St. Regis' Pruitt earn All-State honors

Had it not been for St. Regis, this year’s 14C conference basketball would have had a distinctive purple hue, aka Charlo’s Vikings.

The Lady Vikings from Charlo swept the conference regular season title and added the District 14C postseason tournament to its season haul, and placed two players on the All-State list, sophomore guard Sheadon Kain, and junior forward Seeley McDonald.

Only a similar performance by the St. Regis boys, regular season and District 14C tourney champs, kept it from being a very Charlo year.

Charlo had one player, senior guard Hayden Hollow, land a spot on the All-State list. But so did St. Regis in the form of senior forward John Pruitt.

Pruitt, arguably the best player in the conference, led the Tigers to a 9-1 conference record and a sweep of the District tournament, which included a number one seed in the Western C Divisional event.

Unfortunately for 14C fans, neither the Tigers’ boys or the Charlo girls advanced out of the Divisional and on to this weekend’s State Championship in Great Falls.

Nonetheless, several players from the seven 14C schools were rewarded for their outstanding play with All-District, Divisional and State individual honors.

In addition to Pruitt, who averaged around 20 points a game this year and was a devastating defender in Coach Jesse Allan’s swarming defense, the Tigers placed freshman point guard Conner Lulis on the District first-team. And Hollow was joined on the 14C all-star first team list by 6-5 senior post player Wesley Anderson.

The other boys District 14C first team spots went to Noxon junior forward Shane Murray, a force on both ends of the court scoring and rebounding, and speedy, athletic guard Malacye Piapot, a scoring machine for the Two Eagle River’s second place team.

Also making the District first team from TER was Jabez Madplume, a 6-4 senior forward.

The Eagles made it a trio on the All-District squad with the addition of Talon Addison to the second team.

Also on the boys’ second team list were a pair of Hot Springs Savage Heat, junior forward Nick McAllister, who battled a late season leg injury, and senior forward Quincy Styles-Depoe.

Alberton’s boys were represented by rangy sophomore forward Shea Fredette, who often led the team in scoring and rebounding. Noxon’s athletic junior forward Ricky Williams rounded out the squad as a second-teamer.

Hot Springs’ girls landed three players on the District first team list, including senior post Lauryn Aldridge, junior forward Brooke Jackson, and sophomore guard Kara Christensen.

That trio helped the Lady Heat to a second place regular season and District tournament showing. Rounding out the 14C first team was St. Regis diminutive but quick junior guard Shylah Dalka. The Lady Tigers also placed freshman forward Emma Gillette on the second team.

Topping off the girls all-star roster was TER sophomore Jodessa McGreevy, along with teammate Dayari Piapot.

Noxon placed senior forward Maygan Swanson on the second team.

The state Class C basketball season culminates this weekend in Great Falls.

    St. Regis junior guard Shylah Dalka, a first-team District 14C all star selection, dribbles past a Charlo player during a game earlier this season. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)
  

    St. Regis junior guard Shylah Dalka, a first-team District 14C all star selection, dribbles past a Charlo player during a game earlier this season. (Chuck Bandel/VP-MI)