Divisional basketball for A, B in Hamilton, Ronan
The final push for state basketball begins Thursday — in Hamilton for Class A teams and Ronan for Class B schools — with divisional tournaments for boys and girls.
The top four finishers from Western A move on to state play March 7-9 in Great Falls. Only the top two from Western B travel to Bozeman for state.
The Butte Central girls and Hamilton boys were divisional champions last year in Butte for Class A.
The Bigfork boys and girls were divisional winners in Class B in 2018, which was held in Ronan.
The Bigfork boys went on to capture the state title, their second in five years, with a perfect season. They finished 24-0.
Both divisional tournaments this week run through Saturday evening with championship games and consolation finals.
Western A Divisional
Thursday-Saturday
At Hamilton
Top Four Advance To State
Boys
Thursday
First Round
12:30 p.m. — Browning vs. Frenchtown
2 p.m. — Libby vs. Butte Central
6:30 p.m. — Polson vs. Dillon
8 p.m. — Hamilton vs. Whitefish
Friday
Semifinals
6:30 and 8 p.m.
Saturday
Championship
8:30 p.m.
Girls
Thursday
First Round
9:30 a.m. — Columbia Falls vs. Corvallis
11 a.m. — Libby vs. Hamilton
3:30 p.m. — Browning vs. Frenchtown
5 p.m. — Ronan vs. Butte Central
Friday
Semifinals
3:30 and 5 p.m.
Saturday
Championship
6:30 p.m.
Western B Divisional
Thursday-Saturday
At Ronan Event Center
Top Two Advance To State
Boys
Thursday
First Round
11:20 a.m. — Missoula Loyola vs. Florence-Carlton
1 p.m. — Deer Lodge vs. Thompson Falls
7:20 p.m. — Bigfork vs. Anaconda
9 p.m. — Eureka vs. Mission
Friday
Semifinals
7:20 and 9 p.m.
Saturday
Championship
8:30 p.m.
Girls
Thursday
First Round
8 a.m. — Eureka vs. Anaconda
9:40 a.m. — Thompson Falls vs. Missoula Loyola
4 p.m. — Florence vs. Mission
5:40 p.m. — Deer Lodge vs. Bigfork
Friday
Semifinals
4 and 5:40 p.m.
Saturday
Championship
6:30 p.m.
Eastern A
Boys
Wednesday
12 p.m. — Miles City vs. Sidney
1:30 p.m. — Belgrade vs. Glendive
Thursday
Noon — Billings Central vs. Havre
1:30 p.m. — Livingston vs. Laurel
Girls
Wednesday
9 a.m. — Glendive vs. Sidney
10:30 a.m. — Lewistown vs. Miles City
Thursday
9 a.m. — Hardin vs. Livingston
10:30 a.m. — Belgrade vs. Billings Central