WBB v colorado

[BobcatDel]

@BobcatDel

Well, that’s the last few items on my Christmas list sorted - thank you! Both sound great - right up my street.

I’d heard of Counting Coup so I’m glad it’s got your recommendation. When watching Class C, I found the Rocky Boy parts fascinating, so I’ll enjoy reading about Sharon Laforge.

And Pacer Coulee Chronicles sounds ideal if it captures how sport affects small town communities. Can’t wait to find out more about that one.

When I visited Montana in 2016, we stayed a couple of nights in Fort Benton, which was an absolutely joy. We met some incredible people in the local bar and felt very welcome. After our trip, I was delighted to see that Fort Benton won the Class C tournament a few years later, led by Aspen Giese. She went on to play for Montana State-Billings. Is she a name people are familiar with? She seemed like a very talented player, but maybe not quite D1 standard?

I knew her uncle because he was in college at MSU when I was. There are several from that area that have went on to the Frontier Conference... in fact one young man was MVP at Montana Tech in recent years. A young man from Big Sandy played for the Bobcats in the last 10 years. And one of the men's all time rebound leaders came from that part of the country.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Chirrick has a chance to become a legend at the Tommy Mellott or Troy Andersen level for WBB if she sticks around.

Probably even better. Not sure on her arm strength, but she could definitely see over the OL easier.

Actually Taylee is only 5-11.

[Bobcat4Ever]

Weird game bit awesome win. They go so fast on D they have a hard time getting to good shots. Quite a few where drive is cut off and just thru up a shot. And a lot of careless TO's trying to push tempo. I thought missed FT when CO started fouling were going to cost the win.
Looked like Brooke hurt her foot. Limped off first half and came back to bench in 2nd with boot. Rotation was a little shorter in 2nd half.

I hope she's okay. What was the injury that kept her out all last year?

I think it was hand or wrist but not definitely not sure on that

I believe it was a thumb injury that required surgery. I’m sorry to see her hurt again as she’s starting to return to the form she showed in high school where she was a stalwart defender and a good scorer. I like her game — she has good hops even off two feet, bank shots, and I called her a scorer rather than a shooter on purpose. She’ll make points from any kind of loose balls or messes or offensive rebounds and go to the line a lot. She’ll sort of sneak a bunch of points onto the scoreboard. Get unhurt quickly, Brooke.

[Bobcat4Ever]

@BobcatDel

Well, that’s the last few items on my Christmas list sorted - thank you! Both sound great - right up my street.

I’d heard of Counting Coup so I’m glad it’s got your recommendation. When watching Class C, I found the Rocky Boy parts fascinating, so I’ll enjoy reading about Sharon Laforge.

And Pacer Coulee Chronicles sounds ideal if it captures how sport affects small town communities. Can’t wait to find out more about that one.

When I visited Montana in 2016, we stayed a couple of nights in Fort Benton, which was an absolutely joy. We met some incredible people in the local bar and felt very welcome. After our trip, I was delighted to see that Fort Benton won the Class C tournament a few years later, led by Aspen Giese. She went on to play for Montana State-Billings. Is she a name people are familiar with? She seemed like a very talented player, but maybe not quite D1 standard?

I knew her uncle because he was in college at MSU when I was. There are several from that area that have went on to the Frontier Conference... in fact one young man was MVP at Montana Tech in recent years. A young man from Big Sandy played for the Bobcats in the last 10 years. And one of the men's all time rebound leaders came from that part of the country.

Rachel Semansky was from that same general area (Highwood). Check out her career if you want to see big stuff from a tiny town.

[Bobcat4Ever]

This should probably have its own ongoing thread.

After defeating Colorado on the road MSU is #7 in the Mid-Major Poll. The only loss is to #4 Troy. So close to another upset there. Not many upsets available on the MM Top 25 list!

[lutecat]

@BobcatDel

Well, that’s the last few items on my Christmas list sorted - thank you! Both sound great - right up my street.

I’d heard of Counting Coup so I’m glad it’s got your recommendation. When watching Class C, I found the Rocky Boy parts fascinating, so I’ll enjoy reading about Sharon Laforge.

And Pacer Coulee Chronicles sounds ideal if it captures how sport affects small town communities. Can’t wait to find out more about that one.

When I visited Montana in 2016, we stayed a couple of nights in Fort Benton, which was an absolutely joy. We met some incredible people in the local bar and felt very welcome. After our trip, I was delighted to see that Fort Benton won the Class C tournament a few years later, led by Aspen Giese. She went on to play for Montana State-Billings. Is she a name people are familiar with? She seemed like a very talented player, but maybe not quite D1 standard?

I knew her uncle because he was in college at MSU when I was. There are several from that area that have went on to the Frontier Conference... in fact one young man was MVP at Montana Tech in recent years. A young man from Big Sandy played for the Bobcats in the last 10 years. And one of the men's all time rebound leaders came from that part of the country.

Is she related to that griz fan I mean former sports editor for the Great Falls Tribune, George?

[D-Wreck]

Chirrick has a chance to become a legend at the Tommy Mellott or Troy Andersen level for WBB if she sticks around.

Probably even better. Not sure on her arm strength, but she could definitely see over the OL easier.

Actually Taylee is only 5-11.

Only? That hurts me on a personal level. Just because I have to literally look up to her doesn't mean you need to point it out!

[WalkOn79]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

I just finished watching the game. Wow, that was incredible. You can tell Coach Binford really values character players, defensive versatility and tenacity. It results in an immensely likeable and fun to watch team.

I know she got into foul trouble and really struggles to finish at the rim (no surprise when the opposition have players 6’4” and so on), but Jamison Philip has become one of my favourites. She plays with such heart, putting her body on the line to take charges, etc. I think she’ll become an old school floor general type of point guard.

But this game was all about Taylee Chirrick. Her defense is otherworldly. Last year, I felt she was a bit too frenetic, but this season she’s refined her game and is more poised. Her positioning and hussle make her a coach’s dream.

I thought the commentators did a great job, even going to the effort of researching Roberts, MT. I’m a teacher at a school with 1,400 students so it amazes me that these small Class C schools with 39 students are able to produce such incredible athletes. This is exactly why I’m such a fan: basketball in its purest form.

Remember we have another Class C girl on the team….Teagan Ericsson. Who is showing improvement and getting some good minutes on the court. She can dunk a ball in practice. Her mom is the coach of the Saco HS girls team that has won back to back state championships.

Absolutely. And I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading about those hugely successful Saco teams. I believe they won the Class C championship two or three years running.

Teagan looks much more confident this year. She has such a diverse skill set for a big. She can stretch the floor, play defense, looks comfortable with the ball in her hands, etc. I think she’ll go from strength to strength in the next year or two.

The silver lining of losing Dykstra, Deden, etc, is that players like Ericsson get more minutes.

There’s something magical about watching players from the Hi-Line going on to play for the Bobcats. Living the dream.

Just wondering, are people familiar with the film Class C? (Sorry, I’m not sure how big it was in Montana). One of my all time favourite films/documentaries. It explores Class C basketball in towns like Scobey, Chester, Reed Point, etc.

To me, being from the UK, it’s unfathomable how these small towns produce such incredible talent.

Yes I am familiar with the film Class C. I have seen it a couple times. I know the coach and some players on one of the teams. Some of the schools have consolidated since the film….example Chester is now Chester-Joplin-Inverness…just due to declining enrollment. The Class B schools would be small compared to what you are used to also. If you read this board you know we have a Class B lady coming next year that should thrive as a Bobcat. You can drive through Baker on your trip to Montana.

A little out of the way from either I94 or I90

[Will23C1982]

@BobcatDel

Well, that’s the last few items on my Christmas list sorted - thank you! Both sound great - right up my street.

I’d heard of Counting Coup so I’m glad it’s got your recommendation. When watching Class C, I found the Rocky Boy parts fascinating, so I’ll enjoy reading about Sharon Laforge.

And Pacer Coulee Chronicles sounds ideal if it captures how sport affects small town communities. Can’t wait to find out more about that one.

When I visited Montana in 2016, we stayed a couple of nights in Fort Benton, which was an absolutely joy. We met some incredible people in the local bar and felt very welcome. After our trip, I was delighted to see that Fort Benton won the Class C tournament a few years later, led by Aspen Giese. She went on to play for Montana State-Billings. Is she a name people are familiar with? She seemed like a very talented player, but maybe not quite D1 standard?

I knew her uncle because he was in college at MSU when I was. There are several from that area that have went on to the Frontier Conference... in fact one young man was MVP at Montana Tech in recent years. A young man from Big Sandy played for the Bobcats in the last 10 years. And one of the men's all time rebound leaders came from that part of the country.

Rachel Semansky was from that same general area (Highwood). Check out her career if you want to see big stuff from a tiny town.

I'd read a bit about Rachel Semansky earlier in the year when she was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame.

You're absolutely right to highlight her name - she seems to epitomize the small town success story. Interestingly, her Highwood HS Class C tournament victories came just a couple of years after Elly Bruursema's Reed Point-Rapelje were featured in the Class C film winning the tournament in 2005 and 2006.

Highwood really is a tiny town... just 165 people. I am trying to work out if I drove through it on my journey from Fort Benton to Great Falls, but I don't think so.

That said, Highwood is in Chouteau County, and I'm proud to own an old Chouteau County license plate that I picked up from Virgelle Mercantile antiques store near Loma, MT. Virgelle's population is just 3 people. Stuff like this fascinates me. Next time I visit, I'm determined to stay the night with my family, to at least double the population temporarily.

[lutecat]

@BobcatDel

Well, that’s the last few items on my Christmas list sorted - thank you! Both sound great - right up my street.

I’d heard of Counting Coup so I’m glad it’s got your recommendation. When watching Class C, I found the Rocky Boy parts fascinating, so I’ll enjoy reading about Sharon Laforge.

And Pacer Coulee Chronicles sounds ideal if it captures how sport affects small town communities. Can’t wait to find out more about that one.

When I visited Montana in 2016, we stayed a couple of nights in Fort Benton, which was an absolutely joy. We met some incredible people in the local bar and felt very welcome. After our trip, I was delighted to see that Fort Benton won the Class C tournament a few years later, led by Aspen Giese. She went on to play for Montana State-Billings. Is she a name people are familiar with? She seemed like a very talented player, but maybe not quite D1 standard?

I knew her uncle because he was in college at MSU when I was. There are several from that area that have went on to the Frontier Conference... in fact one young man was MVP at Montana Tech in recent years. A young man from Big Sandy played for the Bobcats in the last 10 years. And one of the men's all time rebound leaders came from that part of the country.

Rachel Semansky was from that same general area (Highwood). Check out her career if you want to see big stuff from a tiny town.

I'd read a bit about Rachel Semansky earlier in the year when she was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame.

You're absolutely right to highlight her name - she seems to epitomize the small town success story. Interestingly, her Highwood HS Class C tournament victories came just a couple of years after Elly Bruursema's Reed Point-Rapelje were featured in the Class C film winning the tournament in 2005 and 2006.

Highwood really is a tiny town... just 165 people. I am trying to work out if I drove through it on my journey from Fort Benton to Great Falls, but I don't think so.

That said, Highwood is in Chouteau County, and I'm proud to own an old Chouteau County license plate that I picked up from Virgelle Mercantile antiques store near Loma, MT. Virgelle's population is just 3 people. Stuff like this fascinates me. Next time I visit, I'm determined to stay the night with my family, to at least double the population temporarily.

You didn't drive through highwood on your way to fort Benton. The only way that happens is if you drive through belt

[BobcatDel]

@BobcatDel

Well, that’s the last few items on my Christmas list sorted - thank you! Both sound great - right up my street.

I’d heard of Counting Coup so I’m glad it’s got your recommendation. When watching Class C, I found the Rocky Boy parts fascinating, so I’ll enjoy reading about Sharon Laforge.

And Pacer Coulee Chronicles sounds ideal if it captures how sport affects small town communities. Can’t wait to find out more about that one.

When I visited Montana in 2016, we stayed a couple of nights in Fort Benton, which was an absolutely joy. We met some incredible people in the local bar and felt very welcome. After our trip, I was delighted to see that Fort Benton won the Class C tournament a few years later, led by Aspen Giese. She went on to play for Montana State-Billings. Is she a name people are familiar with? She seemed like a very talented player, but maybe not quite D1 standard?

I knew her uncle because he was in college at MSU when I was. There are several from that area that have went on to the Frontier Conference... in fact one young man was MVP at Montana Tech in recent years. A young man from Big Sandy played for the Bobcats in the last 10 years. And one of the men's all time rebound leaders came from that part of the country.

Rachel Semansky was from that same general area (Highwood). Check out her career if you want to see big stuff from a tiny town.

I'd read a bit about Rachel Semansky earlier in the year when she was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame.

You're absolutely right to highlight her name - she seems to epitomize the small town success story. Interestingly, her Highwood HS Class C tournament victories came just a couple of years after Elly Bruursema's Reed Point-Rapelje were featured in the Class C film winning the tournament in 2005 and 2006.

Highwood really is a tiny town... just 165 people. I am trying to work out if I drove through it on my journey from Fort Benton to Great Falls, but I don't think so.

That said, Highwood is in Chouteau County, and I'm proud to own an old Chouteau County license plate that I picked up from Virgelle Mercantile antiques store near Loma, MT. Virgelle's population is just 3 people. Stuff like this fascinates me. Next time I visit, I'm determined to stay the night with my family, to at least double the population temporarily.

You didn't drive through highwood on your way to fort Benton. The only way that happens is if you drive through belt

There used to be a nice little bed and breakfast in Virgelle but don’t know if it still operates.

[Will23C1982]

@BobcatDel

It was operational in 2016 but I’m not sure about now. The owner was very friendly and I regret not staying the night, but we’d booked to stay at the Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton. One of the oldest hotels in the state.

Virgelle also has some rustic old homestead style cabins which look like a great experience. My wife would take some convincing though!