BILLINGS — Unbeaten beasts east of the Continental Divide top each of the four classes in the first 406 MT Sports high school girls basketball rankings of the 2024-25 season.Billings West, Billings Central, Huntley Project and Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale pace each class in order after all put up impressive displays before the calendar shifted to 2025 this week. That being said, it's not all familiar faces in the rankings as many programs across Big Sky Country are trying to make their marks across the next few months with talented teams in their own right.A power vacuum has opened up in Class AA, and as of now, Billings West is taking advantage.A pair of early-season ranked victories over No. 3 Helena and No. 4 Missoula Big Sky (featuring Montana State commit Kadynce Couture) has the Golden Bears on top in the state's biggest class, though looming close behind is No. 2 Bozeman Gallatin, which is currently 3-0 with an average margin of victory of 38.7 points ahead of its own clash with Helena on Thursday. People are also reading… Helena's Grace Murgel tries to get by Billings West's Reese Enderson during a game between the Bengals and Golden Bears on Dec. 20 in Helena. THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record Also, say hello to Butte, which at No. 5 holds a solid win over defending state champion Billings Skyview, currently adjusting to life without current Maryland player Breanna Williams. The Falcons and others in Class AA (we're looking at you, Missoula Sentinel) could very easily make their way into future rankings, however, so keep an eye on what looks to be a wide-open class.Class AA Game of the Week: No. 3 Helena at No. 2 Gallatin (Thursday)The best girls basketball team in Montana might just be a Class A squad.Defending state champion and No. 1 Billings Central (featuring returning all-state picks Kam Reinker and Coral Old Bull) has rocketed out of the gates to start its season, holding both Glendive and Butte Central to under 10 points while also picking up an 18-point crosstown win Dec. 17 at Skyview. Billings Central's Ryen Hadley, left, dribbles around the defense of Billings Skyview's Rylee Malcher during their girls basketball game Dec. 17 at the Skyview gym. BRIAR NAPIER, 406 MT Sports That being said, No. 2 Dillon also has a Class AA win on its resume — beating Butte by 11 on Dec. 17 — plus other tough wins in its own right, like Dec. 21 against Hardin.And speaking of the No. 5 Bulldogs, they're one of three Southeast A teams in the initial rankings along with Central and undefeated No. 3 Lockwood, led by the prolific duo of Dani Jordan and Tailey Harris. The Lions also handed No. 4 Havre its only loss to date, by one point Dec. 12.Class A Game of the Week: Miles City at No. 5 Hardin (Saturday)It was a tumultuous offseason for Huntley Project's girls basketball team (which hired a new coach barely a month before its first game), but since the Red Devils got to playing, it's been smooth sailing.Gonzaga commit Paige Lofing is back to dazzling with an average of 23.6 points per game, though options in support like Sannah Windy Boy and Hardin transfer Carlei Plainfeather have been crucial in No. 1 Project's unbeaten start, too. Huntley Project's Paige Lofing holds possession while being guarded by Missoula Loyola's defense during the opening round at the MHSA State B Girls Basketball Tournament at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark in Billings on March 7, 2024. AMY LYNN NELSON, Billings Gazette The powers that be in Class B are largely staying put for now as seven of the eight teams that qualified for last year's state tournament make the initial rankings, though No. 3 Shepherd — which has ranked wins over No. 8 Ennis and No. 10 Jefferson, plus a competitive loss to Project — finds itself high up despite missing out on state in 2023-24.Watch for No. 6 Malta and No. 7 Baker (the defending state champion) to potentially make moves toward the top of the ladder soon. The M-ettes, who've lost to Project and Class A Havre, currently get the nod over the Spartans after beating them by one point Dec. 7.Class B Game of the Week: Anaconda at No. 9 Florence-Carlton (Saturday)It may be a fairly fresh-faced Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale team compared to years past, but the two-time defending state champion — as proven by its 6-0 start to the year — is still Class C's top dog until further notice.The No. 1 Mavericks are winners of 60 straight games dating back to the 2022 state tournament, the fourth-longest streak in Montana girls basketball history. Montana State Billings commit Shelbi LaBrie runs the show with program legends Teagan Erickson (Montana State) and Paige Wasson (Rocky Mountain College) now gone, though an all-unbeaten top five is right on North Country's tail. Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale's Shelbi LaBrie dribbles past Twin Bridges' Kinsey Johnson during a MHSA State C Girls Basketball Tournament semifinal game March 8, 2024 at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls. GARY MARSHALL, BMGphotos.com No. 2 Melstone, No. 3 Plentywood and No. 10 Roy-Winifred are all also in the initial rankings following state tourney appearances a season ago, mixed in with a crop of undefeated upstarts like No. 4 Bainville and No. 5 Plenty Coups trying to make it to this year's tournament in Butte. A surprising Shields Valley, which is 5-0 after going 6-14 last season, also gets in at No. 8.Class C Game of the Week: No. 8 Shields Valley at No. 9 Manhattan Christian (Saturday)This week's rankings:(Records through Dec. 31)High school basketball rankings1. Billings West (4-0)2. Bozeman Gallatin (3-0)3. Helena (2-1)4. Missoula Big Sky (2-2)5. Butte (2-1)1. Billings Central (4-0)2. Dillon (5-0)3. Lockwood (4-0)4. Havre (4-1)5. Hardin (3-1)1. Huntley Project (5-0)2. Missoula Loyola (3-1)3. Shepherd (5-1)4. Chinook (5-0)5. Big Timber (5-0)6. Malta (3-2)7. Baker (3-1)8. Ennis (4-1)9. Florence-Carlton (4-1)10. Jefferson (3-1)1. Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale (6-0)2. Melstone (6-0)3. Plentywood (5-0)4. Bainville (4-0)5. Plenty Coups (6-0)6. Belt (3-1)7. Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine (3-1)8. Shields Valley (5-0)9. Manhattan Christian (3-0)10. Roy-Winifred (3-2) Email Briar Napier at briar.napier@406mtsports.com or follow him on Twitter/X at @BriarNapier 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Montana high school girls basketball rankings (Jan. 1)

It was a tumultuous offseason for Huntley Project’s girls basketball team (which hired a new coach barely a month before its first game), but since the Red Devils got to playing, it’s been smooth sailing. 1. Billings West (4-0) 7. Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine (3-1) Class C Game of the Week: No. 8 Shields Valley at No. 9 Manhattan […]

It was a tumultuous offseason for Huntley Project’s girls basketball team (which hired a new coach barely a month before its first game), but since the Red Devils got to playing, it’s been smooth sailing.

1. Billings West (4-0)

7. Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine (3-1)

Class C Game of the Week: No. 8 Shields Valley at No. 9 Manhattan Christian (Saturday)

No. 2 Melstone, No. 3 Plentywood and No. 10 Roy-Winifred are all also in the initial rankings following state tourney appearances a season ago, mixed in with a crop of undefeated upstarts like No. 4 Bainville and No. 5 Plenty Coups trying to make it to this year’s tournament in Butte. A surprising Shields Valley, which is 5-0 after going 6-14 last season, also gets in at No. 8.

Helena High vs. Billings West girls — 3. Helena (2-1)

THOM BRIDGE, Independent Record

Defending state champion and No. 1 Billings Central (featuring returning all-state picks Kam Reinker and Coral Old Bull) has rocketed out of the gates to start its season, holding both Glendive and Butte Central to under 10 points while also picking up an 18-point crosstown win Dec. 17 at Skyview.

1. Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale (6-0)

Huntley Project’s Paige Lofing holds possession while being guarded by Missoula Loyola’s defense during the opening round at the MHSA State B Girls Basketball Tournament at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark in Billings on March 7, 2024.

5. Butte (2-1)

Billings Central at Billings Skyview girls — This week’s rankings:

BRIAR NAPIER, 406 MT Sports

The powers that be in Class B are largely staying put for now as seven of the eight teams that qualified for last year’s state tournament make the initial rankings, though No. 3 Shepherd — which has ranked wins over No. 8 Ennis and No. 10 Jefferson, plus a competitive loss to Project — finds itself high up despite missing out on state in 2023-24.

It may be a fairly fresh-faced Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale team compared to years past, but the two-time defending state champion — as proven by its 6-0 start to the year — is still Class C’s top dog until further notice.

BILLINGS — Unbeaten beasts east of the Continental Divide top each of the four classes in the first 406 MT Sports high school girls basketball rankings of the 2024-25 season.

Also, say hello to Butte, which at No. 5 holds a solid win over defending state champion Billings Skyview, currently adjusting to life without current Maryland player Breanna Williams. The Falcons and others in Class AA (we’re looking at you, Missoula Sentinel) could very easily make their way into future rankings, however, so keep an eye on what looks to be a wide-open class.

3. Shepherd (5-1)

Missoula Loyola girls vs. Huntley Project at State B Basketball — *Class AA Game of the Week:* No. 3 Helena at No. 2 Gallatin (Thursday)

AMY LYNN NELSON, Billings Gazette

Gonzaga commit Paige Lofing is back to dazzling with an average of 23.6 points per game, though options in support like Sannah Windy Boy and Hardin transfer Carlei Plainfeather have been crucial in No. 1 Project’s unbeaten start, too.

1. Huntley Project (5-0)

8. Ennis (4-1)

That being said, it’s not all familiar faces in the rankings as many programs across Big Sky Country are trying to make their marks across the next few months with talented teams in their own right.

5. Hardin (3-1)

Saco-Twin Bridges — 4. Missoula Big Sky (2-2)

GARY MARSHALL, BMGphotos.com

Email Briar Napier at briar.napier@406mtsports.com or follow him on Twitter/X at @BriarNapier

A pair of early-season ranked victories over No. 3 Helena and No. 4 Missoula Big Sky (featuring Montana State commit Kadynce Couture) has the Golden Bears on top in the state’s biggest class, though looming close behind is No. 2 Bozeman Gallatin, which is currently 3-0 with an average margin of victory of 38.7 points ahead of its own clash with Helena on Thursday.

6. Belt (3-1)

Billings Central’s Ryen Hadley, left, dribbles around the defense of Billings Skyview’s Rylee Malcher during their girls basketball game Dec. 17 at the Skyview gym.

Class A Game of the Week: Miles City at No. 5 Hardin (Saturday)

The best girls basketball team in Montana might just be a Class A squad.

And speaking of the No. 5 Bulldogs, they’re one of three Southeast A teams in the initial rankings along with Central and undefeated No. 3 Lockwood, led by the prolific duo of Dani Jordan and Tailey Harris. The Lions also handed No. 4 Havre its only loss to date, by one point Dec. 12.

5. Plenty Coups (6-0)

2. Dillon (5-0)

Watch for No. 6 Malta and No. 7 Baker (the defending state champion) to potentially make moves toward the top of the ladder soon. The M-ettes, who’ve lost to Project and Class A Havre, currently get the nod over the Spartans after beating them by one point Dec. 7.

6. Malta (3-2)

That being said, No. 2 Dillon also has a Class AA win on its resume — beating Butte by 11 on Dec. 17 — plus other tough wins in its own right, like Dec. 21 against Hardin.

Billings West, Billings Central, Huntley Project and Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale pace each class in order after all put up impressive displays before the calendar shifted to 2025 this week.

9. Florence-Carlton (4-1)

4. Bainville (4-0)

10. Roy-Winifred (3-2)

The No. 1 Mavericks are winners of 60 straight games dating back to the 2022 state tournament, the fourth-longest streak in Montana girls basketball history. Montana State Billings commit Shelbi LaBrie runs the show with program legends Teagan Erickson (Montana State) and Paige Wasson (Rocky Mountain College) now gone, though an all-unbeaten top five is right on North Country’s tail.

Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale’s Shelbi LaBrie dribbles past Twin Bridges’ Kinsey Johnson during a MHSA State C Girls Basketball Tournament semifinal game March 8, 2024 at Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls.

3. Lockwood (4-0)

7. Baker (3-1)

2. Missoula Loyola (3-1)

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(Records through Dec. 31)

9. Manhattan Christian (3-0)

5. Big Timber (5-0)

2. Bozeman Gallatin (3-0)

4. Havre (4-1)

Class B Game of the Week: Anaconda at No. 9 Florence-Carlton (Saturday)

2. Melstone (6-0)

4. Chinook (5-0)