The Bobcat Nation

Any early predictions for the AA State B-Ball champs? I realize we don't even know the 3rd and 4th seats from the East or West, but I don't think it [u]should[/u] matter.

[u]If[/u] Hellgate plays like they are capable, I would say there is an excellant possibility they will be facing Butte in the Championship game. Why not Billings West? Because Coach Thatcher and his fearless Bulldogs will suffocate West's offense in the semi-final game. Plus, you know that Butte will have more fans then any other school at the tournament. They are just faithful that way.

Good luck to all.

West fans are just as loyal and faithful as any in the state. I go to West and and i know from experience. We have probably the best school spirit out of any school in Montana. At the game in Bozeman a few weeks ago there were some 200 odd people from West who made the trip to support the team. I think Coach Robison and the team can get over the hump better than Thatcher and the Bulldogs.

I must admit, West has a good team and some good support. But I know that Butte WILL have more fans at the State Tourney, even if it is in Billings.
Prediction 2 Butte Bulldog fans for every 1 West fan.

longhorn_22 wrote:West fans are just as loyal and faithful as any in the state. I go to West and and i know from experience. We have probably the best school spirit out of any school in Montana. At the game in Bozeman a few weeks ago there were some 200 odd people from West who made the trip to support the team. I think Coach Robison and the team can get over the hump better than Thatcher and the Bulldogs.

This is an interesting discussion. I think both of you need to take a peek at the smaller schools if you want to start doling out "best fans/school spirit in the state" titles. When I was in school, we'd have 200 fans showing up for all of our road games (many of them drives even further than Billings to Bozeman) -- and we only had 30 kids in the entire high school. The larger the city, the less a part of the identity of the town the school becomes. In those small towns, though, it's a big deal to virtually everyone in the entire community.

And then to kick it up a notch further, you need to take a look at the reservation schools -- their fan support is just amazing.

Does anyone know the #1 and #2 seeds in the tourny yet?

Bay Area:
I agree that most smaller schools do have better support. You make an excellent point. That is why Missoula does not have good support for their high school basketball or football teams. The majority of the support goes to the UofM.
I must bring it to your attention that we are talking AA here though. Butte has the stronges AA support in the State. Possible reason, they are the closest AA community in the state.
What do you say?

BleedsBlue&Gold wrote:Bay Area:
I agree that most smaller schools do have better support. You make an excellent point. That is why Missoula does not have good support for their high school basketball or football teams. The majority of the support goes to the UofM.
I must bring it to your attention that we are talking AA here though. Butte has the stronges AA support in the State. Possible reason, they are the closest AA community in the state.
What do you say?

Oh, I didn't realize the conversation was limited to AA -- longhorn's post seemed to be fully inclusive of the various schools in the state.

Just FYI, the Tribune had the attendance for the Rocky Boy/Winifred Northern C Boys' Divisional championship game at 5,000.

How many does the AA state tourney usually draw? I honestly don't know.

Nothing touches Class C basketball for hoop fan loyalty in Montana. The passion of the fans overwhelms everything surrounding the tourney -- they don't give a hoot where it's being played. The C tourney has been the most popular since the mid-60s and has had more sellouts than all other classes combined. It outgrew Helena in the 1980, because the locals kept buying up the tickets, after a 20-something year run. The most fans at any basketball game in Montana history was at the Class C tourney at the Metra when Plenty Coups played either Bridger or Absarokee in the championship game. That year also set the record for most fans to attend any hoop tourney in Montana. The year Heart Butte beat Gardiner in Butte, they had to set up a big monitor in the parking lot for people who drove all the way there, but couldn't get a ticket.

I took in my first-ever AA game last week. Helena Cross-Town Game. I wasn't real impressed. 22-20? at half. I asked the locals if this was a typical game (after earlier being assured that both of these teams played up-tempo style and knew how to run). I am definetely biased towards the 80-90-100 pt totals in Class B/C.

Both Helena teams had some solid players, I just didn't care for the style of play. Maybe that is why the B/C tournaments draw local Billings/Gt. Falls/etc. fans to their tournaments.

the Helena cross Town game can be that way....I remember a few times where it was a low scoring game about ten years ago when Sprinkle, Foster, Keller, VanNice and others were playing.....The Class C tourney in Helena was great back in the day.....

Having gone to a Class C school myself (Park City '90) I am definitely in agreement with Bay Area Cat about small town fan loyalty.

I recall the State C championship from '85 or '86 at Brick Breeden (Plenty Coups vs. Absarokee - both from District 6-C at the time), and the entire building was filled as if it was a Cat/Griz game. Everyone was stomping their feet and causing that familiar rumbling echo throughout the entire game. I get goosebumps thinking about it.

Okay, sorry for getting lost in my nostalgia............

Hey BC-in-Oregon: I was at that game, too. Sat behind the basket. Plenty Coups won and I think both Walker boys were playing for their dad. Good teams, good games. I think Class C offenses stay so wide open, because they don't have to play D too much all year. Just a theory, I don't know, but whatever it I hope it never changes.

All this Class C talk and now I'm already bored talking about the AA.

Yep, Tim and Mike Walker. Al was the coach for a long time. I don't know if he's still coaching now or if he's finally retired.

We (Park City) had quite a rivalry with Absarokee back when I was in H.S. They ruled on the gridiron; we fared better against them in basketball, although they and Plenty Coups were very strong in the mid-eighties.

1st round. bozeman over butte 57-50.
Butte for 3rd? Hopefully