Two western Montana teams got big wins last week to shake up the MontanaSports.com high school boys basketball power rankings.
Hamilton knocked Butte Central from the unbeaten ranks and Missoula Loyola scored a marquee win at defending champion Bigfork. With the win, Hamilton moved up to No. 4, one spot ahead of fifth-ranked Butte Central, in the Class A poll. Loyola vaulted to No. 3 in the Class B rankings.
Class B actually saw more poll movement than any other classification. Poplar and Deer Lodge are new to the rankings this week, replacing Bigfork and Fairfield, who both lost last week. Colstrip narrowly kept its unbeaten record intact, recording a one-point win over District 3B rival Lodge Grass. The Colts again top the Class B poll with Big Timber slotted second.
The Class AA and Class C polls remained steady from last week, with Missoula Hellgate and Manhattan Christian maintaining their holds on their respective No. 1 rankings. Billings Central is still the top-ranked Class A team, with Hardin and Browning in hot pursuit.
The complete MontanaSports.com high school boys basketball power rankings, as voted on by members of the MTN Sports team, are below. You can view last week’s rankings by clicking here.
Please click here for the girls rankings.
Class AA
1. Missoula Hellgate (9-1)
2. Great Falls High (10-1)
3. Great Falls CMR (9-2)
4. Bozeman (7-3)
5. Billings West (6-5)
Class A
1. Billings Central (12-1)
2. Hardin (13-1)
3. Browning (13-1)
4. Hamilton (12-2)
5. Butte Central (13-1)
Class B
1. Colstrip (14-0)
2. Big Timber (14-0)
3. Missoula Loyola (11-2)
4. Poplar (13-2)
5. Deer Lodge (11-2)
Receiving votes: Fairfield (10-3), Bigfork (11-2), Lodge Grass (10-4).
Class C
1. Manhattan Christian (14-0)
2. Arlee (12-1)
3. Melstone (13-1)
4. Scobey (13-0)
5. Chinook (14-0)
Receiving votes: Twin Bridges (15-0), Great Falls Central (13-1), Fort Benton (13-1).
