Lady Vikings claim fourth straight district title
Rob Zolman
The Charlo Lady Vikings celebrate their fourth straight District 14C Championship.
Rob Zolman
2020-21 District 14C Girls Basketball Champions - the Charlo Lady Vikings.
Rob Zolman
Charlo Lady Viking Mila Hawk races past a defender.
Rob Zolman
Charlo Lady Viking Hayleigh Smith shoots a jumper.
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
CHARLO — For the fourth straight season, the District 14C girls basketball championship tournament concluded Saturday evening with the Charlo Lady Vikings hoisting the district championship trophy high in the air after a decisive 60-30 victory over the visiting Alberton-Superior Lady MountainCats.
After a first-round bye, the undefeated top-seeded Lady Vikings opened tournament play Thursday evening with an overwhelming 53-25 win over the visiting Plains Trotters.
Charlo put forth a balanced attack, led by both Kassidi Cox and Liev Smith, with 10 points apiece. Nine Lady Vikings registered points on the scorebook.
In the championship game on Saturday, the Lady Vikings got off to a fast start early in the first quarter and outscored the Lady MountainCats 16-4. During the second quarter, Charlo extended their lead to 16 points, as both teams headed into the locker room at the half with the Lady Vikings up 27-11.
In the third and fourth quarters, the tenacious Charlo defense caged the Lady MountainCats offense, holding Alberton-Superior to only 19 second half points as the Lady Vikings rolled to a convincing 60-30 blowout win.
Scoring a game-high 15 points, senior Connor Fryberger led the Lady Vikings on the stat sheets, followed by Mila Hawk with 11 points and Hayleigh Smith with 10.
Lady Viking head coach Bret Thompson said he was pleased with his team’s total tournament performance but also noted there is plenty of room for team growth.
“We are getting better, but we are still working on some things,” Thompson said. “As for our last two games, we have played the most consistently this season, both on offense and defense.”
In a prep basketball season mired by sparse crowds in the bleachers, schedule fluctuations and general uncertainty induced by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, one constant has remained: the Charlo Lady Vikings dominance in the District 14C.
Since their last loss during the 2019-20 Western C Divisional Tournament in Frenchtown, the Lady Vikings have gone on to win 13 straight games, outscoring their opponents by 20 points or more in 12 of those games.
In Deer Lodge on Wednesday, the Lady Vikings will attempt to keep their winning streak going in the first round of the 2020-21 Western C Divisional girls basketball tournament where they will take on fourth-place finisher out of District 12C.
Plains Trotters 25
Charlo Lady Vikings 53
PLAINS 4 7 9 5 — 30
CHARLO 15 13 15 10 — 60
Charlo: Aryal Love 4; Hayleigh Smith 9; Karly Alder 1; Kassidi Cox 10; Liev Smith 10; Mila Hawk 6; Brooke Alder 4; Connor Fryberger 3; Carlee Fryberger 6.
Lady MountainCats 30
Charlo Lady Vikings 60
ALBERT-SUPERIOR 4 7 7 12 — 30
CHARLO 16 11 17 16 — 60
Charlo: Connor Fryberger 15; Mila Hawk 11; Hayleigh Smith 10; Carlee Fryberger 9; Liev Smith 7; Kassidi Cox 4; Katelyn Young 3; Brooke Alder 1.
