80's High school BBALL in Western AA

[IntuitiveGriz]

In 1984, it was a "magical time", wrote Pat Kearney, in southwest mt. All four classes of basketball were won by southwest mt teams, AA Butte High, A Butte Central, B Boulder, C Manhattan Christian.

:thumb:

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

Gary wasn't 80's I believe he graduated in 90, maybe 89. You want to talk about Butte High and the 80's, how bout Chris Rasmussen??

Gary was '80's. He graduated in 1989 and was on one of the best HS teams to not win a State Championship (21-1)

Rasmussen could have been one of the best but he signed early with BYU and then he crapped down his leg because he had nothing to prove. Won state in 1984 and took last in 1985

Butte's Gary Kane and Todd Ericson (#37) were a dominant Class AA guard combination in 1989...going 21-1. Gary Kane set the UM scoring record, having since been eclipsed of course.

Speaking of other good 1980's Butte baseketball players, Henry Klobocar, Scott Ferguson and Bart Black readily come to mind.

To clarify, Kane set a UM Freshman scoring record.

Yes, that's what I meant, but obviously didn't type. :thumb:

 

[Mousegriz]

State championship games in the 80's:

1980 AA ...................... Billings West 67-Great Falls CMR 43
A ............................................... Browning 68-Fergus 63
B .................................. Lodge Grass 62-Red Lodge 58
C ............................................... Outlook 44-Opheim 35
1981 AA ..................... Billings West 66-Missoula Sentinel 59
A .................................... Dawson Co. 52-Custer Co. 41
B ................................. Frenchtown 63-Lodge Grass 58
C ........................................ Plenty Coups 63-Moore 53
1982 AA ........................... Flathead 59-Missoula Hellgate 56
A ............................................. Dawson Co. 59-Park 51
B ........................................... Lodge Grass 58-Circle 55
C ................................................... Bridger 45-Moore 36
1983 AA ....................... Helena Capital 46-Billings Senior 45
A ............................................... Park 104-Powell Co. 64
B .................................................. Conrad 75-Bigfork 74
C ................. Plenty Coups 68-Manhattan Christian 60
1984 AA ............................................ Butte 53-Great Falls 50
A ............................ Butte Central 76-Billings Central 73
B .............................................. Jefferson 38-Fairfield 36
C ................. Manhattan Christian 60-Plenty Coups 55
1985 AA ............. Missoula Hellgate 52-Missoula Big Sky 47
A ............................................. Park 99-Butte Central 97
B .................................................. Malta 95-Browning 90
C ............................... Absarokee 79-Medicine Lake 68
1986 AA ........................... Missoula Sentinel 60-Flathead 49
A .......................................... Dawson Co. 61-Fergus 41
B ....................................... Chinook 67-Lodge Grass 66
C .......................................... Absarokee 53-Hobson 51
1987 AA .................. Billings Senior 62-Missoula Sentinel 54
A ........................................... Dawson Co. 66-Hardin 58
B ............................................... Plains 85-Wolf Point 81
C ................................. Plenty Coups 72-Absarokee 66
1988 AA .......................... Bozeman 50-Missoula Hellgate 42
A ............................................. Custer Co. 58-Fergus 4
B ........................................ Lodge Grass 52-Fairfield 48
C ...........................................Hinsdale 78-Geradline 70
1989 AA ............................................Flathead 53-Butte 50
A .................................................. Park 79-Anaconda 70
B ..................................... Lodge Grass 91-Cut Bank 83
C .................................................. Gardiner 69-Saco 65

West with my little bro schooled CMR in 1980.

 

[Tod]

I think the best high school game I ever witnessed was the divisional game between Kalispell and Anaconda in 83. Played in Dahlberg, it was Hurley against Zanon, and neither disapointed. I can't remember all the details but I think they both scored well over 30. What a shootout, it was like they were the only players on the floor. That game really stands out in my memory!

Same here Hammer. Hurley and Zanon went mano-y-mano in that one. I can remember that one in which Zanon got the upper hand. Hurley had his payback with his half-court shot in the GrizCat game.....

Hurley hit the buzzer beater to win that game.

 

[OlPonyQB]

Some coaches may choose Craig Zanon over Epps and Scott at both the HS and Big Sky level.

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

In 8th grade I played basketball with Todd Ericson and Egriz memeber "putter" (who was a good athlete).

I finally got to play with Gary Kane and Todd Ericson on the Freshman team. Let's just say I learned to become a good passer with those two STUDS on the floor. :clap:

Kane and Ericson both later became 1st team All State players. Kane was the Montana Garotade Basketball Player of the Year...

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

Butte had a couple Gatorade players of the year in the 80's:

Matt Kempfert 1989-90 Boys Basketball F Missoula MT
Gary Kane 1988-89 Boys Basketball G Butte MT
Daren Engellant 1987-88 Boys Basketball C Geraldine MT
Roger Fasting 1986-87 Boys Basketball G Glendive MT
Scott Ferguson 1985-86 Boys Basketball G Butte MT

 

[grizfnz]

In 8th grade I played basketball with Todd Ericson and Egriz memeber "putter" (who was a good athlete).

I finally got to play with Gary Kane and Todd Ericson on the Freshman team. Let's just say I learned to become a good passer with those two STUDS on the floor. :clap:

Kane and Ericson both later became 1st team All State players. Kane was the Montana Garotade Basketball Player of the Year...

Where did Shan Lindberg move away to? He was a dominant player at East Jr. High and a speed demon on the track.

 

[grizophile]

Some coaches may choose Craig Zanon over Epps and Scott at both the HS and Big Sky level.

Those guys were good but Craig Finberg was the best I ever saw out of NW Montana......not in the 80's however.

 

[IntuitiveGriz]

In 8th grade I played basketball with Todd Ericson and Egriz memeber "putter" (who was a good athlete).

I finally got to play with Gary Kane and Todd Ericson on the Freshman team. Let's just say I learned to become a good passer with those two STUDS on the floor. :clap:

Kane and Ericson both later became 1st team All State players. Kane was the Montana Garotade Basketball Player of the Year...

Where did Shan Lindberg move away to? He was a dominant player at East Jr. High and a speed demon on the track.

I don't have a 7th grade annual, so I do not recall Shan then (he's my age).

My 8th grade annual doesn't show Shan on either of the two 8th grade football teams (maybe he missed picture day?)...but it does show him on one of the four 8th grade basketball teams...it doesn't show him on the only 8th grade wrestling team (with putter and me... :thumb: )...there is no track team photo, but there is a cross country photo and he's not in that, but if I recall correctly he was a good sprinter?...he doesn't have a school photo in the student-body section either.

My 9th grade annual he is in our (only one team) Freshman football team picture...Shan isn't on either of the two (Golds and Whites) Freshman Basketball teams (10 players on each)...he doesn't have a photo in the student-body photo section, but his name is listed in the back of the annual in the graduating 9th grade class listings.

He must have moved before his soph year, because he isn't in the 10th, 11th, 12th grade annuals at-all. I don't remember much about him. Do you, putter?