Trotters take two losses heading into break

Coach Brooks Sanford and his Plains Trotters seem to keep getting the best of both basketball worlds in Classes B and C

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 DAY, 11 HOURS AGO

Goal-oriented Red Devils learn as they go

Noxon girls basketball coach Cory Brodmerkle gives her young Lady Red Devils goals before each game, and her team keeps meeting or exceeding those goals.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 DAY, 11 HOURS AGO

Blue Hawk boys drop nonconference games

It’s not how you start; it is how you finish. And the Hawks still look to finish strong.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 DAY, 11 HOURS AGO

Wrestlers get a second chance at Walt Trudy

For teams like the Thompson Falls Blue Hawks, the best part of the CM Russell Christmas Classic wrestling tournament is often the Walt Trudy Memorial portion of the event.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 DAY, 11 HOURS AGO

Bobcats stop Vikings, 68-61

Practice? Who needs practice?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 DAY, 11 HOURS AGO

Lady Hawks top Anaconda Copperheads, 45-20

To say the Lady Hawks’ shooting in Saturday’s 41-31 loss to the Blackhawks in Seeley Lake Saturday was bad is a dry understatement.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 DAY, 11 HOURS AGO

Horsemen go cold heading into break

Playing solid basketball otherwise, the cold-shooting Plains Horsemen could not overcome the lack of scoring the cold shooting caused and fell 58-36 to the Lincoln Lynx in Plains Friday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 DAY, 11 HOURS AGO

Annual Keg Bowl kicks off Saturday

The locally famous Keg Bowl, unofficially one of the longest running for-fun football bowl games anywhere, will be played for the 45th year running Saturday east of Thompson Falls.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 DAY, 11 HOURS AGO

Hot Springs girls hold off Tigers in OT

Playing clutch basketball when it counted, the Hot Springs Savage Heat girls defeated the visiting St. Regis Tigers 58-56 in overtime in Hot Springs Dec. 16.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 DAY, 11 HOURS AGO

Arbogast, Crabb medal at Bob Kinney

Dillon Arbogast won third place at 126 pounds and Cael Crabb third at 138 to highlight Superior Bobcat efforts in the Bob Kinney Memorial wrestling tournament in Superior Saturday.

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

Lady Red Devils grow as they go

The Noxon Lady Red Devis are growing into a good team as they go, and coach Corey Brodmerkle couldn’t be prouder.

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

Savage Heat get defensive in victory of Victor

Defense was the name of the game for the Hot Springs Lady Savage Heat in a 51-27 victory over the visiting Lady Pirates in Hot Springs Saturday. The Heat were to have played at Arlee Thursday but that game was cancelled, Hot Springs coach Brady Ovitt said.

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

Captains lead Blue Hawks in Kinney Memorial

The captains led the way for the way for the Blue Hawk wrestlers in the Bob Kinney Memorial tournament in Superior Saturday.

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

T-Falls boys win one, lose one in Shelby

The Shelby Tournament last week was all about learning for the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk boys. Learning to take some lumps as well as how to dish some out, coach Jake Mickelson’s young Hawks fell 72-21 to powerful Malta Friday before bouncing back to beat host Shelby 71-65 Saturday.

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

Cats top Lynx, fall to Blackhawks

Count on the Lady Cats for excitement, win or lose.

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

Noxon hosts two games this week

The Noxon Red Devil boys, after graduating eight seniors off last year’s very, very good basketball team, is looking for a new identity.

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

Lady Hawks learn from tough trip to Shelby

Mike Tessier knew the Shelby Tournament would be a tough tournament to play going in, but he wouldn’t want it any other way anyway. Only the good teams come to play in Shelby, it seems.

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

Holotta takes second at Bob Kinney tourney

BillRay Holotta won second place at 150 pounds to highlight Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen efforts in the Bob Kinney Memorial wrestling tournament in Superior Saturday.

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

Rice leads Trotters over Tigers

Led by a stellar effort from sophomore Hadyn Rice, who scored 22 points, cleared eight rebounds, grabbed three steals and blocked four shots, the Plains Trotters improved to 2-1 on the season with a 55-43 win over the visiting Darby Tigers in Plains Friday.

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

Blocking out a priority for Horsemen

Blocking out is a priority for Plains boys basketball coach Tyrel Allen right now.

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

St. Regis boys down Eagles, 73-43

The St. Regis Tigers built on their still rising mojo in Missoula Thursday, using a scoring run right before halftime to build a good lead and controlled the action the rest of the game on their way to a 73-43 win over Valley Christian.

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

Sidelines: 50 years of Superior wrestling marches on

The quote was pulled from somewhere that doesn’t really matter, but was does matter is the faces behind it. The faces of Gary Tourtelotte, Bob Kinney and Clark Conrow, the guys that truly started it all in Superior wrestling.

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

Bobcat boys drop non-conference games

The Superior Bobcat boys dropped a pair of tough non-conference basketball games last week, falling 68-46 to Lincoln in Superior Thursday and 49-45 to Seeley-Swan in Seeley Lake Friday.

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

Brock wins Owen Invite title

Led by Brock Ryan, who claimed the meet championship at 157 pounds, the Plains-Hot Springs Savage Horsemen made a fine showing at the Owen Invitational wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday in Polson.

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

Hawks battle stiff mat competition in Polson

If you were looking for some stiff competition, the Owen Invitational was a good place to start.

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

Plains hosts basketball-athon to start season

It was a basketball-athon, non-stop action virtually all day long, at the Tip-Off tournament in Plains Saturday as the high school basketball season officially began across Montana last week.

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

Tigers go 2-0 at Tip-Off tournament

Just wait until the Tigers put together two good halves in one game.

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

Lady Bobcats run to wins to start season

It may be basketball season but Superior Bobcat girls coach Jeff Schultz wants his team thinking of another fast-paced sport.

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

Local teams take on the Hamilton Tip-Off

District 14C boys and girls basketball teams began 2025-26 season play in a big way at the Tip-Off Tournament in Hamilton last week in games played at the high school and junior high gymnasiums, alternating the use of the facilities each day.

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

Lady Hawks return many, hope for more

Gabi, Addy D, Solveig, Annalise and Emma will have to hold down the fort until Aubrey and Addy T return. And oh yeah, Audrey, just a freshman, might have something to add to this Thompson Falls girls basketball story too.

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

Red Devils, Savage Heat earn All-State honors

Justice Kayser and Cam Wengert of Noxon, and Ben Aldridge and Samson Jakabosky of Hot Springs have been named to the 6-Man All-State and Northwest All-Conference 6-Man football teams.

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

Hawk championship season will be hard to follow

Talk about a hard act to follow.

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

St. Regis boys look to defend district crown

In basketball, when the backbone is gone, you grow a new backbone.

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

Bobcat girls open season against Hamilton

The Superior Lady Bobcats just can’t wait to get out there and run, run, run; and have some fun doing it.

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

Sidelines: Winter sports storm is about to break

It truly is the calm before the storm; but the storm is about to break.

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

Blue Hawk wrestling teams hope to make it happen

The motivation and experience is there, now it is a matter of making it happen on the mat.

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

Blue Hawks honor their own

The final numbers are in and the Thompson Falls football Blue Hawks are honoring several of their own with 2025 team awards.

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

Justin Morgan wins Frontier XC title, All-American honors

Running wasn’t always Justin Morgan’s favorite thing, but he sure is a big wheel in the sport now.

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

Sidelines: Winter sports begin soon; football champs crowned

Who will be the game changers this winter?

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

Hawk soccer stars earn All-Conference nods

Five Thompson-Falls-Plains-St. Regis Blue Hawk soccer players – three girls and two boys – have been honored as Northern A All-Conference selections.

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

Local athletes earn 14C volleyball honors

The 2025 District 14C All-Conference volleyball team has been announced.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Bobcats, Tigers selected for 8-man All-State

Six Mineral County high school football players have been named to the 2025 Montana 8-Man All-State football team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Lady Hawks, Trotters earn 7B accolades

Local volleyball standouts Gabi Hannum and Addy Deal of Thompson Falls have been named first team all-conference and All-State B, and several other outstanding players from Thompson Falls and Plains have also been honored as selections for the 2025 District 7B All-Conference team.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Sidelines: Looking back on fall sports

The 2025 fall sports seasons in cross country, soccer, football and volleyball have ended for all area teams and it’s time to reflect on what we just witnessed, to look back on what this year’s sports hath wrought.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

8-man All-Conference teams selected

Conference coaches have made their selections of players for post season honors following the completion of season play by Western conference 8-Man football teams.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 1 MONTH AGO

Hot Springs netters end season at divisional tourney

Coach Maria Begger’s Savage Heat volleyball team had its say this season, getting in their last words of the season at the Western C divisional tournament in Churchill last week.

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

Sidelines: Playoffs march on, with or without you

There’s no going back now in high school sports.

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

Lady Hawks finish fourth at divisionals

The Lady Hawks’ only wish is that they had more volleyball to play.

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

Bobcats season ends at Western C

Finishing the season with a fine run of play at tournament time, the Superior Bobcats completed the 2025 season competing at the Western C divisional tournament in Churchill last week.

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

Trotters end play at Western B tourney

All in all, the Trotters had a ball with volleyball this fall.

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

Spartans take out Tigers in 8-man playoffs

The St. Regis Tigers’ magical 2025 football season came to an end in Scobey Saturday against the unbeaten Spartans. The hometown Spartans ran out to a big early lead and went on to post a 66-24 win in the Montana 8-Man quarterfinal contest.

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

Tigers shut out Sheridan; next head to Scobey

It may have been the first high school football playoff game in St. Regis history, but it surely will not be the last. Not if this year’s team has anything to say about it.

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

Sidelines: Third times a charm takes a long time

It turns out that St. Regis and Sheridan share some rather peculiar football history with each other. Call it a rather long-term rivalry with an interesting twist.

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

Vikings, Heat, Bobcats move on to Western C tourney

The Charlo Vikings ran the table to win the tournament, the Hot Springs Savage Heat held up their end of the bargain by winning a solid second place, and the Superior Bobcats got their game together to grab third place in the District 14C volleyball tournament in Charlo Thursday and …

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

Bobcats fall to Flint Creek in Drummond

Color it Bobcat blue and red and call it another special season.

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

Red Devils role models for future of Noxon football

The Red Devil role models.

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

Owen is State B champ, Cord wins third

Call him Owen, call him John Owen… whatever you call him you can now add this to his title – State B champion.

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

Bobcats win on senior night, earn No. 4 seed

The Superior Bobcats wrapped up a playoff berth and celebrated their seniors with a 41-0 win over the visiting Victor Pirates in Superior Friday.

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

Heat play three five-set matches in five days

Coach Maria Begger and her Savage Heat volleyball team like to get their money’s worth out of matches, and received full five-set returns on their investments last week.

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

Trotters cap regular season with wins

Some stories do still have happy endings.

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

District 14C tournament begins Thursday

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

Noxon heads to Grass Range for playoff game

A man’s man kind of football team, those Lincoln Lynx.

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

Block, Franck pace Hawks at state meet

Maybe they were born to run.

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

Hawks' football season ends in Eureka

Where one season ends, the next ones then begin.

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

Lady Hawks finish regular season on high note

Every coach alive hopes for one thing – for their team to be playing their best when it counts the most, at the end of the season right before the tournaments begin.

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

Hawks fall on rainy night in Missoula

On a rainy night and a muddy field in Missoula, the Hawks played well through the first half but eventually fell 41-14 to the Loyola Rams in Western conference 11-Man football action Friday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Bobcats wallop Warriors, host Victor Pirates on Friday

The Superior Bobcats appear to be headed for a playoff berth in 6-Man football and coach Jeff Schultz thinks his team’s recent successes are directly tied to one thing that his team has done incredibly well lately, and that is the effective defense his boys have been playing.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Red Devils ready for rugged Lincoln Lynx

The playoffs begin early in Noxon this year. Like, right here, right now in the west end of Sanders County.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Plains harriers lead way in Western B-C

Lucky moose? Who needs a good luck charm when you can run like this?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Tigers take down Pirates, host Charlo on Friday

Firming up their probable playoff position, the St. Regis Tigers took down the Victor Pirates 46-6 in Western C 6-Man football action in Victor Saturday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Trotters edged by rival Hawks

The Plains Trotters played only one match last week but it was a doozy – a four-set match with Sanders County rival Thompson Falls. The Hawks managed to fight past the Trotters 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-22, but coach Kim Lakko’s netters battled the Hawks gamely for every point along the …

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Hawks harriers shine in the sun

Sun, sun, sun, beautiful run day.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks hope to end season flying high

Happiness is… playing volleyball! At least that’s what the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks seem to think.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Horsemen register bittersweet win to end season

Call it bittersweet, albeit a little on the sweet side.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 2 MONTHS AGO

Allen Ranch is Montana Tree Farm of the Year

Good work is not only its own reward, it also wins awards.

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

Red Devils stop Savage Heat

With a playoff berth possibly on the line, the Noxon Red Devils showed up to play Friday, coming up with a key 38-6 win over the Hot Springs Savage Heat at Jenny Lampshire Memorial Field in Noxon.

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

To play or not to play, the Heat must decide

It’s decision-making time in Hot Springs for the fate of Savage Heat football for the rest of the season.

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

Owen and Cord excel at Mission race

Running the race the Mission Shadows Duals way, where the slower runners get a head start on the faster ones, the Plains cross country team still came away with impressive results.

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

Bohn leads Tigers to homecoming win over Arlee

It was a homecoming game to remember for the St. Regis Tigers, especially for junior Nathan Bohn, who led the boys in green and white to a convincing 62-26 win over the visiting Arlee Warriors Friday.

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

Hawks bulldoze Wardens for conference win

To say it was a big win would be putting it too lightly.

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

River's Bend to host Western B-C races this week

Western B-C runners will gather at River’s Bend Thursday for the 2025 divisional cross country meet, in preparation for the State All-Class Meet in Missoula October 25 at the University of Montana golf course.

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

Runners start in reverse, but end up ahead at Mission race

A reverse order start doesn’t mean running backward, but it does change the flavor of a race.

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

Lady Hawks push past stubborn Bulldogs

When push came to shove, the Lady Hawks finally pushed their way past the stubborn Mission Bulldogs, winning a five-set thriller, a marathon of a volleyball match in Thompson Falls Tuesday.

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

Bobcats bounce Horsemen; prep for Arlee next

Looking like a team that’s headed for the playoffs more every day, the Superior Bobcats ran past the Plains Horsemen 48-6 in Superior Friday.

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

Injury bug bites Trotters

An injury bug, who needs one of those?

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

Improving Hawks fall in final soccer games

The Thompson Falls-Plains Blue Hawks ended their season on a positive note last week with coach Michael Scharfe reflecting on the growth his team has showed this fall.

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

Savage Heat won't back down, race by Panthers

The Savage Heat will not back down. Especially not on their home field and especially not on homecoming night in Hot Springs.

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

Savage Heat tame tigers in three sets

The Savage Heat went to St. Regis and defeated the homestanding Tigers 25-20, 25-18, 25-15 in District 14C volleyball action Tuesday.

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

Horsemen return to action, play well against Arlee

After several weeks without a game, the Plains Horsemen returned to the football field Friday, hosting Arlee for homecoming and falling to the visiting Warriors 52-32 in spite of the Plains boys’ best efforts. Now 0-2 on the field and 0-6 overall with the missed games counted in, the Horsemen …

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

Positive Panthers look ahead to Valier

The power of Panther positivity.

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

Improving Hawk boys get Wrobleski back, fall to Loggers

Playing the game a little better every day, the Thompson Falls-Plains Blue Hawk boys soccer team dropped a pair of well-played games to Libby last week, falling to the Loggers 3-2 in Libby Tuesday and 3-0 in Plains Thursday in Plains’ homecoming game.

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

Hawk girls run win streak to three matches

In only the second year of its existence, the Thompson Falls-Plains-St. Regis Hawks girls soccer team is already making noise with a push towards a possible playoff spot

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

Hawks upended by Lions; host Bulldogs for Pink Night

Don’t forget the losses, but don’t dwell on them either.

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

Trotters rally past Trojans for homecoming win

The Trotters celebrated homecoming week in Plains by defeating the visiting Troy Trojans 19-25, 25-15, 25-13, 28-26 at PHS Saturday.

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

Bobcats fight the good net fight

The District 14C net wars continue until resolution of all conflicts is achieved.

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

Bobcats fall to Blackhawks; Horsemen up next

As the No. 10 team facing the No. 6 Seeley-Swan Blackhawks on their home turf, the Superior Bobcats did not flinch, but still fell 56-42 to the conference-leading Blackhawks in Seeley Lake Friday.

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

Darby drops Tigers; St. Regis to host Arlee Friday

That Townsend kid is the real McCoy.

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

PHOTOS Hot Springs volleyball in action

Hot Springs volleyball in action

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

Trotters sweep matches with Arlee, Darby

The Plains Trotters won a pair of matches in Plains, both in three sets last week, defeating Darby Monday and turning back Arlee Friday.

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

Rested Red Devils ready for action

Prepare for the best possible opponent each week and the rest will take care of itself.

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

Undermanned Savage Heat host Alberton for homecoming

Where there’s a will, there’s a way, but sometimes numbers come into play.

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

Hawks soccer falls to C-Falls, blank Browning

The Thompson Falls-Plains soccer Hawk boys split games last week, falling 10-0 to powerful Columbia Falls Tuesday in Thompson Falls and rebounding to defeat Browning 8-0 in Browning Friday.

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

Hawks girls bounce back with win in Browning

The Thompson Falls-Plains-St. Regis girls soccer team bounced back from a tough home loss to Columbia Falls with a 5-0 win over Browning in Browning Friday.

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

Bobcats take down Darby; eye dangerous Blackhawks

The Superior Bobcat football team is still in it to win it.

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

Mission complete; Tigers set sights on Darby

With mission Mission accomplished, the St. Regis Tigers now set their sights on the Darby Tigers.

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

Runners converge on River's Bend for T-Falls Invite

Not too big, not too small, the Thompson Falls Invitational is just right – quite possibly the perfect competitive cross-country event.

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

Hawks hesitate and Falcons take advantage

He who hesitates is lost, especially on the football field.

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

Jermyn, Greer impressive at Mountain West Invite

When there are almost 600 competitive runners in a cross country race, a top 100 finish is a very impressive result, and a top 50 performance is even more newsworthy.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Tigers host three volleyball matches

The St. Regis Tigers played three home matches last week and coach Kianna Branett’s Tigers defeated Two Eagle River 25-8, 25-13, 25-12 Tuesday, fell to Charlo 25-16, 25-17, 25-13 Thursday and lost to Seeley-Swan 25-13, 23-25, 25-17, 25-15 Saturday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Bobcats bull past 'Dogs; host Darby Friday

Don’t forget about the Bobcats.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Copperheads strike back at Thompson Falls

The Thompson Falls Blue Hawks fell to the Anaconda Copperheads 63-14 in Western B football action at Previs Field Friday. Now 0-1 in conference play and 1-3 overall, coach Jared Koskela and his Hawks will host 0-0, 0-3 Florence this Friday, again at Previs Field.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Savage Heat nudge past Bobcats

It was a seesaw match but, in the end, the momentum swung the home team’s way.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Lady Hawks sting Trotters in county showdown

It could truly be called a stinging defeat in this instance at least.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Hawks soccer hosts Columbia Falls in Plains

Coach Michael Scharfe and his Thompson Falls-Plains soccer squad may have lost 4-1 to Bigfork in Thompson Falls and 10-0 to powerful Whitefish in Whitefish Thursday, but not all is lost, there are still a lot of meaningful matches to play.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Determined Block leads Hawks at Mountain West

It’s hard to keep a good man down, especially when he really, really wants to run in the worst way. Or should we say in the best way?

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Hawks girls soccer hang with tough Bigfork squad

Let’s hear it for the conservative, disciplined approach to soccer, it might just be a winning formula.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Young Hawks run in Mountain West

Those young ones can sure run, and are definitely worth watching into the future.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Big game Heat race past Panthers

One big game leads to another.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 3 MONTHS AGO

Hawks play Wildcats tough on home turf

The Class A Columbia Falls Wildcats are traditionally one of the best boys soccer programs in Montana, year-in, year-out contenders for State hardware, and the 2025 edition of the Wildcats are no exception to that rule.

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

Blue Hawk harriers run well at Browning

Running in the Browning Invitational Saturday for the first time in many years, Blue Hawk harriers enjoyed the change of pace afforded by the new surroundings.

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

Call him Owen; John Jermyn wins best of class in Corvallis

Everyone in the Montana running world will soon know John Owen Jermyn’s first name preference.

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

Vikings win first friendly with Savage Heat

The first round goes to Charlo, but Hot Springs coach Maria Begger fully expects to see the Lady Vikings again soon, and welcomes the opportunity to play their friendly rivals again.

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

Lady Hawks seek improvement

Sure, wins are good and losses are bad, but Thompson Falls volleyball coach Sandra Kazmierczak is not too worried about all that right now. She thinks it’s the experience gained that counts the most.

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

Red Devils top visiting Valier Panthers, 37-33

The visiting Valier Panthers would not go down easy but the hometown Noxon Red Devils eventually prevailed 37-33 at Jenny Lampshire Field in 6-Man football action Friday.

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

Horsemen open football season at Mission

A belated beginning is better than not playing at all, and most importantly the Horsemen proved that they wanted to be there.

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

Savage Heat shut down Heart Butte, 91-0

What’s not to like about that for Savage Heat fans?

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

Trotters net one win, one loss in 7B volleyball

Win one, lose one, but the season still goes on.

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

Tigers trounce Trojans

The St. Regis Tigers turned on the defense and turned back the homestanding Troy Trojans 56-14 in Troy Friday. Now 2-1 in Western conference 8-Man football play, coach Jesse Allan and his Tigers are set to visit Plains for a date with the Horsemen this Friday.

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

Bobcats win again, eye key game in Mission

In lockdown mode the last two weeks, the Superior Bobcats hope to keep the defensive pressure on as they prepare for a key Western 8-Man football conference meeting with Mission Friday in Mission.

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

Hawks host Copperheads for homecoming

Beware of the Copperheads! Beware of the Blue Hawks! Who is to be believed?

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

Northwest Montana communities gather to recall Sept. 11

The soccer matches did not go down as scheduled, but the large tribute to first responders and all area emergency personnel certainly did. In a different yet just as meaningful manner.

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

Plains harriers compete at Kalispell

Plains cross country teams competed in the Flathead Invitational in Kalispell Saturday and John Jermyn and Cord Greer led the way.

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

PHOTOS: Sanders County Fair stock sale

Images from the Sanders County Fair stock sale.

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

Bobcats adjust, cruise by Troy Trojans

Football is a game of adjusting, to opponents and to your own strengths and weaknesses.

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

Hawks boys create opportunities

Call it creating the space to excel.

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

Heat start, finish fast, top Shields Valley

Rocketing out to a fast start, the Hot Springs Savage Heat built a 20-0 lead early and kept up the pace all game long in winning 84-51 on the road in Shields Valley Friday in Western C 6-Man football action.

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

Trotters volleyball sweeps scrappy Tigers

The Tigers played tough but the Trotters had the horses in the end.

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

Hawks girls score sweet-spot soccer wins

They call it Coca-Cola soccer, and it hit the sweet spot for the Thompson Falls-Plains-St. Regis girls in two matches last week, an important 1-0 road win over Polson Thursday and a 10-0 victory over Browning in Plains Saturday.

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

Improving Hawks to face Colstrip in Butte

The Hawks aren’t singing the blues; they want to rock and roll.

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

Hawks surge past Loyola

Watch out when the Lady Hawks get the old gym rocking.

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

Blackhawks bully Tigers in big 8-man win

ST. REGIS - The big, bad Seeley-Swan Blackhawks might be the bullies on the block in Western 8-Man football but that doesn’t mean the Tigers were all that impressed with them last Friday in St. Regis, they played to win.

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

Hawks xc runners beat the heat at Kalispell

A little of the hot stuff is all right, but cross-country runners really prefer the weather to be a little cooler. Especially when wildfire smoke is added into the running and breathing equation.

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

Sanders County Fair Rodeo action

Sanders County Fair Rodeo action

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

Sidelines: Numbers game affecting area football teams

It’s the numbers game and it’s another entirely different game played within the game of football. A few area teams are struggling with the numbers crunch of too few players to go around.

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

Double lightning indemnity strikes, Wolves top Hawks 14-12

Call it double lightning indemnity, and chalk one up to Mother Nature and her mysterious ways.

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

CJI cools off Savage Heat in 6-man opener

The Hot Springs Savage Heat opened the 6-Man football season in Hot Springs Friday and the undermanned but feisty Savage Heat fell 52-8 to visiting Chester-Joplin-Inverness, one of the best 6-Man teams in Montana this season.

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

Tigers claw back to win I-90 showdown

After a back-and-forth battle through the first half, the St. Regis Tigers roared back from a 10-point deficit to claw past the Mineral County rival Superior Bobcats 48-30 in the Western C 8-Man opener for both teams at St. Regis Friday night.

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

High school sports begin in a big way

High school sports wait for no one.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS AGO

Blue Hawks host Wolves to open football season

The Thompson Falls Blue Hawks will open the prep football season hosting the Cut Bank Wolves in a non-conference Class B game at Previs Field in Thompson Falls at 7 p.m. Friday.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS AGO

Trotter volleyball futures are rising

The temperature, and excitement, in Plains volleyball is rising and Trotter coach Kim Lakko is hoping to help her team cook up some more great net play this season.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS AGO

Sidelines: It's all about living; not just surviving

It is all about living, not just surviving. Take that from someone who knows.

VALLEY PRESS-MINERAL INDEPENDENT | UPDATED 4 MONTHS AGO

Sidelines: For the love of sports

Introductions are in order to readers of the Valley Press/Mineral Independent. I am the new guy on the sports beat for VP-MI, the new reporter set to cover high school sports in Sanders and Mineral counties starting later this month.

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