held in the girls Western 7B conference tournament this past weekend as the top-seeded and once-beaten Bulldogs from St. Ignatius beat No. 2 seed Thompson Falls for the league title Saturday night at Mission High School in St. Ignatius.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 8 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Lady Tigers top Noxon on senior night

Beware the Lady Tigers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Trotters can't snap slide in tough loss to Eureka

The meat of the Western 7B conference schedule has not been good for the Plains Trotters.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Horsemen earn No. 3 seed in district tourney

Things are looking up, as in up the conference standings ladder, for the Plains Horsemen basketball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs girls No. 2 in 14C tourney

With their regular season schedule behind them following their 60-39 road loss to the Charlo Lady Vikings Friday night, the Hot Springs girls basketball team can now turn their attention to this week’s District 14C Conference tournament in Polson.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis boys No. 1 seed for 14C tourney

The results are in, and the St. Regis boys are the basketball winners.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Local wrestlers bring home hardware from state

It was probably the best match of the state wrestling tournament last weekend in Billings.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Blue Hawks primed with wins over Troy, Superior

Hitting your stride when the playoffs come to town is always a good thing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks top Cats, earn No. 2 seed

Make that five in a row for the Thompson Falls girls who picked up a pair of Western 7B conference wins in the last week of the regular season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Panthers fight way into district tourney

True Grit lives in Alberton.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Two Eagle River clips Noxon, 56-55

It may not be kosher to think of a loss in a basketball game as a positive “statement” to be making.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Cotton Swab Bowl

Everyone recovered from Super Bowl Sunday?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls wrestler Hannum medals at state

It was probably the best match of the state wrestling tournament last weekend in Billings.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs girls pick up two wins

It’s probably fair to say the Two Eagle River Eagles boys basketball team would like to see Hot Springs more often.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawks clip Eureka in OT

Without a doubt, it’s been a good season in Thompson Falls basketball circles this year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Noxon boys cling to 4th place in 14C

To be the best, it has often been said, you have to beat the best.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Crabb scores 34 in Superior's win over Troy

One of the many fun things about the approach, and arrival, of Montana high school sports is playoff scrambling as the regular season comes to a conclusion.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Thompson Falls sweeps county rival Plains

Thompson Falls boys and girls made it a clean, double sweep of regular season basketball games between the two Sanders County rivals this Thursday in Thompson Falls when the boys beat Plains’ Horsemen 26-28 after the T-Falls girls knocked off Plains’ Trotters 51-25 in the first game of a double-header.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

St. Regis moves to top of 14C with win over Charlo

Anyone who has watched the St. Regis Tigers boys basketball team this year most likely came away with the feeling that they had seen a good basketball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Chuck’s Kiddie Korps

Let’s have some fun talking about the future, eh?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Plains-Hot Springs grapplers 3rd at divisional meet

The leaders at the top of the sports team competition are familiar to local high school sports fans: Florence-Carlton and Eureka.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

First victory evades Noxon girls

Noxon came into their girls basketball game Friday night in Troy looking for their first win of the year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Playoff time has arrived

Light the lamps, ring the bells, buy some extra Velcro or duct tape, whichever you prefer to keep you in your seat. Playoff time takes flight this weekend!

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Noxon upsets 14C division leader Charlo

Don’t look now, but another serious contender for the boys 14C basketball conference crown emerged this weekend as the Noxon Red Devils won a pair of league games and lost to Class B Troy.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Eureka outpaces Lady Bobcats

Two tough opponents, who like Superior have been struggling at times this season, were the obstacles in the path of the Lady Bobcats this past week, and both proved to be formidable blocks for the Cats to overcome.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Young Bobcats fall at Eureka

It was kind of a matter of picking your hardship for the young Superior Bobcats basketball team this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Plains teams post impressive victories

The Plains boys basketball train is back on track.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Hawks' LeCoure pops off for 36 in win over Mission

In one of the highest individual points totals so far among local high school basketball players, Thompson Falls junior forward Bryson LeCoure was king for a day.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Lady Hawks stay in mix with win over Eureka

While anything can happen once the postseason begins, the girls Western 7B race for the top is pretty much a four-team competition.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Hot Springs and St. Regis split meeting

It was a mixed bag of basketball for the Hot Springs boys and girls basketball teams this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Wresters tune up for postseason at Mission Valley Championships

It was a final tune-up for local wrestlers as they head into the Western Division B-C postseason this coming Friday and Saturday in Shelby.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Tigers roar in 14C basketball win over Charlo

It started out as a great week for the St. Regis High boys basketball team. It ended with a narrow loss that further jumbled the regular season Montana District 14C basketball title chase, leaving it a three-team battle for the top.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Lady Savage Heat scratch out win over Noxon

Sometimes when things go sour, it’s hard to sweeten them up. Such is the state of Hot Springs basketball, with both teams struggling to get on the winning track.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Trotters drop two conference games on road trip

After some amazing games and surprising finishes, one thing is clear when it comes to the Western 7B girls basketball conference: the top spot, in fact the top four spots are up for grabs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Mission sweeps Superior at St. Ignatius

A lot of tourists stop in St. Ignatius to check out the old Mission cathedral. Probably even a few who stop to watch some Mission basketball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Lady Hawks extending winning streak

The cream, it has been said, rises to the top. Sometimes it has to be churned a little longer than other times, but the axiom holds true.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Blue Hawks notch 7B basketball victories

If you are a coach, seeing your team come together with playoffs in the not-too-distant future is usually a good thing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Local grapplers earn hardware at Ted Kato

Local wrestlers continued their impressive, winning ways at yet another area wrestling event.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Scrappy Alberton Panthers keep battling

When you are in the lobby of a skyscraper, the thought of climbing the stairs required to get to the penthouse may be daunting indeed. But to get there, no matter the level of “daunt”, you must put one foot forward and repeat that process.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Lady Tigers even record at 3-3

It was a tough way to start a week for the St. Regis girls basketball team, which was whacked by Charlo, 60-19 last Tuesday night in Charlo.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 9 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Pruitt powers St. Regis over Alberton

One day the future divisional champions from Alberton High may look back at this one and shake their heads.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Hologram all-stars

When it comes to this Artificial Intelligence stuff, I’m at the very least a skeptic and at best a “show me” before I come to a conclusion.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS AGO

McAllister nets 22 to lead Hot Springs over Alberton

The removal of Alberton’s girls as a schedule opponent due to injuries and other factors left schedulers throughout the 14C conference scrambling for fill-in opponents.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS AGO

Bobcat wrestlers hang at tough Jug Beck tourney

In the final analysis, Jug Beck pinned Old Man Winter in the waning moments of the third period.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks take first round over Trotters

Rivalry games are many things: interesting, hard-fought, puzzling, etc.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS AGO

Blue Hawks top county rival Horsemen

According to Mr. Webster, inevitable is something “certain to happen, unavoidable.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS AGO

Trotters upend Superior girls; Bobcats surprise Horsemen

For the Plains girls basketball players, it was a brief deviation from their season-long winning ways that was quickly corrected.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS AGO

Up and down ride for Hot Springs hoopers

For most teams, mid-season is the midway equivalent of a carnival.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Valley Christian High tops Noxon teams

Missoula, particularly the gym at Valley Christian High, was not a great place for a Red Devil to be this past Saturday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Tigers pick up two wins

When asked prior to the start of the 2023-24 high school basketball season what the year would bring, St. Regis boys’ coach Jesse Allen sported a Mona Lisa type smile.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Local grapplers compete at Cut Bank Invitational

Impressive depth and strength in the lower and middle weight classes have emerged as the bread-and-butter of this year’s Plains/Hot Springs (PHS) wrestling team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Thompson Falls teams stay even

For the Thompson Falls boys and girls basketball teams, it was a 50-50 weekend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Plains hoopers stay hot after holiday break

On a roll. There’s probably not many other ways to describe the path of the Plains Horsemen and Trotters so far this basketball season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Coach Bandel

Come with me now to a mystical place not many get a chance to experience. It is a place of anxiety, joy, happiness, anger, frustration….the gauntlet of human emotions.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Hayden Hanks named to Shrine Game roster

Working hard and being dedicated to your craft almost always comes with rewards.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Bobcats upend Darby, 50-32

Those distant rumbling sounds in the Superior area may be related to basketball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Undefeated Loyola routs Blue Hawks

There was a whole lotta “Heart-Breaking” going on last week on the basketball court at Thompson Falls.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Second half of winter sports seasons gets underway

If you are a vegetarian, this is the sprouts, tomato and cucumber time of the high school sports season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Superior boys fall to Lions, 69-45

The game was closer than the final score indicated, but it is ultimately the score that counts in the win-loss column.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Eureka tames Lady Bobcat hoopers

Both before and after the game, the girls basketball match-up between Eureka and Superior seemed pretty even “on paper.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Wacky world of bowl games

Tradition is being flushed when it comes to college football.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Failed resolutions

I really don’t make New Years’ resolutions any more.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Superior hoopers net dramatic wins over Darby

If the Superior basketball teams, boys and girls, go on to have a successful 2023-24 seasons, the spotlight will fall on Darby.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Hawks boys and girls post convincing wins over Wardens

Thursday night was a great night to be a Blue Hawks basketball fan.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Noxon posts 78 in win over scrappy Alberton squad

It may have been a lopsided score, but the real story in Noxon’s 78-47 win over Alberton Thursday night was the heart involved.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Plains basketball teams roll over Trojans

It was a Class B stampede in Troy this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Lady Savage Heat topple Lady Tigers

As complicated as they can be, sports are also as basic as the numbers used to designate success on the field or court of play.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 10 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls teams split weekend games

A split against two good teams is not perfect but it ain’t bad.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS AGO

Local wrestlers impress at big meets

Montana has some really good wrestlers. No doubt about it. And it’s not just in the Class AA and A schools, there are some outstanding wrestlers in the B and C categories also.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS AGO

Plains girls hand Hot Springs first loss in OT thriller

It may be way too early to label a game so young into the new season as the “game of the year,” but the clash this past Tuesday between Hot Springs girls and Plains girls would get some votes.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS AGO

Plains boys win two at home

Good vibes are the name of the games at Plains High school this year as it relates to sports.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Christmas wish list

Ordinarily, when the world does not seem like it’s upside down or inside out, I usually ask Santa this time of year, to bring good things to folks I know.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS AGO

Quinlan leads Superior Bobcats in two losses

Every now and then, its called a cycle in small town basketball, graduation can be a not so good thing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS AGO

Lady Bobcats lose to Seeley-Swan, Charlo

The season is young and the good news for the Superior girls is the only place to go is up.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS AGO

Plains girls cruise over Noxon

One of the pleasant surprises of the new season, at least for Plains fans, has been the play of the Trotters, who ran their season mark to 6-1 with a 35-17 win over Noxon Saturday evening in Noxon.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS AGO

Arlee shows off depth in win at Hot Springs

For the first eight minutes of their game Saturday night in Hot Springs, it looked like experience versus youth was maybe, in this case, overrated.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Alberton boys open season 1-2

Four games into the season and the Alberton Panthers boys basketball team already has a victory in hand.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Blue Hawks top Salmon, Idaho for first win

When you’ve had an encounter with a group of Wildcats that didn’t come out like you hoped, what could be better than smoking some salmon?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Hawks go 1-1 at round-robin tourney

It was a mixed bag of results for the Thompson Falls girls basketball team during a round robin tournament in Anaconda/Deer Lodge this past weekend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Plains boys and girls split games with Darby, Two Eagle River

Two teams, four games, two wins, two losses.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Lady Heat improve to 3-0 with win over Arlee

For basketball purists, the clash Saturday night between the Hot Springs Lady Heat and the Arlee Scarlets in a key regional girls basketball game was as good as it gets.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

Bobcat wrestlers take 3rd at Bob Kinney Invite

Some day they may rename the Superior High School gym the “Crabb Pot” in honor of long-time wrestling coach Charlie Crabb.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Big league payday

In the future, archaeologists sifting through the rubble of a past civilization may stumble on a curious place of worship.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 1 WEEK AGO

COLUMN: Life of a referee

Let me be perfectly clear about this (lots of politicians use that phrase these days), I’m a fan of referees — for the most part.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Grapplers begin season at Owen Invite

Perhaps nowhere is it more appreciated to be competing against non-teammate opponents than the conclusion of preseason training among high school wrestlers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Plains, Hot Springs girls roll at Tip-Off Tourney

I’m dreaming of some threes for Christmas. Like the ones my team can drain. Where the gym walls rattle, and outside the cattle, think we humans must have gone insane.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Blue Hawk's Hanks earns All-State nod

The picks are in for the 2023 Western B Football All-Conference teams, and to no one’s surprise, Thompson Falls’ massive down lineman Hayden Hanks brought home the most hardware.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Thompson Falls wrestlers bring back strong core

A good core of returnees, including a defending state champion, are fueling optimism on the Thompson Falls campus as the Blue Hawks wrestlers kick off the 2023-24 season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 2 WEEKS AGO

Plains boys enter basketball season with high expectations

No doubt about the cyclical nature of high school sports, especially in small towns.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Five seniors to lead Trotters girls basketball

There is a quiet sense of optimism pervading the Plains High gym these days as the Trotters prepare for the upcoming girls basketball season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Turkey games

So, just how intertwined are sports in the American experience?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Plains locals brave snowy Turkey Trot

It has, over the years, become a Thanksgiving tradition.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AGO

Holiday season kicks off in Sanders County

The spirit of giving is alive and well in Sanders County.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Sources: Alberton won't field girls basketball team

It was, in the end, a matter of numbers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Underclassmen step up for Blue Hawks basketball

The changing of the guard continues in Thompson Falls.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Superior Bobcats ramp up for hoops season

As is often the case given the cyclical nature of high school athletics, rosters change yearly, sometimes in a major way that launches a rebuilding effort.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

COLUMN: Eating crow

I’m sure of only one thing….it tastes really sour and I haven’t had a bite yet.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Locals earn All-State volleyball honors

The votes are in and the outcomes are mostly what was expected.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Plains teacher bags massive bighorn

For 30 years, Mike Tatum has been waiting for the chance.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 11 MONTHS, 4 WEEKS AGO

Volleyball recap: Rebuilding year for area spikers

It was not a banner year for Sanders and Mineral County high school volleyball teams this fall. But there were some very promising signs of better times ahead as the 2023 season came to an end last week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Football recap: Local teams post memorable seasons

Of all the high school varsity sports played, perhaps none is more impacted by chance happenings throughout the season than football. Even the bounce of the double-pointed ball during a game can change the course of play up and down the various leagues

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

COLUMN: Stakes are high for Brawl of the Wild

Let the zaniness begin! Make that outrageous bet as you search through the drawer for your favorite game day shirt.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

COLUMN: A fall sports season to remember

And just like that, seemingly in the blink of an eye, the local high school fall sports season has come to an end.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Superior Bobcats fall to Fort Benton, 44-30

For the first half of the game, it was as close as it gets. But in the second half, the third quarter to be precise, Fort Benton managed to pull away from Superior as the Longhorns kept their post-season Montana Class B football hopes alive with a 44-30 victory over …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

St. Regis-Mullan finish football season 8-2

Another good season is in the books for the St. Regis-Mullan, Idaho co-op football Tigers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Superior's Hunter Haskins wins saddle bronc at Kalispell rodeo

As Hunter Haskins explains it, he learned if he wanted to be a good saddle bronc rider, he had to ride a lot of broncs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Hot Springs nipped in 6-man playoff loss

A couple years ago, another McAllister used to be called “rodeo tough” McAllister for his strong play and ability to mix it up.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Thompson Falls tops Plains in Western B volleyball rematch

The meeting between Plains and Thompson Falls in the Western B Divisional volleyball tournament was actually their fourth meeting of the season, with T Falls ahead 2-1 in games played prior to that.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Hot Springs volleyball ousted at divisional tourney

After a late-season surge propelled them into the District 14C finals, which in turn sent them to the Western Division finals as the No. 2 seed volleyball team from the district, the Hot Springs Lady Heat ran into a buzzsaw in the form of teams waiting to take them on.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Superior opens playoffs with convincing win at Forsyth

If you could choose a time to peak in the world of sports, as in reach the peak, not take a peek, just before playoff time would be a great time.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Savage Heat top Valier in playoff game

It was a good day to be a Hot Springs sports fan.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Red Lodge ends Thompson Falls' season with shutout

Top seed Red Lodge showed why they are a prime contender for a state title in Class B-11 player football with a convincing 42-0 win over Thompson Falls Saturday in Red Lodge.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

COLUMN: Intestinal fortitude at 14C tourney

Intestinal fortitude, otherwise known as courage and stamina, among other definitions as outlined in Webster’s Dictionary, were on full display this past week in Hot Springs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Hot Springs takes second at district volleyball

In the end, after eight grueling hours of volleyball in one day, one team walked away with the No. 1 seed in this coming week’s Divisional tournament at Manhattan Christian High School in Churchill, MT, just outside of Manhattan.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Bobcats playoff bound after win over Mission.

Revenge, it is said, is a dish best served cold.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Plains volleyball enters playoffs on hot streak

Winning two of the last three regular season games, and seven of the last nine is not a bad way to finish the regular season volleyball schedule.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Postseason begins for football and volleyball

It’s that time of year, as the beginning of the Montana High School Association state playoffs in volleyball and football, get under way this weekend at sites throughout Big Sky Country.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Plains girls claim sixth at state XC meet

If you are a coach at either of Sanders County’s two cross country schools, you may spend some of the next few months shopping for sunglasses.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Thompson Falls Hawks make football playoffs

Just two years ago, a Montana championship banner was awarded to Thompson Falls for winning the state B-8 football title.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Noxon volleyball sweeps Two Eagle River

It was a split-decision kind of week for the Noxon volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Noxon volleyball sweeps Two Eagle River

It was a split-decision kind of week for the Noxon volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Horsemen cap season with rout over Darby

In what turned out to be a welcome change of fortune following two years of winless football, the Plains Horsemen put a thick layer of icing on the victory cake with a resounding 77-26 road win over Darby Thursday afternoon.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Lady Hawks No. 2 seed in 7B tournament

After sampling both ends of the Western 7B regular season standings, Thompson Falls got a good taste of what is to come this coming Friday and Saturday as the regular volleyball season came to an end and the playoffs are next on the menu.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Co-op Tigers cap regular season with 7-1 record

If you combine one group of Tigers with another group of Tigers, what do you get?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Lady Panthers split volleyball matches

For a team with no seniors, this has been a season of solid improvement and hope for the future.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

COLUMN: Class and decency on display

If you didn’t pick up a program/flyer when you walked into the football field area at Noxon High School Thursday, you may have been really confused.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

COLUMN: Thrill of victory

For years, Wide World of Sports ran a classic commercial that espoused “the thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Florence-Carlton tops Hawks in Western B battle

Unbeaten Florence-Carlton proved to be an unwelcome guest Friday night in Thompson Falls as they downed the home town Blue Hawks 43-12 in a Western B 11-player football game.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Horsemen take loss to top-rated Charlo

They are, as one might expect, big and strong. They have a propensity for being fast and striking quickly. They are Vikings.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Savage Heat crush Twin Bridges, 51-8

Add to the list of six-player football teams to watch in the rapidly approaching Montana high school playoffs, as usual, the Hot Springs Savage Heat.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Co-op Tigers rebound in win over Lakeside

After last week’s Homecoming loss to Shelby, St. Regis-Mullan Idaho football co-coach Jesse Allan vowed the team would shake it off and get back in the saddle this week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Alberton and Hot Springs clash in volleyball match

It was a tall order indeed for the young, promising Alberton volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Lady Lions roar over Hawks volleyball

It was a long-delayed battle for the top spot in Western 7B volleyball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Trotters stay hot with volleyball win over T-Falls

Cue the ominous “Jaws” sound bite that was played when a shark was about to attack.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Lima escapes Alberton with 6-man win

There are a few games every season that are literally last-second thrillers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Superior Bobcats roll Darby, 72-36

After multiple seasons of success on the football field, the Superior Bobcats were thought to have lost, by some pundits, their explosiveness thanks in large part to a large number of key players who graduated last Spring.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Lady Bobcats shows improvement in loss

It has been said that even a journey of one million miles begins with a single step.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Charlo nips Lady Hawks in volleyball thriller

If you don’t like fast-paced action and loud auditoriums, the gym at Thompson Falls High School would not have been a good place to be Saturday afternoon.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Lady Hawks win home XC meet; Tulloch leads Plains runners

It was, to say the least, a good meet for Sanders County high school cross country runners.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR AGO

Heat torch visiting Lima, 64-6

Make that coaching victory number 101.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Trotters moved into 3rd place with pair of volleyball wins

This time of year, with playoffs on the not-too-distant horizon, fans are looking for that “team to watch.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Turnovers doom Superior in battle with Charlo

It is the bane of sporting events. A coach’s nightmare. And often the difference between a W and a L in the record category.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Plains shuts out Victor, 58-0

Once the stretch of winless games was over, it was clear the Plains Horsemen footballers were on their way to better things.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Loyola upends Blue Hawks, 33-14

Despite a lightning quick start, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks football team found itself on the wrong end of a 33-14 game with Missoula Loyola Friday night in the Garden City.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Hawks runners ready for Western B/C meet

A strong showing by eighth-grade runners is adding a boost to postseason hopes as well as the future of Thompson Falls cross country fortunes.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks remain undefeated in conference action

The Lady Hawks have taken flight, and it comes at the right time of the year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Shelby grinds out win over co-op Tigers

You’ve no doubt heard of Charles Dickens classic novel “A Tale of Two Cities.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Hot Springs volleyball takes narrow loss to Charlo

It was a battle for the conference lead in Charlo Saturday night as the Lady Vikings hosted surging Hot Springs for the top spot in the Western 14C volleyball standings.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Noxon volleyball gets win at St. Regis

It was an even par week for the Noxon Lady Devils volleyball crew, as they fell to Western 14C conference leader Charlo Friday night at home, then traveled to St. Regis and swept the Lady Tigers Saturday evening.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Superior football evens record at 3-3

For those who might foolishly have thought Superior is a non-factor in the Western B 8-player football battles this year, think again.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Panthers fall to Charlo

They battled throughout eight explosive sets of volleyball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Bobcats show fight in losses

It has been a long season for the young Superior volleyball team, which lost a lot of talent to graduation this past Spring.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Trotters stay in the mix with sweep over Troy

As the volleyball season crests the midway point, the Plains Trotters have stealthily put themselves in the thick of the Western 7B conference race after splitting a pair of conference games this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks stay perfect in conference volleyball

As if from out of the Blue, Thompson Falls is in the thick of the Western 7B volleyball chase.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Red Devils notch win over Lincoln

It was, in effect, a battle for a second place tie in the Western 6-player football race.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Arlee spoils Plains homecoming with shutout win

It was not a special Homecoming, thanks to the Arlee Warriors football team, although alumni still had a good time cheering for a team sure to return to prominence in the town of Plains.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

T-Falls' Palmer places in top 10 at Whitefish Invite

As the state cross country championships get closer every day, the Thompson Falls harriers are working to get everyone healthy as they look for positive results ahead.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

St. Regis-Mullan stays undefeated

How about them Tigers? They just keep rolling along, their latest victim in Idaho 8-man football the Lakeside Tigers who fought hard but still lost to the St. Regis-Mullan, Idaho co-opers 54-32 in a game played in Plummer, Idaho.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Hot Springs volleyball sweeps St. Regis

Teams that gel into a cohesive unit as the mid-season matches come and go are often very dangerous teams to play.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Hot Springs thumps six-man rival; Coach Lawson notches 100th win

There was a lot to celebrate Friday night in Hot Springs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Alberton keeps fighting in loss to Twin Bridges

You have to love the Alberton Panthers football team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Hawks football shut out by strong Eureka squad

A big second quarter made the difference for the unbeaten Eureka Lions as they turned back visiting Thompson Falls 40-0 in a Western B 11-player football game Friday night.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Plains XC teams continue to impress

While Class A schools Corvallis and Columbia Falls continue to dominate team scores in area cross country meets, the young runners from Plains are making it clear they are a factor in the making.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

COLUMN: Know the rules

As I’ve tried to broaden my sports world this past year, I’ve encountered a strange, sometimes troubling, and often head-scratching aspect of this quest.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Esler Foundation makes donation to support veterans

When your world has been turned upside down and back again, closure and healing are two key words.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

St. Regis-Mullan co-op holds off Clark Fork, 20-12

Winning ain’t always pretty, but it’s spelled the same and it starts with a “W”.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Bobcats volleyball looking for first win

Graduation was not good to the Superior Lady Bobcats volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Bobcats fall to Arlee in Class B action

Moving up to Class B has proven to be a challenge for the Superior Bobcats football team, who were already challenged by some big losses through graduation last spring.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Hot Springs gets big wins at home

Six sets of volleyball equaled two match sweeps for the Hot Springs Lady Heat this past weekend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks stay undefeated in conference action

Part of competing for a championship, coaches will tell you, is you need to win the games you are expected to win.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Plains girls place third at Thompson Falls Invite

On what was near ideal conditions, several hundred cross country runners converged on the Rivers’ Bend Golf Course for the annual Thompson Falls Invitational meet last week, with men’s and women’s teams from Columbia Falls taking home both team titles.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Hawks shut out Anaconda for homecoming win

Thompson Falls senior Max Hannum had a weekend fit for a king.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

COLUMN: Amazing Alberton Panthers

It felt like I just watched a classic John Wayne movie, where he fights to the bitter end and is remembered as a hero.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Plains spikers sweep Darby

Sometimes, even if you are not successful to the full extent or your efforts and hopes, you still have to step back as an athlete and say “wow, what a game.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Thousands race at Mountain West Classic

As cross country events go, this is second only perhaps to the Montana state championships.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Horsemen thrash Troy for first win in 2 seasons

It was coming and anyone who is a football fan knew it would.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Tulloch leads Plains at Mission Invite

For local high school cross country runners, the recent Mission Invitational meet in St. Ignatius was a chance for the concept of quality over quantity to shine.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Clearwater Montana Properties makes $13k donation

Giving back to the community is a very real and active concept in Montana.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

COLUMN: What's poppin?

It has become a tradition with me and I guess I’m hooked.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

St. Regis sweeps Two Eagle River

In the wacky world that is the Western 14C volleyball conference life is, as has been said, like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Superior volleyball looks to find footing

It was not a good week for the young Superior volleyball team as they dropped a pair of games to St. Ignatius, 3-0 Thursday at home, then were swept by Seeley 3-0 on the road.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Savage Heat edge Alberton

It was a hard fought week of volleyball for the young and improving Hot Springs volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

St. Regis-Mullan squad off to strong start

Perfect sounds pretty good. One might say it even sounds perfect.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks sweep rival Plains

It was a good week for the Thompson Falls volleyballers, who split a pair of games, sweeping one and going five sets in the other before falling after an extremely hard fought match.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Noxon stumbles against West Yellowstone

It was, to say the least, a big game in this year’s Western 6-player conference football action.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Valley Christian spoils Superior homecoming

It was a classic confrontation between two Class B heavyweights as Superior entertained Valley Christian this past Friday night on Homecoming night in Superior.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Hot Springs rack up two more wins

It was a good, if not a dominating week for Hot Springs’ six-player football team.

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Hawks fall on road at Boulder

Sometimes you run into a team on a roll and a team with a history of football success.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 1 MONTH AGO

Trotters volleyball sweeps Lady Bobcats

Winning on the road is never easy, they say. By that way of thinking the Plains Trotters volleyball crew had a decent week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Plains falls to Park City on neutral turf

When two evenly matched teams meet on the football field, the winner is often determined by who makes the fewest mistakes.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs upsets tough Seeley squad

If this keeps up the rest of the Montana High School volleyball season, surprises will be so common we won’t be able to call them “surprises” any more.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Manhattan gets best of Hawks

It was a match up between two physically fit teams who look like they are no strangers to the weight room.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

T-Falls posts fast times at Canal Run

On a day that was seemingly crafted for cross country running, harriers from both the men’s and women’s Thompson Falls High teams turned in solid performances.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Plains freshman runner Marina Tulloch finishes in top-5

Plains boys and girls cross country teams are continuing to grow a young program on the rise.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Injuries deplete Alberton football roster

It was a week like no other for Alberton football.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Panthers volleyball tops St. Regis, 3-1

The Alberton Lady Panthers are on the prowl in Western 14C volleyball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Put some respect on the harriers

In some ways, cross country runners are the Rodney Dangerfield’s of the sports world.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Grant helps 4-H club with cooler purchase

Thanks to the generosity of an organization that helps farmers and ranchers with financial matters, the Sanders County 4-H club will gain a new cooler for their fairgrounds pavilion.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Display raises awareness of veteran suicides

The scars of the battlefield are often readily recognizable and visible. Sometimes they are not.

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Joliet nips Blue Hawks in football thriller

Football is sometimes not for the faint of heart.

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Plains harriers in the mix at stacked Flathead Invite

In a sea of big fish, Plains at least had some fish in the ocean.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Plains Trotters fall to Loyloa, 3-1

This was quite possibly a match up of two of the best teams in the Western B volleyball conference this year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Deer Lodge locks down Superior volleyball

The Lady Wardens closed the door and locked em up Thursday night during a high school volleyball game in Superior.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks take two tough losses

The not so good news, it was a tough week for the young Thompson Falls Lady Hawks volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis topples Hot Springs 3-1

After the first game of this unofficial rivalry clash, it looked like it was going to be one of those matches.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Devils netters roar back against Troy

At first it looked like the home-standing Troy Lady Trojans were going to hold serve.

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COLUMN: Dig, set, spike

As anyone who knows me can tell you, sports are a big part of my goofy life!

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Town Pump plans new store and casino in Thompson Falls

One of the largest and most iconic businesses in Montana is set to become bigger and more iconic in Thompson Falls.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Olympic javelin thrower Todd Riech inducted into Fresno Hall of Fame

He is arguably the best athlete ever from Hot Springs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: A frozen smile moment

There are precious few things that would prompt the local coroner/undertaker to tell my potentially grieving family members “we’ve tried everything and we just can’t get the smile off his face.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

55 structures destroyed in River Road East Fire

Progress and patience were two of the key words emerging from a public information meeting this past Thursday regarding what is being called the River Road East Fire.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

New Plains boutique offers 'cool and unusual' gifts

Being an entrepreneur has always been something in Plains resident Maralee Schall’s scope of interest.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Seeley edges St. Regis in volleyball opener

Nothing like starting the high school volleyball season off with a cliffhanger of a match.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Local harriers open season with meet at Deer Lodge

The Lady Hawks were good last year, finishing seventh in the team chase at the Montana Class B cross country championships.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Trotters volleyball opens season at Mission Invite

Things are looking up for the Plains Trotters volleyball team as they head into the 2023 season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Panthers enter volleyball season with strong roster

No losses personnel wise from last year and a core of returning players bode well for the Alberton Panthers 2023 volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Savage Heat kick off season with win at West Yellowstone

It’s 341 miles from Hot Springs to West Yellowstone, Montana. A mere road trip to Montana high school athletes.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Tigers nips Bobcats in rivalry showcase

Folks have no doubt had Aug. 26 circled in red on their calendars.

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Noxon spoils Alberton's return to 6-man action

Everything went as hoped for, except the final score.

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Clark Fork Soccer Alliance draws 300 kids

The sport with the highest player participation in Sanders and Mineral counties keeps on growing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Horsemen can't overcome Mission firepower

Statistics don’t lie, they say, and those from Friday’s Mission at Plains 8-player football game in Plains tell a somewhat different tale than the 34-6 final score in favor of the visiting Bulldogs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Superior football reloads with size and speed

Some schools go through a cyclical “rebuilding” process every other year or so.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Horsemen football returns with corral full of talent

Mike Tatum is back at the helm.

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Community rallies around firefighters at VFW breakfast

The Wildhorse VFW hall was built to host functions and events for heroes who served their country.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Key returners to lead St. Regis volleyball

Each year in high school sports brings about change, including to team line-ups. Sometimes it is dramatic, other times very subtle.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks start season with solid foundation of talent

Last year was a good year to say the least for the always strong Thompson Falls High volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Heat volleyball fields well-rounded roster

The youth movement continues in Hot Springs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Plains cross-country roster continues to grow

The mark of anything that gains followers is likely that it is popular and growing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs leans on speed and experience

The bad news for Hot Springs as they prepare for the 2023 football season is they lost their best player from last year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Red Devils look to build off last season's success

Noxon High head football coach Lucas MacArthur would be forgiven if he’s thinking “we shall return.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Alberton 6-man team to play full varsity schedule

Last year was, by all accounts, a testing year for the Alberton Panthers football team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Superior volleyball roster 'energetic'

Despite some heavy losses to graduation and an injury to a key player that will sideline her for the season, Superior volleyball coach Kyra McElroy remains upbeat about this year’s team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Sheriff Fielders advises residents 'be ready to go'

Communication, it has been said, is often the difference between winning a battle and losing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

Winds fuel River Road East Fire near Paradise

High winds that wreaked havoc around the town of Paradise on Friday subsided overnight, slowing the advance of the wind-fueled River Road East Fire that began during the afternoon along the railroad tracks near the Clark Fork River.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis-Mullan Tigers ramp up for season kickoff

So how do you replace an all-everything athlete who led your team in a bunch of offensive and defensive measurements last season?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Huckleberry Fest draws thousands to Trout Creek

This, said band member Dana Scranton, was something “nobody would have expected to find in this part of the country.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Bear attack survivor shares tips for griz country

Hudson had already suffered several bites from the 1,500-pound, snarling beast.

THE WESTERN NEWS | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Plains church leads back-to-school supply drive

The ever-widening grin on the face of 6-year-old Harrison Strong told the story.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Fall prep sports ramp up this month

This is why some people leave outdoor Christmas lights up year-round.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: World Cup team all about politics

Soccer, at least among the Women’s World Cup team, is shooting itself in the proverbial foot.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Sanders County residents offer insight into 1915 rock carving

It didn’t take long for some important clues to roll in concerning the mystery of who John Crossen was, and why did he pause to carve his name in a rock on a ranch north of Plains more than a century ago.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Tough-as-leather rodeo athletes shine at Mineral County Fair

Never let it be said that rodeo is not an extremely entertaining sport.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Paradise exhibit features region’s top artists

Cool in every sense of the word.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Shawn Frank mows down the competition at Wild Coyote Days

It took only the first race to see this year’s Wild Coyote Days riding lawn mower races would be different than last year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Bear attack survivor shares tips for recreating in grizzly country

As he was dangling from the mouth of a record-size brown bear in Alaska, several thoughts surged through Brent Hudson’s badly bleeding head.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: College football trouble

Football, my beloved sport, may be in trouble.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Bear attack survivor shares tips for Griz country

As he was dangling from the mouth of a record-size brown bear in Alaska, several thoughts surged through Brent Hudson’s badly bleeding head.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Plains resident looks to solve rock carving mystery

It’s an intriguing question that Plains area resident Ed Farmer would love to solve.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

3-on-3 tourney draws hundreds of hoopers

you are a died-in-the-wool basketball fan, this may have made you think you had passed and gone to hoop heaven.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Dog Days

Don’t know if they officially begin in August or if July qualifies, but regardless, “they” are here.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Cool Summer Nights Car Show revs up Trout Creek

Even in the heat of the summer, “cool” is the rule.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 3 MONTHS AGO

Paradise Legion Club in need of new septic

During the well-publicized Paradise sewer project battle, the American Legion Club, one of two businesses in the town and the largest producer of sewage, had to walk a fine line.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Getting in laps

For me, it was “several shaky steps for dude, not much of a leap for mankind.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

Pickleball craze hits Montana courts

The dude in the pickle costume marching in the Plains Day parade might have been a harbinger of things to come.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

Burgers and Bows shootout pulls in 80 archers

Archery, including bow hunting, is alive and well in Northwest Montana.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Monkey bars

It started early for me. I’ve always been a scavenger of one sort or another.

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Fourth of July festivities light up Sanders County

Oh beautiful, for Big Blue skies, for forests, hills and Plains.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

Reinstalled sign draws visitors to Paradise Legion club

Like the phoenix rising from the ashes in literary lore, a piece of Paradise has returned to its perch, symbolically and literally rising from the ashes of past tragedy.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

Noxon fireworks trailer destroyed in post-Fourth blaze

You can see it in his eyes, even though he tries to suppress the hurt.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

Family brings 'glamping' experience to Paradise

Camping, like so many things, has evolved from the days of the Old West.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

New fitness gym takes shape in Plains

It could be said the “Warrior” spirit is being infused into the site of what will be the Warrior Fitness gym in Plains.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

New private school in the works for Thompson Falls

A Trout Creek resident with nearly two decades of teaching experience wants to give area families another option for their children's education.

DAILY INTER-LAKE | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

New K-12 private school to open near Thompson Falls

It’s not just parents who are dissatisfied with public education these days. There are also teachers who want a better way for their students to learn.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Pro payday

So let me get this straight: you get good, real good, really good at putting a ball through a hoop 10 feet off the ground and you can be set for life?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

Gambles Hardware expanding Plains location

One of the signs of business success is often expansion.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

Teams from across region join Cornhole Festival

Troy Graves, a mountain of a bearded man from southern Idaho, summed it up perfectly. “It’s fun and it’s for a good cause,” he said while practicing before the opening rounds of the 2023 Cornhole Festival tournament Saturday on a scenic chunk of land alongside the Clark Fork River between …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

Plains B&B joins yard sale event

It is an iconic symbol of days gone by. Caring people purchased her and re-purposed her.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Hunting excursion

I don’t mean to jump the gun, no pun intended, but the way time is flying by, hunting season will be upon us in the wink of an eye.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

Rodeo tough: Hot Springs' McAllister sets sights on rodeo career

It usually is, according to Hot Springs area resident and recent high school graduate Jack McAllister, an “adrenaline rush.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Connection to nature

I miss camping. And as the word “miss” implies, it has been a long time since I headed into the great outdoors to “rough” it, escape humanity, be one with nature.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 4 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: A real American sport

I had an interesting “discussion” with a friend a few months ago.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls event gets kids ready for summer biking

No one would likely have anything bad to say about a government-hosted event that actually benefits children in a really good way.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Rodeo action delights Homesteader Days crowd

The rodeo announcer perhaps said it best from his press box perch above Hot Springs Rodeo Grounds on Sunday as another young cowboy fell from his mount and landed in dirt, surrounded by crazy hooves.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

'Spa City' celebrates its roots at Homesteader Days

If the 2023 version of Homesteader Days, the annual celebration of Hot Springs, its history and the surrounding area, is any indication, it would be fair to say those homesteaders knew how to kick up their heels and have a good time.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: The world of turtle racing

The field lays before them, chalked and ready to go.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls students win trip to space center

Who knows — if you look closely you may be able to see an “I Love the Blue Hawks” sticker on the fender of a future NASA mission to the moon.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Chisholm retiring as Plains superintendent

It would be tempting to say this is the end of the Chisholm trail.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Plains Day: An old-fashioned Montana celebration

The ominous clouds that circled the perimeter of the Wild Horse Plains were kept at bay.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Local athletes leave mark at Class C championships

It’s not an easy thing to win a state championship. But in the end, that’s one of the things that make a team or individual championship such a coveted achievement.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks make noise with state tourney upset

Notice to future opponents of the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks fastpitch softball team: Do NOT take them for granted.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Laurel a fine host

I remember well growing up just 14 official miles from Billings’ “bedroom”, a quiet little community called Laurel.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Otto Otnes answers the call as VFW chaplain

For Plains resident Otto Otnes, it was a simple matter of the door being knocked on and he answered the call.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Track and field standouts

In the years I’ve been covering high school sports, I’ve often extolled the talents and drive of the young folks I’ve had the pleasure to write about in Western Montana.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Free lunch builds fellowship among Plains veterans

As an experienced counselor who has given talks on such topics as suicide prevention, VFW Auxiliary member Angela Muse knew the value of getting folks together to talk.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Ellie Baxter 3rd at State B golf tourney

The present has been really good for the Thompson Falls women’s high school women’s golf team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

5 Lady Bobcats netters earn trip to state

Just one point in a whole tennis match.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Local athletes rise up at Western C divisional meet

An old familiar name is atop the team standings following this past weekend’s Class C Western Divisional track and field tournament held under smokey skies in Missoula.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks fourth at softball divisionals

By all measures the Thompson Falls softball team had a successful 2023 season.2111

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Trotters hot streak ends at tough divisional tourney

They began the year struggling, then caught fire toward the end, winning eight of fourteen games in the last month of the 2023 Montana high school softball season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks 3rd at divisional track meet

So far, no one has figured out how to stop the Bigfork machine in Montana High School Class B track and field.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 5 MONTHS AGO

Superior Bobcats claim 14C track titles

Two massive understatements from the District 14C track and field championships in Missoula this past weekend: The Superior Bobcats were in control, and Isabella Pereira had a good couple of days.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Plains Trotters carry momentum into tournament

Don’t look now, but the Plains Trotters may be breaking into a gallop.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks softball ready for Western B tourney

It was a busy week last week as the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks got ready for playoff softball action beginning this Thursday in Anaconda.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Chuck Taylor All-Star

There was no thought of making some kind of statement. Well, maybe just a bit.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Superior's Kovalsky launches into pole vaulting

Heading into his freshmen year a few years ago, Superior junior Lucas Kovalsky looked at pole vaulting and thought it looked like a lot of fun.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Local golfers tee off at Class C championships

The Montana State Class C golf tournament got underway Tuesday (May 16-17) with a pair of golfers from both St. Regis and Superior heading to the state finals in Great Falls after qualifying this past week at the Western Division tournament in Bozeman.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Baxter sisters headed to state golf tourney

The first state championship of the 2023 Montana high school sports season gets underway today (May 16-17) as a pair of Thompson Falls Lady Blue Hawks head to Shelby, joined by the Lady Hawks team in quest of a state title.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks 2nd at 7B championships

This has been the year of the Bigfork.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Plains-Hot Springs baseball has mixed results

In what looks more like a hockey record than a baseball record, the Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen baseball team posted a 1-1-1 mark last week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Plains-Hot Springs ace mows down 18 at Troy

According to Webster’s New World Dictionary, the word “dominate” means: to rule or control by superior power.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Superior tennis sweeps Troy

They rallied together and won the match despite some disheartening news earlier in the week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Lowe and Palmer lead Lady Hawks at Eureka meet

It could be said, tongue in cheek, that Lincoln County was not a very good host for last week’s Top 8 NW track and field meet at Eureka High School.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Superior’s Allen Ryan claims 3,200 win at Mid-Week meet

With district championships getting underway this weekend, last week was the final chance for several rained out or delayed events to do their thing in the world of Montana high school track and field.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Trotters upset Lady Hawks in softball rematch

The first time they played this year was the first game of the new season for both the Plains Trotters and the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks fast pitch softball teams.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Superior boys, Noxon girls lead local teams at Kim Haines Invite

With district, divisional and state track and field meets just around the corner, a good barometer for local Class B and C schools may have been this past weekend’s Kim Haines Invitational meet in Missoula.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis' Jack Connolly posts low score on home course

In sports, defending the “home” turf, court, field, etc., is often a rallying cry.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Jock Talk

As the “civic-minded” — not to be confused with “simple-minded” — public servant I am, I thought it would be good to provide a simple guide to “Sports Terms, aka Jock Talk” for those who may be as confused about this strange language associated with games.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Craftsman turns horns into functional art

Artisans and craftsmen can see things in a different way than most people.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Fierce competition at Whitefish's ARM meet

There were some familiar things happening in this weekend’s Whitefish ARM Invitational track and field gathering.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Local girls shine at Top 10 meet in Missoula

The meet is a preview, in a way, of the rapidly approaching Montana State High School track and field championship competitions.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Savage Horsemen notch two more wins

By any measurement, this first season of Plains-Hot Springs baseball has been a good one.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Trotters rebound with pair of big wins

After a strange ending to a tournament the week before where the Plains Trotters softball team wound up losing two games, including one that endured a long delay, the Trotters got back on the winning track in a big way this past Saturday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Trout Creek archery teams returns from nationals

They may not have won the Western National Archery tournament, but the group of young archers from Trout Creek most certainly did win something of equal value in the long run: the respect and support of their fellow Montanans.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Cork-pulling invention earns Noxon student high honors at science fair

It is simple, says Noxon sixth grader Tracker Scarlett.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Local athletes shine at tough Seely-Swan Invite

There were, as Thompson Falls track coach Trenna Ferris said, “29 teams and the competition was fierce.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks softball improves to 8-3

The Lady Hawks softball team started this past week by breaking the hearts of the Heart Breakers. Twice.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Trotters outhit Ennis for softball win

Twelve games into the 2023 season and two things are clear for the Plains Trotters softball team: they can hit and their fielding has improved substantially.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Plains baseball blanked by powerhouse Polson

With all the rain coming down, a little rust could be expected?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Superior's Milender awarded wrestling scholarship

Decker Milender, Superior High School’s 2023 Montana state wrestling champion, is eager to get back to work.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Baseball memory

One of the great things about sports is the memories they can create.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 6 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls boys and girls 2nd at Libby meet

Some names in local high school track are recurring at the top as the season gets in gear following a slew of weather related postponements in March and early April.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Take it slow

My old guy is about to emerge.

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Plains Invitational draws low scores

Some eye popping 18-hole scores were the rule of the day at the Plains Invitational golf tournament this past Friday at the Wild Horse Plains Golf Course north of town.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

U-19 boys soccer picks up wins; girls team tops Missoula

It was a mostly successful weekend for Clark Fork Soccer teams during a series of games at Amundson Sports Complex despite cold and windy Montana Spring conditions.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Paradise Sewer Board claims funds mismanaged

Call it, “Sewer Wars” 2.0: the Board strikes back.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Alberton, Superior travel to Dilly Bar Invitational

With the season heading for midpoint despite several weather interruptions, track and field teams from throughout the area are getting a good look at their prospects, including some young up-and-comers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Plains-Hot Springs baseball tops Browning

It was a week of extremes for the Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen baseball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Plains outscores MAC in first matchup of season

The Plains Horsemen combined solid pitching, both starting and relief, with timely hitting as they outscored Mission 14-8 last Thursday.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls wrestlers earn All-American status

High school wrestling in this area, where Little Guy wrestlers get started at an early age, is often, quietly, the most successful local sport.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Trotters softball tops Troy for first victory

It was the Maddy Blood show Saturday in Troy as the Plains Trotters softball team picked up their first win of the year, 11-0 over the Lady Trojans.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Plains baseball outlasts Mission for first win

No doubt this was the result new coach Richard Powers was looking for from his new team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Hawks' golfers tee off season

After a fifth-place finish during last year’s State B-C golf championships, Thompson Falls senior Ellie Baxter appears to be picking up where she left off.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Crabb named Class C coach of the year

There is a well-worn adage that goes “It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Trout Creek archers prep for Western U.S. Championships

Archery is alive and well in Trout Creek, Montana.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Baxter signs to play hoops at Carroll College

The harvest continues for Carroll College.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Hands off my sports

This planet that is now home to somewhere in the crowded neighborhood of 8 billion human beings by most estimates, is an amazing, if not crazy place.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Local athletes heat up at chilly Dave Tripp meet

Thompson Falls has some depth in track and field. And they have quality.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Plains-Hot Springs baseball team opens inaugural season

It was enough to make a baseball purist’s eyes mist over.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Trotters show improvement in trip to Bitterroot

The bats are showing signs of coming around. The never quit is still there. The wins will come.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Plains and Thompson Falls meet in softball season-opener

For a while it looked like a repeat of last year’s softball season opener between Plains and Thompson Falls.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Dodgeball tourney benefits Trout Creek Archery Club

If you are going to do something to support a worthy cause, why not make it fun at the same time?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Springs sports weather

It was close to what would likely have been more of a spectacle than a disaster.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

State qualifiers return to lead Plains track

It’s been a recurring them this year when it comes to looking ahead at area high school track and field teams: most, if not all, have strong groups coming back and some promising potential moving up in the form of underclassmen.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Superior track opens season at Blue Devil Invitational

As one of the few teams in the area to have already competed in an early season track meet, the Superior High boys and girls got a sneak preview of their up and coming athletes.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Plains golfers tee off season at Eureka

Mother Nature willing, it’s time for some high school golf.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Clark Fork Soccer Alliance kicks off spring season

By shear numbers alone, soccer is on a par with any other sport in this area.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Superior measures up at Bitterroot track meet

It was the first meet of the season, one which survived the threat of incoming snow and cold temperatures.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Blue Hawks field deep track roster

A solid core of talented upperclassmen and a very promising group of freshmen and sophomores has hopes high in Thompson Falls’ track and field for the 2023 season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Plains softball opens season at Polson tourney

It was the first pitch, of the first game of the new season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis track returns core athletes

Small but mighty. “That’s how we roll,” said St. Regis head track and field coach Jesse Allan with a smile as he describes this year’s Tigers team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: I'm coming for you Wally Eye

I’ve officially had it! Enough is enough.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Track season off and running this weekend

Spring sports fans, cinch up the Velcro, tighten up your wigs and dust off your running shoes.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Plains fields promising softball roster

A solid group of returnees from last year’s team that made it to Divisionals, along with some promising newcomers give the Plains Trotters reason to be optimistic heading into their season-opener this Saturday in Polson.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

New stars to replace four outstanding track and field grads

It’s a theme fairly common among small town track and field programs and other sports at the high school level.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Savage Heat track boats solid core of underclassmen

How do you replace two of the best athletes to don Hot Springs uniforms in recent memory? With a talented and eager group of youngsters.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks softball returns good crop of starters

There are so many things that come together to make a good softball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 7 MONTHS AGO

Bigfork girls complete run to State B title

It was, to say the least, a very successful showing for Western Division Class B and C teams as the 2022-23 Montana High School basketball season came to a close this past weekend in Billings.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

4-Hers vie for spot at state competition

Calm, cool, collected and informative.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks' Baxter gets All-State nod

As expected, the unbeaten Class B state champion girls from Bigfork dominated the recently released Western 7B all-conference and All-State basketball list, placing the Gunlock sisters, Braeden and Paeten on the first team conference roster and as selections to the Class B All-State team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

VFW Auxiliary serves up home cooking to local veterans

It’s the sweet aroma that strikes you first, followed by the sight of busy cooks turning potential chaos into a delightful breakfast.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Local hoopers earn All-State selections

Four players from the 14C basketball conference, two all-state selections from the boys and two from the girls, highlight this year’s 2022-23 recently released post-season honors.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Local schools gear up for inaugural baseball season

As a coach, Rick Powers had no chance, or perhaps no choice.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Plains' activity fundraiser draws big crowd

Plains cares. That’s the plain and simple truth one could take away from the turnout and community donations response at Saturday night’s “Fiesta” fundraiser at Plains High School.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Play ball!

In our young minds, we were pioneers, the original “boys of summer”.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Charlo teams take early exit from Class C Divisional

For Charlo’s boys and girls basketball teams the journey to frozen Butte and the Maroon Activities Center ended way to soon.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Blue Hawks make strong run at Western B tourney

For the Thompson Falls boys basketball team, the Western Divisional Class B tournament in Anaconda this past weekend was like a microcosm of their season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Top-seeded Tigers find early exit at Western C

Maybe it was a weird form of climate change.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Winter sports wrap up

I will miss this basketball season and the group of characters who took to the courts from Sanders, Mineral and Lake counties.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Lady Bobcats' season wraps up at Western Divisonals

There are two fairly well-known sayings in the grand game of basketball that most folks know: speed kills, and you can’t coach kids to get taller.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

T-Falls girls bounced from divisionals

The playoffs in any sport often produce unexpected results, mostly because the level of talent and ability of the players increases as the postseason ladder gets steeper.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Lady Vikings earn Divisional berth

After falling behind by an uncharacteristically large margin in the first quarter, the Lady Vikings shook off the cobwebs and rallied for a 52-42 victory over a scrappy St. Regis girls team and kept their playoff dreams afloat during a Western 14C challenge game Monday night in Thompson Falls.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Two Eagle River teams both end season at District

Both the boys and girls Two Eagle River basketball teams made it through the second day of the recent Western 14C District tournament in Polson. Unfortunately, that amounted to a total of two victories and four losses and an unexpectedly quick exit from the tournament.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Charlo boys best Superior, head to Butte

The Charlo boys basketball team came out on top of the spirited, upset-minded Superior Bobcats, 59-49, in a 14C conference challenge game Monday night in Thompson Falls.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Plains teams bounced from 7B District tourney

The season is over for the Plains Horsemen and Trotters.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Superior sprinter Pereira signs with Whitworth

Whitworth College just got faster.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Consolation rounds test top teams

Often, consolation rounds can have “con” sequences.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls teams move on to divisionals

In a tournament won by the overwhelming favorites, Thompson Falls still managed to send both its girls and boys team to the Divisional tournament this weekend in Anaconda.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis boys, Superior girls earn top seeds

Two tickets were punched to the next round of the Western Montana Class C post-season quest, but as of the end of District tournament play Saturday evening, their travel plans were still in limbo.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS AGO

Local grapplers bring home the hardware

They came through all year and the state finals proved to be no exception.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs teams primed for tourney time

It was a whirlwind week for the Hot Springs boys and girls basketball teams, with each team playing three games in three nights to wind up their regular season schedules.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Superior outlasts Plains in wild finish

Save the best for last?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Lady Bobcats take top seed to districts

A pair of easy wins and an eye-opening defeat was the case for the Western 14C conference number one seed Superior Lady Bobcats basketball team during the final week of the regular season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

T-Falls teams cap regular season with wins

After a rough start to the week, both Thompson Falls boys and girls basketball teams rebounded for a win to wrap up their regular season schedule as the playoffs have arrived.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Alberton hoops teams headed to districts

It was a long, hard season for the Alberton boys and girls basketball teams as they played their first year of varsity sports.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Lady Tigers' Hill top 1,000-points mark in victory

The last couple weeks of the season are often about getting ready for the playoffs.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Noxon notches wins over Troy

A nail-chewer and a blow-out win were on the menu this past Tuesday as the Noxon Red Devils and Lady Devils wrapped up their regular season with victories against non-conference foe Troy.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Charlo teams claim back-to-back wins over St. Regis

Friday night in Charlo, the top two teams in the boys 14C basketball conference met in a showdown for first place in the regular season.

LAKE COUNTY LEADER | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Bigfork gives Plains teams tough test

The Plains boys and girls basketball teams, along with the home fans, got a good look this past weekend at the best of the Western 7B conference...and the state.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Lady Savage Heat outrun Eagles; boys clipped in nail-biter

It was a good night of small town basketball in Hot Springs Saturday night.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Local wrestlers qualify for state tournament

Two Western Division B/C champs and eight total qualifiers give the Superior Bobcats a strong presence at this weekend’s Montana Matt Classic state championships in Billings.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Superior girls hold top record in Western 14C

It was almost a clean sweep for the Superior boys and girls basketball teams this past week and it came against two strong opponents.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Hawks teams split games with Eureka, Loyola

A heart-breaking loss to a non-conference foe followed by a blow-out win over a conference opponent was the story of last week’s Thompson Falls Lady Hawks basketball adventures.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis hits bump against tough Charlo team

Over the course of a long season, talent may not always be enough.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: The big game is here

It’s coming and there’s nothing I can do to stop it. This weekend, “it” will happen again, just like it has for 50-plus years at about this time.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Wheeler claims Superior spelling bee title

An embrace was what it took to win this year’s Superior School spelling bee.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: The shot clock rule

We live in a TV-dominated few seconds of sound bites...for better or for worse.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Tigers' depth on display in win over Two Eagle River

It was a loud and proud, playoff-like atmosphere inside the St. Regis gym Saturday night when two of the top three boys teams squared off in a crucial Western 14C conference clash.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Plains girls impressive in win over Troy

For the Trotters it was a good win over a team they beat by 20 points in Plains last month.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Plains-Hot Springs 3rd in St. Ignatius tourney

The right combination of class champions and depth throughout the line-up helped carry the Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen wrestlers to a respectable third-place finish Saturday at the Mission Mountain Classic tournament in St. Ignatius.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Noxon looks to bounce back after tough week of hoops

It was a busy and tough week for Noxon basketball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

T-Falls boys, girls earn wins over Troy

It was a clean sweep all the way around.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Bobcats win Ted Kato Invitational

This was the performance Coach Charlie Crabb’s Superior Bobcats wrestlers have been building for and looking for all season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis teams topple Noxon

If ever there was a time for the St. Regis boys basketball youth movement to step forward, it was Saturday night.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Alberton boys, girls falls at Charlo

Every champion has had predecessors who laid the foundation of victory.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Noxon ousts Hot Springs in rivalry game

Rivalry games are something special for sure.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

Lady Bobcats stay on winning track

In Superior, the girls have rhythm and the boys are still trying hard to find it.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Winter sports heat up

This is why some folks put up the outdoor Christmas lights years ago and never took them down.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 9 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Sugar and spice?

COLUMN: Sugar and spice?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Caleb Ball sets St. Regis scoring record

It was a night for the record books Saturday in St. Regis.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Noxon girls get 2 more wins; boys top Alberton

The Noxon girls basketball team got a pair of wins this past week, thanks to some solid play against struggling opponents.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Comeback fuels Lady Savage Heat win at Pablo

For most of the game, it looked like the Two Eagle River girls basketball team was more energetic and better overall than the Hot Springs girls.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Milender, Vulles lead Bobcats at A-AA tourney

This was a strong test for the Superior wrestlers.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Trotters test Arlee in Western 7B matchup

Plains boys and girls basketball teams continued to try to find their groove this past week, with the Trotters taking Arlee to the last few minutes of a tense, hotly contested game before falling to the Scarletts 36-32 in Plains.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Plains looks to get back on track after rough week

A benefit of experience is often consistency. And, logically, it would follow that less experience often leads to inconsistency.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Plains-Hot Springs impress at Western Montana Duals

It was a good weekend for the Plains/Hot Springs combined wrestling team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Red Devils fall to tough Charlo squad

Charlo was not a good host to the Noxon Red Devils basketball teams this past Thursday, beating the boys 68-24 and downing the girls 65-34 in Charlo.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Lady Savage Heat pick up two conference wins

It was a long week for the Hot Springs boys and girls basketball teams, particularly the boys Savage Heat.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis boys stay unbeaten

Close, as they say, counts only in horseshoes and hand grenades.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: 'Going to battle'

I try each week to find a humorous angle to the wonderfully wacky world of sports.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks dominate Eureka; boys fall on buzzer-beater

A blow-out and a nail-biter.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Bobcats take 3rd at Cut Bank Invite

Milender, Vulles and Milender sounds like a great name for a law firm.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Superior snares wins over Alberton, Noxon

It was a double-double in basketball this weekend for the Superior Bobcats and Lady Bobcats.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis' Caleb Ball headed to UM Western

For each of the past four high school sports season, including the current one, Coach Jesse Allan and St. Regis fans have had a Ball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Ratliff selected for East-West Shrine Game

There are good athletes who succeed, and there are good athletes who succeed with respect and hard work.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Football bowl season

My cup bowl-eth over. It’s too much. It’s out of control. It’s football gone crazy.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Bigfork topples Plains teams on hard court

To be the best, they say, you have to beat the best.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: When the snow flies

It must be winter in Montana, where the first official day of winter brings pipe-freezing cold and road clogging snow.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 10 MONTHS AGO

Superior and Plains wrestlers post solid results

On the mats was a good place to be for local wrestlers this past weekend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: A few Christmas shoutouts

I was thinking about putting together a Christmas gift list for all the folks in this area who are involved in or like sports.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Plains hoopers snare nice wins

Don’t look now but the young guys on the block are playing winning basketball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis boys continue hot start in win over Superior

The youth movement continues in the Western 14C conference and that is good news for the St. Regis Tigers boys basketball team, which is already off to a hot start to the 2022-23 campaign.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls teams roll over Troy

Two games, two relatively easy wins.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

T-Falls tops Plains in county showdown

In the latest version of the battle for Sanders County, the Blue Hawks ruled the roost.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Alberton hoopers gain experience in losses

The wins aren’t coming, but experience is.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Column: Alberton girls show true grit

It can be running across open ground while people you don’t even know are shooting at you.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Lady Bobcats top Darby for another win

The good news is it’s just the beginning of the season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis hoopers off to hot start

When both teams are rolling, that’s a good time to be a fan.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs handled by top Seeley Lake squads

Some things are pretty certain. It snows in Montana in the winter, an elephant cannot hang over a cliff with its tail wrapped around a daisy, and it takes a very big dog to weigh a ton.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Noxon boys fall in OT; girls split games

Overtime was not kind to the Noxon Red Devils boys basketball team, who fell 51-40 to the Troy Trojans in a game that was 39-39 at the end of regulation.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks notch another win over Florence-Carlton

A deadly combo is emerging on the courts for the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks so far this season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Alberton hoopers showing improvement

Since announcing they were returning to varsity sports in the Montana class B-C sports world, the Alberton Panthers boys and girls teams have not been treated very kindly.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Plains-Hot Springs take 4th at Bob Kinney Invitational

Local wrestlers brought home lots of hardware from this year’s Bob Kinney Invitational, the watermark event in this area’s high school wrestling scene.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis edges Darby, 44-42

Sometimes, even the best shooters could swear the opposing team put a clear plastic lid over their basket.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Good results at Owen Invitational wrestling tourney

A pair of seniors led the way for the Superior Bobcats wrestling team while Thompson Falls scored the area’s lone weight class championship during action at this past weekend’s Owen Invitational Wrestling tournament in Polson.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs teams look good at tip-off

Of the local teams entered in the Hamilton Tip-off basketball tournament this past weekend, Hot Springs came out with one of the best combined records.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Alberton hoopers return to the court

The true test of character, they say, is not so much how you respond to prosperity, but how you respond to adversity.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks rout Deer Lodge to open season

If it’s the winter sports season, one truism appears to be holding as it does every year. The Thompson Falls Lady Hawks will have a very good basketball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Horsemen open season with win at tip-off

All the ingredients have been there, ripening and getting better.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

Column: For the love of soccer?

A quick bit of gratitude to express, then on to this week’s debate.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 YEAR, 11 MONTHS AGO

All-State volleyball honors awarded

Three players named to the 2022 Western 14C conference were also chosen as All-state performers in recently released postseason honors tabulations.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

B-C football championship roundup

So who are the new State champions in the Fall sports B-C world?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Lady Bobcats battle at divisional tourney

They battled their way out of the tangled world that is Montana Western 14C high school volleyball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

COLUMN: The Greatest Generation

It’s a memory that will stay with me forever.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Lady Hawks punch ticket to state

Welcome to the Department of Redundancy Department, Volleyball division for volleyball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Superior ends season in frigid loss at Culbertson

Football is a crazy game. Everyone knows it, and it is strangely why so many people love the game with the oblong ball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

COLUMN: No whistling in sports

You know who you are.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

COLUMN: The fall classic

Anyone else notice something missing lately?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Valier upends Noxon in playoffs

In the days of late summer, hope springs eternal on football fields everywhere in this land.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Hot Springs' season ends in playoff heart-breaker

For all its purported roughness and toughness, football can also be a cruel breaker of hearts.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Bobcats rebound with dominant playoff victory

The good teams all have it and all do it.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Thompson Falls secures first win in 11-man

For those who thought it might never happen … thhppppttttt!

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Lady Hawks win one, lose one

For the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks volleyball players, it was a matter of being at both ends of the volleyball spectrum.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Lady Bobcats get 2 wins heading into playoffs

Peaking at this time of year can be a very good sign with District playoffs beginning this weekend.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

COLUMN: Sports word search

What’s the word I’m searching for here? Wow? Wacky? Unbelievable?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

St. Regis faces top-rated Drummond

For western Montana volleyball fans and players alike, one need look no further than Drummond to see a team that might be able to become a state champion.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Hot Springs outlast Darby in five sets

The latest in a string of five-set volleyball matches to grip the area was a back and forth jousting match between visiting Hot Springs and the Lady Tigers from Darby.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Superior suffers first loss at St. Ignatius

It would be hard to say there’s a better 8-player high school football team in Montana if you look at the 58-0 win by top-ranked St. Ignatius (aka Mission) over the fourth-ranked Superior Friday night in St. Ignatius.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

St. Regis-Mullan tear up Wallace

Another successful run in the Idaho 1A-DII division playoffs is lining up for the co-op St. Regis-Mullan 8-man football team after they thrashed Wallace 60-22 Friday night in Mullan.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Savage Heat storm back in 65-22 win over W. Yellowstone

Given the scope of at least a few of the “upsets” that took place this past weekend in the local high school football realm, it would have easy to understand why there may have been a collective “gulping” sound in the stands at Hot Springs High Saturday afternoon.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Tournament time for local volleyball teams

Beginning this week with the Western 7B volleyball tournament hosted by Thompson Falls and the Western 14C tourney at the Ronan Events Center, volleyball fans will have a chance, in some cases one last chance, to see their teams in action this year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Lady Hawks dominate Western B/C Invitational

One title and a quarter is not a likely reason for the town council to get out the brushes and paint the town blue.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

St. Regis pushes Charlo in tight match

In hindsight, the volleyball match between Charlo and St. Regis Thursday night might have been a harbinger of matches to come.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Trotters searching for first victory

It was a tough week for sure for the Plains High Trotters volleyball team as they were swept by their Sanders County rivals, Thompson Falls, then by St. Ignatius in a pair of road matches this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Tigers win JV matchup at Kootenai High

When the other team had problems putting together a varsity lineup, the football coaches at St. Regis-Mullan, Idaho co-op saw it as an opportunity to get some good playing time for the younger guys.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Hot Springs senior Parker scores 3 TDs in win

This Saturday night in Hot Springs, it will be Senior Night in honor of the senior classmen on the Savage Heat football team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Superior stays unbeaten with win over Darby

The recipe for a delicious evening of football includes:

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Noxon upsets top-rated Charlo

The volleyball epicenter Saturday night could easily be traced to mid court of the Charlo High School gym.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

COLUMN: It's playoff season

Let’s clean up some loose ends and get ready for playoffs, shall we?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS AGO

Red Devils stare down Gardiner Bruins

So it just makes sense.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

T-Falls takes loss at Eureka

If you haven’t ever tried playing football, you probably wouldn’t understand.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks pick up win over Plains

Nothing like a pair of wins to make the sun seem brighter and the air crisper.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Noxon splits volleyball matches

As local volleyball matches go, these were a couple marathons for the Noxon Lady Red Devils this past week.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Fun run: Local harriers score PRs at Pablo

After a season of running up and down hills, over streams and jumping hay bales, it is no doubt time to have a little serious fun.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Charlo Lady Vikings notch another win

The Charlo Lady Vikings are cruising again this year in Western 14C volleyball circles.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Superior stays perfect in win at Charlo

The prop boys have done their jobs and the stage has been set.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Turnovers hurt Plains in loss at Victor

When you don’t take care of the ball, you can’t take care of the game, which is not a good thing

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Column: Eight-man unbeatens to clash

If you are an eight-man high school football fanatic, this is what you have been waiting for.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks clash with Western B power Bigfork

With Western B volleyball playoff action looming, Thompson Falls’ girls were trying to do what no one else had done this year so far.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Superior steamrolls Victor, 50-6

When a team hits that elusive thing called “stride” it can literally cause nightmares for opposing coaches.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Hot Springs gets volleyball win a Noxon

It was a mixed bag for the Hot Springs volleyball team this past weekend as they split a pair of home games in Western 14C conference play.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Bobcats outlast Noxon in volleyball showdown

The the tumultuous world that is Class C volleyball around these parts, you can have a really good week by winning one of two games.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

T-Falls harriers find stride at Arlee meet

They haven’t been stopped by weather, albeit slowed a bit.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Horsemen show progress in loss at Arlee

It’s going to come, probably sooner rather than later. The Plains Horsemen will indeed taste victory.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Slonaker's 4 TDs leads Hot Springs over Noxon

For Northwest Montana six-man football, as they say, it doesn’t get much better than this.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Trotters battle Eureka in volleyball

Take heart Trotters volleyball fans. Better times are on the way.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

COLUMN: What is the deal with mascots?

You’d probably have to actually be in my mind, entangled in the web of electrons to even begin to wonder why I would ponder such a thing, but I’ve been wrestling with this question for years.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

St. Regis-Mullan cruise to lopsided win

If you live along the stretch of Interstate 90 that runs by Mullan, Idaho, and St. Regis and Superior, Montana you may hear the sounds of cheering fans.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

COLUMN: Local contenders

Usually after three or four games, lots of prognosticators proclaim they know who is going to be standing on top of the pile when the sports season is over.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Local harriers compete at Thompson Falls meet

The dense blanket of forest fire smoke that blanketed most of Sanders County last week dissipated enough to allow for the throng of runners to breathe as they ran.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Red Devils stay unbeaten in Western 6-man action

The Red Devils are on the prowl.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Savage Heat fall at Arlee

Both teams fought hard in a match that could easily have gone either way.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Hot Springs roughs up Gardiner in road win

In sports there is a tried and true saying that it’s never a good idea to look ahead.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Red Devils sweep Two Eagle River

Mismatch: to match unsuitably.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Top-rated Bigfork gets best of Hawks on homecoming

When the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks finish their quest to adapt to 11-man football, they will no doubt be on the other end of the score.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Trotters searching for first conference win

After being soundly defeated earlier in the week by Florence-Carlton, the Plains Trotters volleyball team was hoping for some good vibes and Homecoming cooking.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Bobcats stroll to homecoming night victory

If you had to describe this year’s version of the Superior Bobcats 8-man football team what would it be?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks back on track with win over Mission

The good teams bounce back from adversity and go on to better things.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Bobcats outlast St. Regis in tight match

In what was the first meeting of the 2022 volleyball season this past Wednesday between the two rivals located just 14 miles apart along I-90, and Homecoming for one of them to boot. And both teams had enough energy to be factors in a regional, special format tournament that was …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Former sewer board member Barber speaks out

It is an issue that has in many ways torn apart a small town, pitting neighbor against neighbor in the great Paradise Sewer wars.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Superior rolls in win at Grizzly Stadium

For the young athletes who got to play on the field at Washington Grizzly Stadium in Missoula Friday night, it must have been sensory overload.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Road trip tests Lady Bobcats volleyball

It seems early, like frost on a pumpkin in August, but the races are already heating up in Montana Western C volleyball.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

St. Regis Lady Tigers earn 2 wins

In the ultra-competitive Western 14C volleyball conference, wins can be hard to get.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Noxon volleyball tests top-rated Charlo

As has been the case in recent Montana Class C volleyball seasons around these parts, the path to the conference championship once again goes right through Charlo.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Hawks make progress on defense

It has long been said that defense wins championships.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Baxter leads T-Falls harriers at UM meet

It was a sea of runners that swarmed the University of Montana Golf Course pathways Saturday, including a solid batch of Thompson Falls harriers, many of whom turned in outstanding performances in what is one of the biggest cross county meets of the year.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Trotters face tough teams in conference play

It was a challenging week to say the least for the Trotters volleyball teams as they entered the fray in Western B conference action.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Red Devils snag win at West Yellowstone

When a couple of six-man Montana High School football teams get together with similar records and an early conference lead, you can probably count on a track meet to break out.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Hot Springs drubs White Sulphur Springs

The Battle of the Springs is over and this year “Hot” has triumphed over “Sulphur.”

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

COLUMN: Rescheduling the schedule

It is a conundrum, wrapped in a dilemma and shrouded by a mystery.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Board debriefed on Sanders County Fair

It was a fun fair to all and “un-fare” to a few.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Trotters topple Troy on the road

If it sounded like the echo of far off pounding hooves that seems to be getting louder, it is likely caused in part by the rapidly improving Plains High School volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Savage Heat rolls over Twin Bridges, 40-6

It was the game and the result Hot Springs Coach Jim Lawson and his staff had been looking for in the early going of the 2022 Montana 6-man football season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Blue Hawks still looking for first 11-man win

Progress is in the works for the Thompson Falls football team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Thilmony posts personal best at tough Kalispell meet

The Montana High School cross country season is gaining steam, and so are the Thompson Falls varsity teams, both of whom competed at the Flathead Invitational meet last week in Kalispell.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

COLUMN: Hanging with the harriers

It is a sport as demanding, if not more so, than any other.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Hot Springs tests top-rated Charlo

Some things remain constant: The sun will rise; dogs will bark; and Charlo will have a good volleyball team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks sweep Deer Lodge, fall to Anaconda

Some days things just don’t go the way you were hoping they would.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Noxon, St. Regis battle in 14C volleyball match

This Montana Western 14C conference volleyball race is going to be a challenge to keep up on.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Tigers roar in 48-14 victory over Deary, Idaho

The bi-state Tigers are back in the saddle. Riding a Tiger may not be good for your health and prosperity.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Sanders County Fair Parade in photos

Sanders County Fair Parade

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Superior upends Noxon in seesaw battle

Volleyball fans in Sanders and Mineral counties may want to check their blood pressure and get ready for what, based on early results, looks like a wide-open battle for the top.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

St. Regis upends Clark Fork, 60-42

One of the best sports adages of all time is always part of emails from St. Regis-Mullan coach Jesse Allan.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Blue Hawks make strides in loss to Three Forks

No one said it was going to be easy, or even fair.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Arlee clips Plains in marathon match

Volleyball fans may have missed one of the best matches of the season as Arlee and Plains slugged it out over a five-game marathon that ended with Arlee pulling out a 3-2 win this past week on their home court.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Thompson Falls cross country preview

They loss their top gun from last year, but the Thompson Falls cross country team appears to have reloaded as the 2022 season gets underway.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Bobcats rock Horsemen, 56-6

Superior may have found the ingredients for an outstanding season.

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COLUMN: Hallowed turf in Hot Springs

There are places in life we wind up in that we will never forget.

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Hot Springs drops heartbreaker to Panthers

One minute you’re in control, victory is in plain sight.

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St. Regis wins battle of the Tigers

The St. Regis Lady Tigers won in all aspects of the battle of Tigers with Darby Saturday afternoon.

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Lady Hawks notch 2 wins in Western B volleyball