Local standouts earn All-State honors

Let the accolades roll.

A mixture of experienced starters, including the two best players in local basketball, highlight the recently announced Montana Western District 14C all state and all-conference picks for the 2021-22 season.

Heading the list is senior forward Katelyn Christensen, whose smooth moves and athletic ability have been on display for the past three years at Hot Springs High School.

In addition to being named to the all-14C District first team, Christensen was named to the all-state team for her superior basketball skills.

She is joined on the boys side of the list by 6-2 senior Tanner Day, who recently scored his 1,000th career point for St. Regis and turned in an outstanding senior season during which he routinely scored in double figures and led the team in rebounding.

Also named to the 14C team and awarded all-state honors were Charlo’s dynamic guard Mila Hawk and Jack McAllister, Hot Springs’ tough, always hustling senior forward.

Christensen, who missed most of the 2020-21 season with a torn ligament in her knee, returned to her all-state caliber of play this season, leading the team in scoring and rebounding while guiding the rebuilding Lady Savage Heat to third in the District playoffs.

She has signed a letter of intent to bring her skills to Carroll College, Helena, where she will participate in track and basketball. Christensen specializes in the javelin during track season and has had state-caliber success since she was a freshman.

Hawk helped the Lady Vikings of Charlo win the regular season 14C conference title with her blend of smooth moves, basketball sense and outstanding hustle on both ends of the court. Much to the delight of Charlo fans, she will return next season for her senior year.

Other girls who made the District first team included talented guard Baylee Pruitt from St. Regis, who has signed to continue her basketball career with Providence College of Great Falls. Her selection gives the Pruitt clan two members of first-team 14C squads, as her younger brother John Pruitt from St. Regis was also named to the boys first team.

John Pruitt is just a sophomore and will be regarded as one of the top players in the conference next season.

Also named to the girls first team was Superior senior Cassie Green, a tough post player who gave the Lady Bobcats a rebounding and scoring boost on a nightly basis. The other two girls named to the all-conference team are Kassidi Cox, a senior forward from Charlo, and Emily Brown, a junior standout with the Noxon Lady Red Devils.

Making the conference first team on the boys side were: Hot Springs senior Kyle Lawson, a play-making floor leader; Keaton Peidalue, Charlo’s 6-0 sophomore forward, Viking teammate Stetsun Reum, a junior forward, and a pair of young players from St. Regis, junior scoring machine Caleb Ball and Pruitt, a tough, basketball-minded sophomore.

Chosen to the second all 14C team on the girls side were Isabella Pereira, Superior’s lightning quick point guard; junior forward Hayleigh Smith, Charlo; Superior sharpshooter Darby Haskins, along with teammates Payton Milender, junior forward and sophomore guard Lanie Crabb.

St. Regis was also represented by junior forward Macy Hill, a skilled inside and outside player.

The boys second team included: Hot Springs post Garth Parker; Superior junior forward Orion Plaake; St.Regis senior Adam Ball, who is headed to Rocky Mountain College in Billings on a football scholarship, Coyle Nagy, a senior from Charlo and Nate Gates/Oldhorn, a 6-2 senior from Two Eagle River High in Pablo.

Superior placed five players on the girls all conference team, most among any school, while St. Regis had four players on the boys side the ledger.