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

[UMFan12]

I watched the Hardin vs. Billings Central game and it reaffirmed my opinion that they’d have little chance of playing with Hellgate. My biggest reason for that is that they’d get beat up so badly on the boards. That and I felt like they did a mediocre to poor job defending their own basket.

Having said that, they do a nice job of giving strong initial full court pressure and they move the ball nicely on offense and their offensive players are skilled and have high b-ball IQ’s.

They’d have to get out of their full court press against a good team. It’s a fun argument we’re having here, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.

I’ve watched Hays coached Hellgate teams for many years and one thing they never do is give up easy buckets. And this year’s Knights team is outstanding in defending their basket with Rollie and Abe basically enforcing their will out there and setting the tone on that end of the floor.

It would be fun to watch the game. I was impressed how Hardin rallied after Left Hand got hurt. Hellgate would definitely have advantage on the boards. No doubt but their big guys would have to run the court also. It would be a contrast in styles.Which is one reason basketball is such a great game.

By the way you’re talking you haven’t watched Hellgate play. Running the floor is FAR from a problem for Abe and is a big reason he’s D1. Watch the Sentinel vs Hellgate highlights. He runs the floor hard, and at 6’8”, nobody on Hardin is stopping him. 20 pt 20 reb game inbound.

 

[UMFan12]

12, you keep talking about Hellgate’s national ranking. Please explain exactly what that means. There isn’t any head to head competition against national teams, is there? It’s great to be recognized as a good team, but come on, they are a good Montana team, that’s it!

They have 2 D1 players in the same team along with 3 or 4 others with NAIA interest and offers. When was the last time a team out of Montana had 2D1 players on the same team? They’re good nationally and could compete in almost all states, except probably California and Texas. This is NOT “just a good Montana team”. Far from it, and that’s how a MT team has drawn national interest.

 

[Spanky2]

There are 18,000 high school teams in the nation. So you think Hellgate should be ranked in the top 100?
Also, you continue to say there are two Division 1 players on the team. How can you claim them to be Division 1 players when they are in high school?

 

[flatheadgriz406]

For what it's worth, Hellgate finishes the regular season ranked #32.
https://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/hellgate-knights-(missoula,mt)/basketball/home.htm

 

[PlayerRep]

Hellgate 74
Hardin 39 final

They’d get literally destroyed on the glass — their guard play is okay but inside they’d get rocked. Left hand is good but he’ll probably just do okay in the Frontier. I’m not sure if he’s athletic enough to be exceptionally effective, but I could be wrong.

Exactly. Don’t know why Rico thinks Hardin is hanging when Hellgate makes Hardin look like a freshman team in size comparison, to go along with 2 D1 players, more athleticism, and being ranked the 53rd best high school basketball team in the country, all though that is a bit too high for me, Hardin isn’t keeping it within 25 or 30 points.

https://mobile.twitter.com/jordyhansen/status/1233999669036015622

You admitted you have never seen Hardin play. You are zero credibility on the topic.

Never understood where your terrible reputation on Egriz came from. Thank you, I do now. As for your statement, lmao read the title of the thread. This isn’t about Hardin. This is about Hellgate and the fact they currently sit at #53 nationally, and are one of the greatest MT high school teams of all time. They have the 2 best players in the state, along with another top 5 player, the best offense and the best defense in the state, a well known and well weathered coach, and the depth to blow anybody on the state of Montana regardless of class out by at they very least 30 points. Yes, Hardin may be there best competition in Montana, but that’s not to say the game would be even relatively close provided Hellgate keeps their foot on the gas, which they have only done once or twice all season.

My reputation on egriz is very good among the good posters and people who understand sports and/or make good posts, and/or avoid making too many dumb posts. The ones that don't like me are mostly the dummies who don't know the game and/or don't make good posts and/or make stupid posts. It is natural and a positive that the posters I call out, like yourself, don't get excited about me.

You have no credibility about the topic of how Hellgate and Hardin would play each other. You haven't seen Hardin play. You didn't even know what division they are in. You are going up against some knowledgeable posters, who have seen Hardin play. One of them is a long time coach in MT. He probably knows 10 times more about MT basketball than you do, yet you insult him.

I started this thread. I am the one who gave Hellgate a large compliment. I know how the thread started and evolved.

 

[UncleRico]

I watched the Hardin vs. Billings Central game and it reaffirmed my opinion that they’d have little chance of playing with Hellgate. My biggest reason for that is that they’d get beat up so badly on the boards. That and I felt like they did a mediocre to poor job defending their own basket.

Having said that, they do a nice job of giving strong initial full court pressure and they move the ball nicely on offense and their offensive players are skilled and have high b-ball IQ’s.

They’d have to get out of their full court press against a good team. It’s a fun argument we’re having here, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree.

I’ve watched Hays coached Hellgate teams for many years and one thing they never do is give up easy buckets. And this year’s Knights team is outstanding in defending their basket with Rollie and Abe basically enforcing their will out there and setting the tone on that end of the floor.

It would be fun to watch the game. I was impressed how Hardin rallied after Left Hand got hurt. Hellgate would definitely have advantage on the boards. No doubt but their big guys would have to run the court also. It would be a contrast in styles.Which is one reason basketball is such a great game.

By the way you’re talking you haven’t watched Hellgate play. Running the floor is FAR from a problem for Abe and is a big reason he’s D1. Watch the Sentinel vs Hellgate highlights. He runs the floor hard, and at 6’8”, nobody on Hardin is stopping him. 20 pt 20 reb game inbound.

I have watched Hellgate play and they are very good. I don't know if they are the best ever but definitely the best this year. I would say those CMR teams of a few years go. Hardin would be the best team they would play. There is not another AA team like them. I honestly think they are one of the best shooting high school teams I have seen if not the best. Hellgate would have advantage inside there is no doubt but if you have waves and waves of players that can handle the ball and shoot. You will not get blown out by anyone in Montana high school basketball.

 

[UMFan12]

There are 18,000 high school teams in the nation. So you think Hellgate should be ranked in the top 100?
Also, you continue to say there are two Division 1 players on the team. How can you claim them to be Division 1 players when they are in high school?

For the thousandth time, I thought it was a bit high, but I do think they are top 2 or 3 hundred. Not many schools have 4 or 5 college ball caliber players, of which 2 are D1.

 

[ordigger]

Pretty clear 12 is emotionally involved in regard to Hellgate. Probably a parent or relative of one of the players. Doesn’t really listen to logic and reason, but just believes Hellgate would win big. I’ve never seen either play so I wouldn’t know, nor care - it’s just obvious 12 is emotional about his opinion. And nobody will convince him/her different

 

[Spanky2]

I hope Hellgate is ranked #1 in the nation year end and they have 5 players in the ACC next year.

 

[UncleRico]

I hope Hellgate is ranked #1 in the nation year end and they have 5 players in the ACC next year.

Haha..Skyview actually has a kid in ACC. Raquan Evans was a sophomore when Kendall Manuel was a Senior. Speaking of pretty good team.

 

[CatGrad-UMGradStu]

I hope Hellgate is ranked #1 in the nation year end and they have 5 players in the ACC next year.

Haha..Skyview actually has a kid in ACC. Raquan Evans was a sophomore when Kendall Manuel was a Senior. Speaking of pretty good team.

Raquan didn't take academics seriously as so many rez kids are prone to do because of both the culture of the school and academic school climate. (I know, he went to a Billings school but he had too many outside issues not quite as severe as A.J. Long Soldier). Juco worked for him and I hope Jerry Harris (Tuff's dad) can turn Lodge Grass around with a sound track and football program. Collectively the largest compilation of great athletes I've ever seen in Lodge Grass. Several of Larry Pretty Weasel's grandkids attending school in Lodge Grass.

 

[UncleRico]

I hope Hellgate is ranked #1 in the nation year end and they have 5 players in the ACC next year.

Haha..Skyview actually has a kid in ACC. Raquan Evans was a sophomore when Kendall Manuel was a Senior. Speaking of pretty good team.

Raquan didn't take academics seriously as so many rez kids are prone to do because of both the culture of the school and academic school climate. (I know, he went to a Billings school but he had too many outside issues not quite as severe as A.J. Long Soldier). Juco worked for him and I hope Jerry Harris (Tuff's dad) can turn Lodge Grass around with a sound track and football program. Collectively the largest compilation of great athletes I've ever seen in Lodge Grass. Several of Larry Pretty Weasel's grandkids attending school in Lodge Grass.

A lot of good players on the Crow Reservation right now. Both the boys and girls teams at Hardin and boys team at Lodge Grass. Football has always been a challenge in Lodge Grass. The last time I remember them fielding a competitive team was when Tuff was a freshman and his older brother played (Jay I believe) QB.The Tuff went to Colstrip after Sophomore year. I think they made the playoffs and won the conference in the late 80s-early 90s. Leroy Wallace played on that team and then at Rocky. We are friends and LeRoy came back to coach football there and he sure worked hard to keep that program going. He is just a great guy. I coached against Lodge Grass in both football and basketball. Going there for a football game was pretty dead. Kids actually playing basketball on outside lighted courts during games. But going there for basketball was electric and great fun.

 

[CatGrad-UMGradStu]

I hope Hellgate is ranked #1 in the nation year end and they have 5 players in the ACC next year.

Haha..Skyview actually has a kid in ACC. Raquan Evans was a sophomore when Kendall Manuel was a Senior. Speaking of pretty good team.

Raquan didn't take academics seriously as so many rez kids are prone to do because of both the culture of the school and academic school climate. (I know, he went to a Billings school but he had too many outside issues not quite as severe as A.J. Long Soldier). Juco worked for him and I hope Jerry Harris (Tuff's dad) can turn Lodge Grass around with a sound track and football program. Collectively the largest compilation of great athletes I've ever seen in Lodge Grass. Several of Larry Pretty Weasel's grandkids attending school in Lodge Grass.

A lot of good players on the Crow Reservation right now. Both the boys3 and girls teams at Hardin and boys team at Lodge Grass. Football has always been a challenge in Lodge Grass. The last time I remember them fielding a competitive team was when Tuff was a freshman and his older brother played (Jay I believe) QB.The Tuff went to Colstrip after Sophomore year. I think they made the playoffs and won the conference in the late 80s-early 90s. Leroy Wallace played on that team and then at Rocky. We are friends and LeRoy came back to coach football there and he sure worked hard to keep that program going. He is just a great guy. I coached against Lodge Grass in both football and basketball. Going there for a football game was pretty dead. Kids actually playing basketball on outside lighted courts during games. But going there for basketball was electric and great fun.

Then you probably know Curtis Brien? He was All-State in football at the Oklahoma 6A Division in high school. His first official visit was to Texas A&M but he came home to visit his family and was really naive and young and stopped by Eastern and got conned into staying home.The coach of Eastern at the time offered him a full scholarship and he stayed home. If you'll recall Steve Peterson among others were on that Eastern team and they beat the holy hell out of Northern Arizona. Anyway, I believe Curtis was All-American. Excellent Crow football player.

Last fall Lodge Grass won three games and with Jerry coaching with a little help from both Jay and Tuff I expect them to at least win district and go pretty deep in the playoffs. Their quarterback, Kendall Russell, and Curtis' nephew Jacob Brien will play college football. If Jerry gets some of the kids in school to go out and work out at their track events, they'll be one hell of a football team next fall.

 

[UncleRico]

Haha..Skyview actually has a kid in ACC. Raquan Evans was a sophomore when Kendall Manuel was a Senior. Speaking of pretty good team.

Raquan didn't take academics seriously as so many rez kids are prone to do because of both the culture of the school and academic school climate. (I know, he went to a Billings school but he had too many outside issues not quite as severe as A.J. Long Soldier). Juco worked for him and I hope Jerry Harris (Tuff's dad) can turn Lodge Grass around with a sound track and football program. Collectively the largest compilation of great athletes I've ever seen in Lodge Grass. Several of Larry Pretty Weasel's grandkids attending school in Lodge Grass.

A lot of good players on the Crow Reservation right now. Both the boys3 and girls teams at Hardin and boys team at Lodge Grass. Football has always been a challenge in Lodge Grass. The last time I remember them fielding a competitive team was when Tuff was a freshman and his older brother played (Jay I believe) QB.The Tuff went to Colstrip after Sophomore year. I think they made the playoffs and won the conference in the late 80s-early 90s. Leroy Wallace played on that team and then at Rocky. We are friends and LeRoy came back to coach football there and he sure worked hard to keep that program going. He is just a great guy. I coached against Lodge Grass in both football and basketball. Going there for a football game was pretty dead. Kids actually playing basketball on outside lighted courts during games. But going there for basketball was electric and great fun.

Then you probably know Curtis Brien? He was All-State in football at the Oklahoma 6A Division in high school. His first official visit was to Texas A&M but he came home to visit his family and was really naive and young and stopped by Eastern and got conned into staying home.The coach of Eastern at the time offered him a full scholarship and he stayed home. If you'll recall Steve Peterson among others were on that Eastern team and they beat the holy hell out of Northern Arizona. Anyway, I believe Curtis was All-American. Excellent Crow football player.

Last fall Lodge Grass won three games and with Jerry coaching with a little help from both Jay and Tuff I expect them to at least win district and go pretty deep in the playoffs. Their quarterback, Kendall Russell, and Curtis' nephew Jacob Brien will play college football. If Jerry gets some of the kids in school to go out and work out at their track events, they'll be one hell of a football team next fall.

Good for them! I think it is good that those smaller B schools are playing 8 man. I could see 8 man being a better fit for Native teams also. You need less lineman and you get 3-4 really athletic kids with speed and you could really open it up.

 

[Spanky2]

Haha..Skyview actually has a kid in ACC. Raquan Evans was a sophomore when Kendall Manuel was a Senior. Speaking of pretty good team.

Raquan didn't take academics seriously as so many rez kids are prone to do because of both the culture of the school and academic school climate. (I know, he went to a Billings school but he had too many outside issues not quite as severe as A.J. Long Soldier). Juco worked for him and I hope Jerry Harris (Tuff's dad) can turn Lodge Grass around with a sound track and football program. Collectively the largest compilation of great athletes I've ever seen in Lodge Grass. Several of Larry Pretty Weasel's grandkids attending school in Lodge Grass.

A lot of good players on the Crow Reservation right now. Both the boys3 and girls teams at Hardin and boys team at Lodge Grass. Football has always been a challenge in Lodge Grass. The last time I remember them fielding a competitive team was when Tuff was a freshman and his older brother played (Jay I believe) QB.The Tuff went to Colstrip after Sophomore year. I think they made the playoffs and won the conference in the late 80s-early 90s. Leroy Wallace played on that team and then at Rocky. We are friends and LeRoy came back to coach football there and he sure worked hard to keep that program going. He is just a great guy. I coached against Lodge Grass in both football and basketball. Going there for a football game was pretty dead. Kids actually playing basketball on outside lighted courts during games. But going there for basketball was electric and great fun.

Then you probably know Curtis Brien? He was All-State in football at the Oklahoma 6A Division in high school. His first official visit was to Texas A&M but he came home to visit his family and was really naive and young and stopped by Eastern and got conned into staying home.The coach of Eastern at the time offered him a full scholarship and he stayed home. If you'll recall Steve Peterson among others were on that Eastern team and they beat the holy hell out of Northern Arizona. Anyway, I believe Curtis was All-American. Excellent Crow football player.

Last fall Lodge Grass won three games and with Jerry coaching with a little help from both Jay and Tuff I expect them to at least win district and go pretty deep in the playoffs. Their quarterback, Kendall Russell, and Curtis' nephew Jacob Brien will play college football. If Jerry gets some of the kids in school to go out and work out at their track events, they'll be one hell of a football team next fall.

Was the Eastern coach Robert E. Lee?

 

[AZGrizFan]

There are 18,000 high school teams in the nation. So you think Hellgate should be ranked in the top 100?
Also, you continue to say there are two Division 1 players on the team. How can you claim them to be Division 1 players when they are in high school?

Hasn't one already committed to Utah State? That definitely makes HIM a D-1 player.

 

[Mousegriz]

There are 18,000 high school teams in the nation. So you think Hellgate should be ranked in the top 100?
Also, you continue to say there are two Division 1 players on the team. How can you claim them to be Division 1 players when they are in high school?

Hasn't one already committed to Utah State? That definitely makes HIM a D-1 player.

I agree with Spanky....they will be D1 players when they play D1 college basketball. Remains to be seen if either becomes a "D1 player".

 

[anchorage ak]

There are 18,000 high school teams in the nation. So you think Hellgate should be ranked in the top 100?
Also, you continue to say there are two Division 1 players on the team. How can you claim them to be Division 1 players when they are in high school?

Hasn't one already committed to Utah State? That definitely makes HIM a D-1 player.

I agree with Spanky....they will be D1 players when they play D1 college basketball. Remains to be seen if either becomes a "D1 player".

Wake up guys — Abe Johnson (Army) and Rollie Worster (Utah St.) are both signed to those schools as full ride D1 scholarship players. That puts both of them in a 1% category. They won’t pay a dime to attend either of those institutions. Both are legit D1 signees. That is what a D1 basketball player is defined as.

 

[Spanky2]

They are players when they play.

 

[WaGriz4life]

Hellgate is very strong and good. Great players. Deep. Tall. Very tough zone press. Well-coached.

Have not seen Hellgate play this year, but it would be tough for me to put anyone ahead of 2003 Bozeman. Had zero competitive games all year and Nick Dissly is
the most explosive kid I’ve ever seen in Montana in any sport.