Hey folks! Sorry this one is a little late, but here is your State A Girls preview. The big storyline here is the East. Can Miles City and Glendive make it an all-Eastern State Title Game for the third straight year? Or will someone like Anaconda crash the party. Here we go!
STATE A Girls @ Hamilton
12:30 p.m. - Anaconda (19-1, South #1) v. Miles City (18-2, East #2)
2:00 p.m. - Bigfork (19-1, North #1) v. Havre (14-6, Central #2)
6:30 p.m. - Livingston (14-5, Central #1) v. Whitefish (13-8, North #2)
8:00 p.m. - Glendive (17-2, East #1) v. Dillon (South #2, 11-9)
Click here for the full bracket.
1. Who's the favorite?
Anaconda. No question. They have run over everyone they've played in Class A (their only loss came against Class AA power Butte, 56-41 on the road). Otherwise, they are 8-0 against Class A tournament teams and Class AA teams in general (2 wins over Hellgate, 1 over Capital). Anaconda has absolutely showed they should be the #1 ranked team in the state.
They have a tough draw in the first round against defending State Champ and Eastern power Miles City, but Anaconda will prevail in that matchup. They are too balanced on the offensive side, and pressure the ball very well. Torrie Cahill and the rest of the Cowgirls are coming off their second loss of the season (both to Glendive) and are not playing their best ball.
2. Which non-Division champion is most likely to pull an upset?
I don't see too many possibilites for 1st round upsets here, but I will say Havre because they have played the toughest competition this season. They have played 7 games against Class A, Class B, and Class AA State Tournament Qualifiers. The Blue Ponies are only 3-4 in those contests, but I think the experience has helped them become a battle-tested, and thus dangerous, 1st round opponent for Bigfork.
3. Which Division champion is most likely to be upset?
Like I said, I honestly believe the four #1 seeds should win their first round games, oddly enough for a State Tournament. But sticking with my Havre prediction, I have to say Bigfork is most likely to be upset.
Bigfork has only beaten 1 tournament team (Whitefish) and was easily taken care of by Anaconda in their first game of the year. Obviously teams have changed a lot since then, but I think the lack of solid competition has not prepared Bigfork enough for this tourney. And that makes them vulnerable.
4. Predictions:
First Round: Anaconda over Miles City, Havre over Bigfork, Livingston over Whitefish, Glendive over Dillon
Friday Loser-Out Games: Miles City over Bigfork, Whitefish over Dillon
Semi-Finals: Anaconda over Havre, Glendive over Livingston
Saturday Loser-Out Games: Miles City over Livingston, Havre over Whitefish
Consolation: Miles City over Havre
Championship: Anaconda over Glendive
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