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Missoula Hellgate Is Best MT High School Team I've Ever Seen

UMFan12 said:
Spanky2 said:
UMFan12 said:
UncleRico said:
I would like to see them play Hardin. If Hellgate is the best team..Hardin is a close second. The AA schools don't play the good Native American teams. I think it would be interesting to watch these two play.
Hellgate by 30 or more. Nobody in the state regardless of class can match Hellgates mix of size, speed and skill. They rarely even play their starters for most of the 4th quarter. They’re just a class above the rest.
Teams that haven’t played against a top Indian team aren’t accustomed to the style of play. I doubt the 30 point difference.
30 is honestly being kind to Hardin. Hellgate is rated as a top 100 high school team in all of the US by 247 sports. 2 D1 players along with 2 or 3 more NAIA caliber players vs Hardin. There is literally no chance Hardin wins. Who’s guarding Abe Johnson? Nobody. Who’s guarding Rollie? Nobody. Even Cam LaRance would give them 30 and he’s Hellgates 3rd option, even though he was 2nd in AA in scoring last year for Big Sky.

I take your word for it 12. They must be a great team. However, I would bet you that two of the players you mentioned wouldn’t be able to guard Larry Pretty Weasel in his playing days. Anyone that didn’t see Larry play really missed something.
 
Colter_Nuanez56 said:
Hellgate is a great, great team. But I don't think this group is even the best Hellgate team ever, let alone the best high school team the state has seen. The 2005 Hellgate team featuring Jack McGillis, Charlie Cox and Trevor Morris along with the 1993 team with Ryan Dick, J.R. Camel and Jake Dennehy would both give this Hellgate team a run and I think would beat this Hellgate team.

I think this Hellgate team appears to be so good because they are so much better than everyone they play. I think they are a great Montana team but there are a lot of teams that would compete or beat this Hellgate team just from over the last 25 years in Montana, let alone from the old days.

I don't agree on the 2005 team. I saw them play during the season and attended the State tourney that year. For me, it's not even a close call.
 
Does anybody remember the Columbia Falls teams of the mid to late sixties. I remember the name Don Luce. I think Craig Finberg, who coached at Western? possibly came a little bit later. I do remember their light blue uniforms looked pretty classy. If anyone can remember more than this please embellish.
 
PlayerRep said:
Colter_Nuanez56 said:
Hellgate is a great, great team. But I don't think this group is even the best Hellgate team ever, let alone the best high school team the state has seen. The 2005 Hellgate team featuring Jack McGillis, Charlie Cox and Trevor Morris along with the 1993 team with Ryan Dick, J.R. Camel and Jake Dennehy would both give this Hellgate team a run and I think would beat this Hellgate team.

I think this Hellgate team appears to be so good because they are so much better than everyone they play. I think they are a great Montana team but there are a lot of teams that would compete or beat this Hellgate team just from over the last 25 years in Montana, let alone from the old days.

I don't agree on the 2005 team. I saw them play during the season and attended the State tourney that year. For me, it's not even a close call.

This years team might be the most-dominant over their competition, but that 2005 team had to beat a Billings West team that also had 2 D-1 players (Sullivan and ?). How many D1 players has Hellgate faced this year?
 
PlayerRep said:
Didn't the 2005 Hellgate team lose a bunch of games?

They went 19-4. Most of the losses came early as they tried to mesh. Even just in Missoula, the talent then was so much better and more importantly more widely dispersed. Eric Henkle (Gatorade Player of the Year, Eastern Washington signee) and Jordan Hasquet (Gatorade Player of the Year, future Griz) played at Sentinel. Although those guys were one and two years ahead of this group.That team, that also included future Frontier standouts Kelin Hasquet and Mark Henkle, never even played for the state title.

Great Falls CMR had a team full of football players, several who went to the Pac 10, who were very good at basketball too. Great Falls High had Bryan Lynch, who came to play for the Griz. Colt Anderson and Casey Briggs' Butte High's teams were good back then.

McGillis went to Oregon State before returning to the Griz. Cox, the 2005 Gatorade Player of the Year, played at Montana before finishing his career for Steve Keller at Western. Morris played at Idaho. That's one more D-I guy than this Hellgate team currently has.

This Hellgate team is really good. But they also have seven seniors, the open enrollment is a huge boon, the competition is not good in-state this year and they win with size much more than skill or savvy. I think they are awesome and I think Worster will find college success at Utah State or Montana or somewhere in the upcoming years.

The the athleticism for the 2005 team was better. McGillis was a better pure athlete than Worster. Cox was an unbelievable point guard and Morris shot lights out.

The video quality isn't great but there isn't a point guard in in Class AA right now that can create like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAefbJkwy4Q
 
UncleRico said:
PlayerRep said:
Hellgate is very strong and good. Great players. Deep. Tall. Very tough zone press. Well-coached.

I would like to see them play Hardin. If Hellgate is the best team..Hardin is a close second. The AA schools don't play the good Native American teams. I think it would be interesting to watch these two play.

It would go about like this ...

Hellgate 74
Hardin 41 final

Too much size and defense for most high school squads. Two bona fide D1 kids. Hellgate would beat Hardin without Rollie and Abe, just sayin....
 
Spanky2 said:
UMFan12 said:
Spanky2 said:
UMFan12 said:
Hellgate by 30 or more. Nobody in the state regardless of class can match Hellgates mix of size, speed and skill. They rarely even play their starters for most of the 4th quarter. They’re just a class above the rest.
Teams that haven’t played against a top Indian team aren’t accustomed to the style of play. I doubt the 30 point difference.
30 is honestly being kind to Hardin. Hellgate is rated as a top 100 high school team in all of the US by 247 sports. 2 D1 players along with 2 or 3 more NAIA caliber players vs Hardin. There is literally no chance Hardin wins. Who’s guarding Abe Johnson? Nobody. Who’s guarding Rollie? Nobody. Even Cam LaRance would give them 30 and he’s Hellgates 3rd option, even though he was 2nd in AA in scoring last year for Big Sky.

I take your word for it 12. They must be a great team. However, I would bet you that two of the players you mentioned wouldn’t be able to guard Larry Pretty Weasel in his playing days. Anyone that didn’t see Larry play really missed something.
Rollie against him would be quite the match up.
 
anchorage said:
UncleRico said:
PlayerRep said:
Hellgate is very strong and good. Great players. Deep. Tall. Very tough zone press. Well-coached.

I would like to see them play Hardin. If Hellgate is the best team..Hardin is a close second. The AA schools don't play the good Native American teams. I think it would be interesting to watch these two play.

It would go about like this ...

Hellgate 74
Hardin 41 final

Too much size and defense for most high school squads. Two bona fide D1 kids. Hellgate would beat Hardin without Rollie and Abe, just sayin....

It would be a good game. Hardin is better than any of the Billings AA schools. If they never played any native teams it would be an adjustment for Hellgate. And Hardin would not be intimidated, Not a chance in hell Hardin gets beat by 33.
 
UncleRico said:
anchorage said:
UncleRico said:
PlayerRep said:
Hellgate is very strong and good. Great players. Deep. Tall. Very tough zone press. Well-coached.

I would like to see them play Hardin. If Hellgate is the best team..Hardin is a close second. The AA schools don't play the good Native American teams. I think it would be interesting to watch these two play.

It would go about like this ...

Hellgate 74
Hardin 41 final

Too much size and defense for most high school squads. Two bona fide D1 kids. Hellgate would beat Hardin without Rollie and Abe, just sayin....

It would be a good game. Hardin is better than any of the Billings AA schools. If they never played any native teams it would be an adjustment for Hellgate. And Hardin would not be intimidated, Not a chance in hell Hardin gets beat by 33.
Other way around, not a chance in hell Hardin keep it within 33 if Hellgate actually play their starters in the 4th quarter. Don’t get what’s so hard to understand about this. Hardin is playing class B basketball, Hellgate is regularly beating AA schools by 30 plus. It wouldn’t be an adjustment for Hellgate, but one for Hardin. Hardin has never and will never see a press with dudes the size and having the athletic ability that Hellgate has. Don’t get why people think a class B school can hang with a top 100 ranked team in all of the US. Hardin would look like a bunch of 3rd graders next to Hellgate. Rollie goes for 30, Abe for 25, LaRance for another 20. NOBODY on Hardin is stopping Abe. 6’8”, skilled, and committed to Army for basketball. Dunk fest.
 
12, I’m sure Hellgate is a good team for Montana or the region. Top 100 in the nation? You really think they would beat the teams in New York, Chicago, LA and many other cities?
 
Spanky2 said:
12, I’m sure Hellgate is a good team for Montana or the region. Top 100 in the nation? You really think they would beat the teams in New York, Chicago, LA and many other cities?
I’m not saying that’s where I rank them, but that’s where 24/7 has them.
 
maroonandsilver said:
citay said:
My grandfather tells me the best high school team ever in Montana was the Sentinel team featuring Mike Lewis, who went on to star at Duke. That was the early 60's, before many of the big ACC teams had integrated, and so a player like Lewis was highly coveted. There were a couple of other very good players on that team, but others here will have to fill in names. (Greg Hanson?)

Sentinel High did not come into existence until 1966. Mike Lewis was a Senior in 1964, playing for MISSOULA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. His 63-64 team was ranked second in the country. Besides Lewis, Greg Hanson, Wes Appelt, Dave Carpenter, Larry Huggins, Jim Searles, Vern Berry, Jerry Simonson and Gary Siegford were on that team. The MCHS Class of 1964 won State Championships in basketball, football, track and wrestling.

The 1963 (my Class) MCHS team was equally as good and also undefeated with Greg Smith, Doug Bachman and Doug McDonald being seniors and starters (Lewis and Hanson were the only junior starters on the '63 team). Unfortunately for the '63 team, they were not allowed to play in the State tournament. Because of a near-riot at the tourney in Butte the previous year, the school board voted to not send the team.

You are absolutely correct! Our class of 64 had only one blemish, a wrestling dual meet loss 21-20 to Great Falls High. I was there....tied with Paul Schafer at 7-7. It’s all my fault! He went on to athletic greatness for the cats, among other talents in life before getting killed in a skiing accident at Big Mountain (with Doug Betters, I believe). All of the above were key to our football success too....I was happy to get on the field toward the end of 4th quarters!
You & I might know each other? PM me if you want.
 
Rollie and McGillis would cancel each other out, in terms of talent.The big guy Abe would be the main difference. he's very good, and big. The no. 3 guys are probably about equal. The rest of the Hellgate guys are strong. Good depth too. Great teams don't lose 4 games in a season.
 
UMFan12 said:
UncleRico said:
anchorage said:
UncleRico said:
I would like to see them play Hardin. If Hellgate is the best team..Hardin is a close second. The AA schools don't play the good Native American teams. I think it would be interesting to watch these two play.

It would go about like this ...

Hellgate 74
Hardin 41 final

Too much size and defense for most high school squads. Two bona fide D1 kids. Hellgate would beat Hardin without Rollie and Abe, just sayin....

It would be a good game. Hardin is better than any of the Billings AA schools. If they never played any native teams it would be an adjustment for Hellgate. And Hardin would not be intimidated, Not a chance in hell Hardin gets beat by 33.
Other way around, not a chance in hell Hardin keep it within 33 if Hellgate actually play their starters in the 4th quarter. Don’t get what’s so hard to understand about this. Hardin is playing class B basketball, Hellgate is regularly beating AA schools by 30 plus. It wouldn’t be an adjustment for Hellgate, but one for Hardin. Hardin has never and will never see a press with dudes the size and having the athletic ability that Hellgate has. Don’t get why people think a class B school can hang with a top 100 ranked team in all of the US. Hardin would look like a bunch of 3rd graders next to Hellgate. Rollie goes for 30, Abe for 25, LaRance for another 20. NOBODY on Hardin is stopping Abe. 6’8”, skilled, and committed to Army for basketball. Dunk fest.

Obviously you know nothing at all about Hardin. At all. They are Class A not Class B. They are way better than any of the Billings schools. They rolled those AA schools in summer games. I am not saying that Hellgate isn't the best team in the state. I am saying the team that would give them the best game would be Hardin. They are better than anyone they are playing this year. Hardin goes 10 deep. They can all shoot and all handle the ball. I don't think you understand how good they are and really have been the last couple years. I would love to see the game. It would be highly entertaining.
 
RABIDAWG said:
maroonandsilver said:
citay said:
My grandfather tells me the best high school team ever in Montana was the Sentinel team featuring Mike Lewis, who went on to star at Duke. That was the early 60's, before many of the big ACC teams had integrated, and so a player like Lewis was highly coveted. There were a couple of other very good players on that team, but others here will have to fill in names. (Greg Hanson?)

Sentinel High did not come into existence until 1966. Mike Lewis was a Senior in 1964, playing for MISSOULA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. His 63-64 team was ranked second in the country. Besides Lewis, Greg Hanson, Wes Appelt, Dave Carpenter, Larry Huggins, Jim Searles, Vern Berry, Jerry Simonson and Gary Siegford were on that team. The MCHS Class of 1964 won State Championships in basketball, football, track and wrestling.

The 1963 (my Class) MCHS team was equally as good and also undefeated with Greg Smith, Doug Bachman and Doug McDonald being seniors and starters (Lewis and Hanson were the only junior starters on the '63 team). Unfortunately for the '63 team, they were not allowed to play in the State tournament. Because of a near-riot at the tourney in Butte the previous year, the school board voted to not send the team.

You are absolutely correct! Our class of 64 had only one blemish, a wrestling dual meet loss 21-20 to Great Falls High. I was there....tied with Paul Schafer at 7-7. It’s all my fault! He went on to athletic greatness for the cats, among other talents in life before getting killed in a skiing accident at Big Mountain (with Doug Betters, I believe). All of the above were key to our football success too....I was happy to get on the field toward the end of 4th quarters!
You & I might know each other? PM me if you want.

Impressive. Paul Schaefer was a terrific athlete.

Missoula County was a power in multiple sports for multiple years.
 
UncleRico said:
UMFan12 said:
UncleRico said:
anchorage said:
It would go about like this ...

Hellgate 74
Hardin 41 final

Too much size and defense for most high school squads. Two bona fide D1 kids. Hellgate would beat Hardin without Rollie and Abe, just sayin....

It would be a good game. Hardin is better than any of the Billings AA schools. If they never played any native teams it would be an adjustment for Hellgate. And Hardin would not be intimidated, Not a chance in hell Hardin gets beat by 33.
Other way around, not a chance in hell Hardin keep it within 33 if Hellgate actually play their starters in the 4th quarter. Don’t get what’s so hard to understand about this. Hardin is playing class B basketball, Hellgate is regularly beating AA schools by 30 plus. It wouldn’t be an adjustment for Hellgate, but one for Hardin. Hardin has never and will never see a press with dudes the size and having the athletic ability that Hellgate has. Don’t get why people think a class B school can hang with a top 100 ranked team in all of the US. Hardin would look like a bunch of 3rd graders next to Hellgate. Rollie goes for 30, Abe for 25, LaRance for another 20. NOBODY on Hardin is stopping Abe. 6’8”, skilled, and committed to Army for basketball. Dunk fest.

Obviously you know nothing at all about Hardin. At all. They are Class A not Class B. They are way better than any of the Billings schools. They rolled those AA schools in summer games. I am not saying that Hellgate isn't the best team in the state. I am saying the team that would give them the best game would be Hardin. They are better than anyone they are playing this year. Hardin goes 10 deep. They can all shoot and all handle the ball. I don't think you understand how good they are and really have been the last couple years. I would love to see the game. It would be highly entertaining.
And in the very first sentence you lost all credibility already. Mentioning SUMMER games to prove a point. At the UM camp over the summer, Big Sky was rolling all sorts of AA schools and finished runner up in the tournament to only Hellgate. Why? Simple, AA schools often are missing half or more of their main in season rotation in these summer games, camps, and tournies. Big Sky has now won only 2 games all season. The summer games mean legitimately nothing.
 
UMFan12 said:
UncleRico said:
UMFan12 said:
UncleRico said:
It would be a good game. Hardin is better than any of the Billings AA schools. If they never played any native teams it would be an adjustment for Hellgate. And Hardin would not be intimidated, Not a chance in hell Hardin gets beat by 33.
Other way around, not a chance in hell Hardin keep it within 33 if Hellgate actually play their starters in the 4th quarter. Don’t get what’s so hard to understand about this. Hardin is playing class B basketball, Hellgate is regularly beating AA schools by 30 plus. It wouldn’t be an adjustment for Hellgate, but one for Hardin. Hardin has never and will never see a press with dudes the size and having the athletic ability that Hellgate has. Don’t get why people think a class B school can hang with a top 100 ranked team in all of the US. Hardin would look like a bunch of 3rd graders next to Hellgate. Rollie goes for 30, Abe for 25, LaRance for another 20. NOBODY on Hardin is stopping Abe. 6’8”, skilled, and committed to Army for basketball. Dunk fest.

Obviously you know nothing at all about Hardin. At all. They are Class A not Class B. They are way better than any of the Billings schools. They rolled those AA schools in summer games. I am not saying that Hellgate isn't the best team in the state. I am saying the team that would give them the best game would be Hardin. They are better than anyone they are playing this year. Hardin goes 10 deep. They can all shoot and all handle the ball. I don't think you understand how good they are and really have been the last couple years. I would love to see the game. It would be highly entertaining.
And in the very first sentence you lost all credibility already. Mentioning SUMMER games to prove a point. At the UM camp over the summer, Big Sky was rolling all sorts of AA schools and finished runner up in the tournament to only Hellgate. Why? Simple, AA schools often are missing half or more of their main in season rotation in these summer games, camps, and tournies. Big Sky has now won only 2 games all season. The summer games mean legitimately nothing.
You lost credibility by referring to Hardin twice as Class B. I talked to one of Billings high school coaches recently and they know Hardin is most talented team in that area regardless of class. Class A schools don't miss players for tournaments? The UM camp is not a real tournament. It is a camp that is pretty much limited to Missoula area. Hardin is better than anyone Hellgate has played and will play all year. You know nothing about them at all obviously because you don't even know what class they are in. The three best teams in Class A out east (Billings Central, Laurel and Hardin) are very competitive with the AA schools when scheduled. West has one loss (Hellgate by 7) and a couple weeks later they squeaked out a 3 point win over Central. Hardin beat Central by 27. I know it is difficult to compare scores but you basically know nothing about Hardin or basketball outside of Missoula. Hardin would give Hellgate a game.
 
12, how many times have you seen Hardin play?

Rico, how many times have you taken a high school team to the MSU or UM summer camps? Same question for 12?
 
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