Montana State XC

After running in the Live Locally 5K this morning as part of team LEADER (with Brandon Hansen), I was able to make it to Missoula just in time to catch AA and A teams duke it out for Montana State Cross Country superiority.

All our Lake County teams did an amazing job at this final meet of the season.We'll have all the details in this week's Leader, but here's a quick summary (from memory and limited to the coaches/parents I was able to catch up with):


- Mission's Paden Alexander took 5th place in Class B.
- Mission girls team placed 4th in Class B.
- Polson boys and girls were both 8th in the Class A team standings.
- Polson's Claudia Hewston ran her heart out to a third place individual finish.
- Her teammate, Tegan Bauer, was All-State as well, placing ninth.

And I know there were more incredible efforts out there on the course!

Here are a few photos from the Class A race:

Click on "Read More" to see the full gallery.

Live Locally 5K photos

Hundreds of Mission Valley community members showed up for the Live Locally 5k race to benefit Olympic hopeful and Polson resident Melinda Owen. Here are some photos from the run and event...

Click on "Read More" to see the full gallery.

Arlee finishes season on three-game winning streak

Arlee's seniors made their final game a memorable one. Zach Tameler ran for 217 yards and four touchdowns as the Warriors defeated the Victor Pirates 54-50 on Friday. The team ended their season 4-5, having won the final three games of their schedule.

It was a back and fourth affair, as Cody Sheridan scored for Arlee with a one-yard touchdown run with 5:29 left in the first quarter. Victor would answer back and take the 12-6 lead but the Warriors tied things thanks to a 79-yard kickoff return by Tameler with three minutes to go in the first.

After Victor turned the ball over on downs, Christain Haynes would score on a 20-yard touchdown run to round out the first period scoring. Victor would gain momentum in the second, scoring 22 points to Arlee's eight points - a four-yard touchdown run by Sheridan and a blocked punt for a safety. The Warriors trailed at halftime 34-26.

The Warriors weren't about to go away.

In the first official play of the second half, Tameler ran for 65 yards to score a touchdown and also ran for the extra-point conversion for the 34-34 tie. Victor turned the ball over on downs again and Arlee capitalized with a 22-yard touchdown from Sheridan to Tameler with 8:17 to go in the third.

Victor scored with 46.5 seconds in the third quarter to tie the game up again, and both teams would spend most of the fourth quarter exchanging the ball. With 2:36 left to go in the game, Tameler ran it in from 24-yards out to give Arlee the lead.

The Warrior defense came up big, forcing another turnover on downs. Logan Lefler made Victor pay for it too by running it into the endzone from 14 yards out. With 1:22 left, Arlee led 54-42.

Victor would score to pull within four points, but the Warriors' special teams recovered an onside kick and the offense kneeled twice to run the rest of the time off the clock.

Victor - 12 - 22 - 8 - 8 - 50
Arlee - 18 - 8 - 16 - 12 - 54

Arlee – Cody Sheridan 1-yard run (kick blocked)
Victor – Kyle Ball 69-yard pass from Kurt Manley (run failed)
Victor – Ball blocked punt recovery in end zone (pass failed)
Arlee – Zach Tameler 80-yard kickoff return (pass failed)
Arlee – Christian Haynes 20-yard run (run failed)
Victor – Ball 46-yard pass from Manley (Ball pass from Manley)
Victor – Morozumi 12-yard pass from Manley (pass failed)
Victor – Ball 23-yard interception return (Ball pass from Manley)
Arlee – Sheridan 4-yard run (run failed)
Arlee – Tameler 65-yard run (Tameler run)
Arlee – Tameler 22-yard pass from Sheridan (Logan Lefler run)
Victor – Deering 20-yard pass from Manley (pass failed)
Arlee – Tameler 24-yard run (run failed)
Arlee – Lefler 14-yard run (pass failed)
Victor – Ball 12-yard pass from Manley (Manley run)

Here are photos from the game...

For the full gallery, click on "Read More."

Ronan survives Mission scare

The visiting Ronan Chiefs got as much as they could handle from the host Mission Bulldogs on Friday night, but survived the scare, winning 34-12.

The game was much closer than the final score would indicate, as the Bulldogs twice had chances in the fourth quarter to tie the game up, but couldn't come up with the points to do so.

Ronan came out fast, going 80 yards in just three plays, capped off by a Jake Humphreys touchdown run for a quick 7-0 lead.

That's all the scoring there would be until close to halftime when the Chiefs punched it in again for a 14-0 edge.

The Bulldogs used a long kickoff return by Raymond Matt to set up good field position en route to a Dylan Evans 5-yard score to cut the deficit to 8.

Ronan immediately responded thanks to a ridiculous 95-yard touchdown run by Humphreys to retake the 14-point lead.

Mission kept plugging away, however, and their determination paid off when Dakota Gun Hammer bounced into the end zone from 5 yards out to get within 20-12.

In the fourth, the Bulldogs made a pair of stops on Ronan's run attack, but couldn't make a third, as Robbie Gauthier scored on a 2-yard run to boost the lead to 27-12. The Chiefs, after forcing a fumble, added insurance when Jake Skelton put the finishing touches on the victory with a touchdown run for the final points.

Ronan enters the playoffs next weekend with some momentum, while the Bulldogs hard-fought season came to an end.

Click on "Read More" to see the full gallery.

Florence eeks by Mission

BY BRANDON HANSEN

Talk about your epic battles. The Lady Bulldogs came to play. The Lady Falcons came to play. The crowd also came to play.

Florence came back from a 2-0 deficit to down the Mission Lady Bulldogs 3-2 on Thursday night, in a match that is certainly one of the most memorable of the season.

Mission took the first game 25-21, after jumping out to a 18-13 lead and never looking back. In the second game, the Lady Bulldogs broke a 14-14 tie with a 11-3 run to win it.

Florence bounced back in the third game, winning 25-11. However, Mission wasn't detered and came out to battle in the fourth game.

It was tied or within one point for nearly the entire game. Both squads saw plenty of switches in momentum and it was the Falcons that were able to come away with the 28-26 victory.

In the fifth game, Mission was trailing by only one point at 6-7, but Florence came away with the 15-11 win for the match.

Sara Nerby led the team with a whopping 20 kills and five blocks. Meanwhile on defense, Sydney Allard had 27 digs. Loren Erickson had 18 assists. Sarah Bowers also had 17 assists.

Florence defeats Mission, 25-21, 25-17, 11-25, 26-28, 11-15
Mission team stats
Kills - 39
Assists - 36
Digs - 112
Blocks - 11
Aces - 13

Individual stats
KILLS
Loren Erickson - 4
Sara Nerby - 20
Ashley - 5
Stephanie - 2
Jenn Larsson - 6
Rose Bear Don't Walk - 2

ASSISTS
Loren Erickson - 18
Sarah Bowers - 17

DIGS
Sydney Allard - 27
Stephanie Lewandowski - 21
Loren Erickson - 12
Ashley Courville - 18
Sara Nerby - 7
Jenn Larsson - 6
Rose Bear Don't Walk - 4
Sarah Bowers - 14
Lyssia McDonald - 10

BLOCKS
Loren Erickson - 3
Ashley Courville - 1
Sara Nerby - 5
Jenn Larsson - 2

ACES
Ashley Courville - 4
Sarah Bowers - 2
Sydney Allard - 2
Loren Erickson - 1
Sara Nerby - 2
Stephanie Lewandowski - 2

Here are photos from the game...

Click on "Read More" to see the full gallery.

Scarlets sour Senior Night

The Arlee Scarlets put a damper on Senior Night in Ronan after going north and knocking off the Maidens in straight sets 25-10, 25-17, 25-11.

The Scarlets and Maidens went back and forth early in the match until Arlee used a 16-3 run to turn a 9-7 edge into a 25-10 first-set rout.

Ronan stormed out of the gates in the second set, scoring the first five points, but the Scarlets caught the Maidens at 11-11 and didn't trail again in taking a commanding 2-0 lead.

The third set was all road team as Arlee raced ahead 8-1 and didn't let the host Maidens get within seven points from there on out, to gain the win.

The Scarlets head home on Saturday night to face Lake County foe Charlo, while the Maidens hit the road to take on Deer Lodge.

Click on "Read More" to see the full gallery.

Sports photos of the week (October 20)

Here are the sports photos of the week for the October 20th edition of the Lake County Leader...

Montana AP High School Football Polls

(FROM THE DAILY INTERLAKE)

There was no movement for local teams in the weekly Montana Prep Football Polls released Wednesday by the Associated Press.

Glacier (7-1) remains at No. 4 in the Class AA poll which is topped by undefeated Helena. Billings West (7-1) is ranked second and Helena Capital (7-1) is at No. 3 for the second straight week.

The Wolfpack will square off with the Helena Capital Bruins Friday in Helena.

Polson held steady at No. 4 in the Class A poll. The Pirates (7-0) upended the Libby Loggers 46-7 last week and will play unranked Browning on Friday. Polson is ranked behind No. 2 Billings Central and No. 4 Laurel, however the Pirates are in a tie with No. 1 Dillon (7-0) in Class A standings.

Bigfork stayed at No. 4 in the Class B poll after a 21-12 victory over Missoula Loyola. Ronan (5-2), previously ranked at No. 5, dropped to a three-way tie at No. 8 following at 31-14 loss to Florence.

Class A Rankings
(Record-Pts-Previous Week)
1. Dillon (11) - 7-0 - 110 - 1
2. Billings Central - 7-1 - 87 - 2
3. Laurel - 7-1 - 84 - 3
4. Polson - 7-0 - 69 - 4
5. Miles City - 6-2 - 39 - NR
Others receiving votes: Stevensville 37, Butte Central 8, Hardin 6.

Class B Rankings
(Record-Pts-Previous Week)
1. Fairfield (10) - 7-0 - 109 - 1
2. Malta (1) - 7-0 - 98 - 2
3. Manhattan - 6-1 - 81 - 3
4. Bigfork - 6-1 - 76 - 4
5. Baker - 6-1 - 53 - 8
T6.Plentywood Westby - 6-1 - 52 - 7
T6.Florence - 6-1 - 52 - T9
T8.Columbus - 6-1 - 21 - NR
T8.Red Lodge Belfry - 6-1 - 21 - NR
T8.Ronan - 5-2 - 21 - 5
Others receiving votes: Huntley Project 12, Missoula Loyola 6, Eureka 1, Colstrip 1

Class C 8-Man Rankings
(Record-Pts-Previous Week)
1.Chinook (8) - 7-0 - 98 - 1
2.Fairview (2) - 8-0 - 91 - 2
3.Superior - 8-0 - 77 - T4
4.White Sulphur Springs - 8-0 - 64 - T4
5.Drummond - 7-1 - 58 - 6
6.Twin Bridges - 6-1 - 44 - 8
7.Chester-Joplin-Inverness - 6-1 - 43 - 7
8.Wibaux - 6-1 - 39 - 3
9.Power-Dutton-Brady - 5-1 - 15 - NR
10.Absarokee - 5-2 - 8 - 9
Others receiving votes: Lincoln 7, Centerville 3, Ennis 3.

Vikings rout Seeley-Swan

-By Dylan Kitzan

Charlo clinched a playoff berth with a 50-8 victory over Seeley-Swan on Wednesday night at home. Thanks to three rushing touchdowns by sophomore Jacen Peterson and two touchdowns by quarterback Tra Ludeman, the Vikings were able to jump out to a 42-0 halftime lead and never looked back.

Polson's Open Division Cross Country Race

Polson hosted the Northwestern A Conference Championships last weekend. While officials were calculating the score, those of us waiting around had the chance to stretch out, gain respect and, more importantly, suffer alongside the athletes. And believe me, it hurt.

Here are some photos from the Citizens Race... Photos by Tessa Nunlist

Volleyball: Charlo defeats Mission

Charlo played a tough four-game match against Mission and came up with the 3-1 victory on Saturday night. Deondra Brown led the Lady Vikings with an eye-popping 19 kills but Mission's Sara Nerby was right there with 15 kills herself.

Nerby was also a force at the net with five blocks.

Mission won the first game handidly 25-17 but Charlo was able to seize the momentum in the next three games winning 25-19, 25-18 and 25-21. The Lady Vikings were anchored by 15 assists by Dawn Blevins and 21 digs by Kelsie Blevins.

There were plenty of long volleys as Charlo had a total of 94 digs and St. Ignatius had 111. Mission's Stephanie Lewandowski had 20 digs.

Charlo def. Mission, 17-25, 25-19, 25-18, 25-21
Kills - Charlo 42 (Deondra Brown 19), Mission 48 (Sara Nerby 15). Blocks - Charlo 13 (Derika Stipe 3, Kinley Pope 3), Mission 12 (Nerby 5). Digs - Charlo 94 (Kelsey Blevins 21), Mission 111 (Stephanie Lewandowski 20, Ashley Courville 20). Assists - Charlo 37 (Dawn Blevins 15), Mission 42 (Loren Erickson 23). Aces - Charlo 16 (Stipe 6), Mission 4 (Sydney Allard 3).

Here are photos from the game...

Click on "Read More" to see the full gallery.