After a year of competition, Manhattan Christian and Belt had left the rest of Class C in the dust. But the Eagles and Huskies couldn’t shake each other.
When the final state track meet ended on Saturday, Manhattan Christian finished one point ahead, and became Class C montanasports.com all-sports champions.
We added up points for results at state tournaments in every MHSA sanctioned sport; 10 points for a state championship, seven points for the runners-up, six points for third place, down to one point for an eighth place finish.
Teams that co-op with another Class C school each received the full point total for their finish. But if a smaller school formed a co-op with a school in a larger class, only the school in the larger class received points.
Manhattan Christian and Belt separated themselves quickly from the rest of class C. The Eagles won state titles in boys cross country in October, and added a girls golf title in May. The Huskies won volleyball in November, and dominated girls basketball in March.
Heading into the final day of competition for the school year, Belt held a three-point lead. And the Huskies added three more points with a sixth place finish in boys track. But Manhattan Christian finished second in girls track, and those seven points pushed the Eagles to the top of our standings.
Ennis finished all alone in third place. The Mustangs won titles in football and boys track and field.
Seeley-Swan and Arlee tied for fourth place. The Blackhawks won a boys golf title on their home course. Arlee took first in boys basketball and second in girls basketball to account for nearly all of the Warriors and Scarlets points.
2016-17 CLASS C MONTANASPORTS.COM ALL-SPORT FINAL STANDINGS
1. Manhattan Christian – 45
2. Belt – 44
3. Ennis – 27
T4. Seeley-Swan – 18.5
T4. Arlee – 18.5
6. Twin Bridges – 17
T7. Great Falls Central – 15.5
T7. Westby/Grenora – 15.5
T9. Fort Benton – 15
T9. Charlo – 15
11. Hot Springs – 14
12. Winnett/Grass Range – 13
T13. Richey/Lambert – 11.5
T13. Darby – 11.5
15. Roberts – 11
16. Melstone – 10
17. Hays-Lodgepole – 9.5
T18. Centerville – 8.5
T18. Gardiner – 8.5
T18. Chinook – 8.5
T18. Cascade – 8.5
22. Fairview – 8
T23. Circle – 7.5
T23. Harlowton – 7.5
T25. Broadus – 7
T25. Bridger – 7
27. Drummond – 6.5
28. Scobey – 6
T29. Valier – 5.5
T29. Wibaux – 5.5
T31. Froid/Medicine Lake – 5
T31. Valley Christian – 5
T31. Lone Peak – 5
34. Plains – 4
T35. Box Elder – 3.5
T35. Savage – 3.5
T35. Roy/Winifred – 3.5
T38. Sheridan – 3
T38. Absarokee – 3
T40. White Sulphur Springs – 2.5
T40. Park City – 2.5
T40. Bainville – 2.5
T40. Geraldine/Highwood – 2.5
T40. Sunburst – 2.5
T40. Victor – 2.5
T40. Plenty Coups – 2.5
T47. Broadview/Lavina – 1.5
T47. Hobson/Moore/Judith Gap – 1.5
T47. Custer/Hysham – 1.5
T50. Culbertson – 1
T50. Terry – 1
