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Full Court Press: Montana high school basketball highlights (Dec. 13)

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Full Court Press: Montana high school basketball highlights (Dec. 13)


Editor’s Note: To have games included here, submit scores and scoring details to 406mtsports.myteamscoop.com. The Full Court Press is updated as we receive results.

BOYS

Class AA

• Missoula Hellgate 45, Billings Senior 40: Zane Gillhouse scored 14 points and Spencer Wayland had 13 as the Knights earned the road win in Billings to open their season. 

Class A

• Dillon 55, Bigfork 51: The Beavers opened their season building a 37-20 halftime lead and fending off a fourth-quarter rally from the Vikings. Kyler Engellant rang up 18 points, and Braxtyn Turney and Will Hansen tallied 11 points apiece. Cohen Hartman chipped in with seven.  

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• Miles City 55, Laurel 42: The Cowboys picked up their first win of the season, holding off the Locos. Krew Hunter was tops for Laurel with 14 points. Preston Poser tallied nine points, Griff Weisenberger netted eight and Landon Breen seven. No stats were reported for Miles City.

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• Lewistown 64, Libby 37: The Golden Eagles rebounded from their season-opening loss to Hardin, with Kason Brown pouring in 24 points. Chaz Walsh hit for 11, McKay Shobe netted 10 and Dash Ruff nine. No stats were reported for Libby.

Hamilton 57, Ronan 55: Canaan Magness had a monster game, dropping 27 points, and the Broncs’ 23-13 run in the third quarter gave them a seven-point lead heading into the final stanza; the Chiefs held them to just eight points down the stretch but couldn’t pull out the win. Tyler Jette scored 10 points, and Landon Wetzel and Jake McCarthy added nine points apiece.

• Glendive 63, Livingston 31: Ethan Rivas led all scorers with 19 points. Shann McPherson scored 12 and Levi Eaton had 10. No stats were reported for Livingston.

• East Helena 76, Hardin 69: DeonDray Ellis scored 26 points to lead all scorers as the Vigilantes took down the Bulldogs. Slade Olson and Talen Thatcher each chipped in 19 for East Helena. Antonio Espinoza led Hardin with 21 points as Jared Killsback scored 17, Jonathon Takes Enemy scored 14 and Lamont Hogan had 11.

Class B

• Glasgow 72, Big Timber 39: The Scotties grabbed a 25-6 lead in the opening quarter and went on to even their record at 1-1. Brock Johnson was a force in defeat for Big Timber, draining 23 points. Zach Cowell and Andy Anderson provided six points apiece. No stats were reported for Glasgow.

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• St. Ignatius 76, Hays-Lodgepole 48: Lex LaFrombois shot the lights out, draining 37 points, and the Bulldogs had their way with the Thunderbirds. Vinny Shepherd tallied 15 points, Harlon Leishman eight and Jason Leishman seven.

• Eureka 63, Chinook 54: Kyler Kossman lit it up with 20 points, Tyce VanOrden hit a pair of treys and tallied 15 points, and Rowan Burow was good on two 3-pointers and finished with 11 for the Lions, who opened up an eight-point lead in the second quarter and held the Beeters at bay. Carson Nissen hit a pair of threes and tallied 18 points to lead Chinook. Ryan Bell rang up 15 points and Landen Beck supplied 12. 

• Arlee 65, St. Ignatius 49: The Warriors won their second straight, breaking away in the second quarter on a 17-7 run. Lex LaFrombois couldn’t be stopped, hitting 25 points in a losing effort for Mission. Jason Leisham added nine points and Vinny Shepherd eight. No stats were reported for Arlee.

• Joliet 72, Lockwood JV 36: Jake Cook went off for 26 points, Kaden Juhnke tallied nine, and Camden McQuillan, Carter Williams and Brody Anderson netted six points apiece for the J-Hawks in their season opener. Ten players reached the scoring column.

• St. Labre 77, Park City 46: The Braves won their opener with plenty of firepower, scoring 42 points in the second quarter. Mason Tilzey led the Panthers in defeat with18 points, Garett Harper scored eight and Braedyn Jergens six. Fydel Flying scored 17 points, Morgan Hugs Jr. scored 14, Kaiden Pryor scored 12 and Tyler Medicine Bull had 11 for St. Labre.

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• Lone Peak 46, Anaconda 38: The Rams won their third straight, falling behind 28-20 at intermission, then scoring 26 in the second half while holding the Copperheads to just 10 points. Ebe Grabow and Isaac Bedway poured in 15 and 12 points, Ryan Malinowski hit for nine and Oliver McGuire chipped in with six. No stats were reported for Anaconda.

• Stillwater Christian 81, Cut Bank 41: Micah Strobel led all scorers with 24 and Elijah Linn chipped in with 23 up in at the Coyote Classic in Shelby. Ryan Buzzard added 15. The Wolves (0-3) were led by Greg Coy‘s 14 points.

• Fairfield 63, Thompson Falls 47: Deron Lear scored 24 points as Reed Von scored 21 as they led the Eagles over the Blue Hawks in Shelby. Thompson Falls’ Bryson LeCourse scored 17 and Sam Burgess scored 10.

• Malta 79, Florence 47: Bohdi Brenden went off for 25 to lead four Mustangs in double figures. Kazner Oxarart had 13, Kruis Stiles had 11 and Treyton Wilke added 10. The Falcons were led by Brody Duchien‘s 15 points.

• Roundup 46, Reed Point-Rapelje 40: Ben Broyles scored 24 to lead the Renegades as they came up just short against the Class B Panthers. No stats were reported for Roundup.

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• Jefferson 79, Shepherd 63: The Panthers came from behind in the fourth quarter to earn the win against the Mustangs, outscoring them 23-13. They were led by a balanced attack from Tyler Frydenlund (16), Kellen Meredith (16), Hunter Stevens (15) and Wyatt Geier (12). Shepherd’s Nate Reynolds scored 17 to lead all scorers, but was supported by Billy Hugs (15), Karson Gamradt (14) and Brayden Cook (10) with double figures.

• Three Forks 62, Drummond 24: The Wolves got off to a strong start with 10 players in the scoring column. Kanon Reichman led all scorers with 12 for the Wolves and Michael James led the Trojans with nine.

• Deer Lodge 62, Twin Bridges 43: Brody Hunter led the Wardens with 19 and Gideon Rubink had 17 as they defeated the Class C Falcons. No stats were reported for Twin Bridges.

• Plains 57, Two Eagle River 47: A 21-point third quarter output helped the Horsemen top Two Eagle. Darren Standeford scored 17, Zayden Allen had 11 and Wyatt Butcher scored 10 for Plains. No stats were reported for Two Eagle River.

Class C

• Circle 57, Winnett-Grass Range 55: The Wildcat boys improved to 3-0 on the year, coming out on top in a wire-to-wire thriller versus the Rams. Owen Beery posted 21 points to lead Circle. Xavier Nasner hit for 12, Duke Williamson eight and Kash Ereaux seven. Jace Bantz poured in 20 points to lead the Rams, with Wyatt Melton hitting for 14 and Randy Olson 12.

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• Nashua 77, Wolf Point JV 33: Bubba Pugh scored 51 points — that’s not a typo — on 19-for-23 shooting, including four three-pointers. Noah Leckie tallied 11 points and Charlie Kaasa hit a pair of treys to finish with six points. Damari Martinez and Jesse Forte netted 11 points apiece to lead the Wolf Point JV.

Bridger 47, Broadus 42: Gage Goltz dropped 20 points to carry the Scouts in a game that was close all the way. Cade Stringari contributed eight points and Tyrell Klaassen six. Zach Jones paced the Hawks with 12 points. Baylor Kuhbacher scored 10 and Brock Gali nine. 

• Ekalaka 70, Huntley Project JV 43: Ethan Mellon rang up 16 points, Roger Beach scored 11, Eldon Morris 10 and Cace Loehding nine for the Bulldogs.

• Brockton 88, Frazer 43: Quannah First That Walks led four players in double figures with 18 points as the Warriors rolled past the Bear Cubs for their first win of the season. Miles Boxer Jr. rang up 15 points, and Ronnie Blackdog and Colter Nygard hit for 11 points apiece. Jarid Fasthorse Jr. and Kameron Rattling Thunder contributed nine points each, with Josh Firemoon adding eight points. 

• Plevna 62, Absarokee 57 (2OT)Jordan Paul tallied 17 points to lead five players in double figures, with Kaeden Oberlander hitting for 14, Samuel May 11, and Tristan Buerkle and Weston Buerkle scoring 10 points apiece in a game that was neck-and-neck all the way. The Cougars won the second overtime period 8-5. Jaxon Gallagher scored 20 to lead the Huskies as Jenson Rowdy and Garrett Ferster contributed 12 and 10 apiece.

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• Lustre Christian 70, Manhattan 37: Joel Reddig and Johnslee Pierre were double trouble with 15 points apiece, and the Lions put five players in double figures, blowing out the Class B Tigers. Cam Reddig and Byron Ewing hit for 12 points apiece, Prestyn Klatt netted 10 and Diek Olfert contributed seven. 

• Custer-Hysham 63, Froid-Lake 24: Wyatt Kirby and Layne Duncan both scored in double figures for the Rebels with 22 and 21 respectively as they held the Redhawks to just 13 through the first half. Rylan Young was the high scorer for Froid-Lake with eight total.

• Savage 58, Wibaux 28: Hunter Sanders scored 24 for the Warriors as they took down the Longhorns. Adden Erickson added 11. No stats were reported for Wibaux.

• Scobey 83, Plentywood 61: John Carney scored 44 for the Spartans as they topped the Wildcats. Bram Handran added 17 as eight Spartans got into the scoring column. Stats were incomplete for Plentywood.

• Chester-Joplin-Inverness 62, Highwood 37: The Hakws ran out to a 35-12 lead by halftime and never let up as they ran past the Mountaineers. Ryland St. John scored 26 for the Hawks, Elijah Sanders added 15 and Dane Grammar had 11. No stats were reported for Highwood.

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• Broadview-Lavina 62, Roberts 47: Connor Glennie scored 25 to lead the Pirates as Carter Erickson chipped in 16 and Garrett Contway added 10. No stats were reported for Roberts.

• Manhattan Christian 70, Whitehall 22: Five Eagles scored in double figures as they raced past the Class B Trojans. Christian Triemstra scored 14, Rance Hamilton had 14, Andrew Kimm had 11, and Carter Van and Isaac Hoekema chipped in 10 apiece. The Trojans were led by Trent Larson‘s 10 points.

• West Yellowstone 67, Seeley-Swan 48: Ben Hales scored 28 points as the Wolverines took down the Blackhawks. Noa Flores had 14, Damian Ramales had 11 and Quincy McCracken scored 10 for West Yellowstone. Seeley-Swan’s Blake Irwin scored 18 for the Blackhawks.

• Alexander, ND 48, Terry 38: Landen Schilling led the Terriers with 12 points as they came up just short against Alexander.

• Dillon JV 62, Gardiner 41: Parker Wyman and Franklin Lewis had 13 points each for the Bruins.

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GIRLS

Class A

• Ronan 44, Hamilton 26: Lauryn Buhr netted 14 points, Kailyn Marengo hit for eight and Ally Luedtke added seven for the Maidens. Ashlynn McKern carried the Broncs with 16 points.

Corvallis 40, Whitefish 35: Ella Varner knocked down 20 points to go with eight rebounds and seven steals, and the Blue Devils, who trailed 25-13 at intermission, came alive in the second half, outscoring the Bulldogs 27-10, including a 16-6 run in the fourth quarter to put the game away. 

• Glendive 39, Livingston 36: The Red Devils (2-1) snuck past the Rangers at home. Sari Murphy and Ava Amlser led Glendive with 12 and 11 points respectively. Maria Turck had 17 points for the Rangers to lead all scorers and Chase Vermillion added 12. 

• Hardin 80, East Helena 49: Hardin’s 25-7 first quarter set the tone as they rolled past the Vigilantes. Kevee Rogers scored 26 to lead all scorers as Karis Brightwings-Pease (14), StarryKnight Round Face (11)  and Taylor Slater 10) all joined her in double figures for the Bulldogs. Janelle Taylor put up 18 to lead East Helena.

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• Dillon 39, Bigfork 37: The Beavers held off a late charge by the Valkyries in Frenchtown for their first win of the season. Kyle Konen led all scorers with 13 points for the Beavers. Braeden Gunlock and Paeten Gunlock led Bigfork with 12 and 11 points respectively. 

Class B

• Ennis 50, Choteau 25: Marisa Snider was unstoppable, scoring 29 of the Mustangs’ 50 points as they doubled up the Bulldogs. Mikayla Ledgerwood added seven points and Brooke Hoyer four.

• Columbus 46, Colstrip 38: Avayah OldMouse rang up 12 points, and Brookley Ewing and Mykal Anderson scored nine and eight points in a losing effort for the Fillies (2-1). No stats were reported for Columbus.

• Darby 55, Valley Christian 32: Hadley Heiland shot the lights out with 24 points and Natalie Anderson delivered 17 for the Lions, with Georgia Fisher providing seven. Avery Johnson led the Eagles with eight points, and Carmandee Coghlan and Sydney Schneider added seven points apiece.

Chinook 73, Eureka 31: Alexus Seymour poured in 27 points, Brooke Fetter tallied 15 and Hannah Schoen 11 as the Beeters rolled to a lopsided win, their second of the year. The Lions were led by Haidyn Guickenberg’s 10 points. Brynn Miller and Brynn Kossman contributed five points apiece.

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• Troy 76, Alberton 33: 10 Trojans made the scoring column with three players notching double figures as they held Alberton to just 12 points in the second half. Arya Ray led all scorers with 16 points for the Panthers. Addyson Fisher led the Trojans with 15, eighth grader Olivia Hall scored 12 and Kyle Cole added 10 for Troy.

• Stillwater Christian 72, Cut Bank 27: Jolisa Pond scored 32 and Katherine Paolini scored 23 to lead Stillwater Christian past the Wolves in Shelby. Elsa Overstreet led Cut Bank with 10.

• Fairfield 64, Thompson Falls 28: Natalie Harrell  and Kenzie Allen scored 14 points each to lead the Eagles past the Blue Hawks as nine players made the scoring column. Gabi Hannum had 15 points for Thompson Falls.

• Fairview 55, Red Lodge 15: The Warriors ran out to a 20-4 first quarter lead and never looked back. Maycee Garmann scored six points for the Rams. No stats were reported for Fairview.

• Malta 63, Florence 46: Denvyr Tuss scored 14, Kendall Clausen scored 13 and Neva Jacobson scored 12 as the M-ettes took down the Falcons. Kendyl Meinhold and Kenzy Pickering led the Falcons with 11 points apiece.

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• Huntley Project 71, Poplar 23: The Red Devils raced past Poplar led by Paige Lofing‘s 23-point outing. Haedyn Simonson had 16 and Sannah Windy Boy added 12 for Huntley Project. No stats were reported for Poplar.

• Big Timber 54, Glasgow 43: Laney Ketcham scored 29 points to lead the Herders past the Scotties. No stats were reported for Glasgow.

• Shepherd 51, Jefferson 33: Molly Gilbert led all scorers as she chipped in 15 points for the Fillies. Lexie Dennison had 12 and Lauren Anderson had 10. The Panthers’ were led by the dual 10-point efforts from Michaela Morris and Cameron Toney.

• Three Forks 42, Drummond 23: The Wolves outscored the Trojans 20-2 in the first quarter and held Drummond to single-digits in each quarter. Kimber Parsons scored 16 points to lead the Trojans. No individual stats were reported for Three Forks.

• Missoula Loyola 60, Browning 55: The Breakers took down Class A Browning in Frenchtown led by Spencer Laird‘s 22 points. Sammy McHugh and Drew Lamb added 10 points apiece for the Breakers. Shaylee Heavy scored 19 for Browning as Teslin Trombley added 11 and Josephine Michael added 10.

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Plains 61, Two Eagle River 12: Eleven Trotters players found the scoring column as they took down Two Eagle River. Mila Rivinius led Plains with 11 as Ava Lawyer added 10. Lexis Sparks and Emma Spotted Eagle had four points each for Two Eagle River.

• St. Ignatius 66, Arlee 13: St. Ignatius ran out to a 33-6 lead in the first quarter. Sheadon Kain had 13 points as both Cora Matt and Madison Incashola each chipped in 10 for the Bulldogs as they took down the Scarlets. 

Class C

• Melstone 43, Roy-Winifred 33: Abby Boyd hit for 12 points and Avery Eike 10 to lead the Broncs past the Outlaws. Emma Myhre and Maggie Eike chipped in with five points apiece. Lyla Ewen paced the Outlaws with 12 points. Claire Wickens tallied eight points and Hannah Ewen seven.

• Brockton 82, Frazer 23: No one is looking past the Warriors this year. In three games, all victories, they’ve outscored their opponents 227-60. Against the Frazer Bear Cubs, Tamryn Bauer dominated with 27 points, Quintana Young poured in 21 and Marlene Fish 18, with Ava Lone Bear contributing nine.

• Savage 53, Wibaux 26: The Warriors upped their record to 4-0 behind 19 points from Cambry Conradsen, with Taylor Conradsen scoring nine and Miley Pilgeram eight. KD Lyons and Aspen Peterson contributed six points apiece.

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Custer-Hysham 52, Froid-Lake 32: Tavee Duncan hit for 18 points, Reagan Fink tallied 13 and Teagen Ruff six for the Rebels, who improved to 2-1. Brooklyn Nordwick led the Redhawks with 11 points and Isabelle Nordwick chipped in with eight points. 

• Shields Valley 43, Townsend 35: Nicki Swandal drained 17 points and Gaige Taylor had her back with 16 for the Rebels in their takedown of the Class B Bulldogs. Shayne Taylor added eight points.

• Broadus 51, Bridger-Belfry-Fromberg 42: The Hawks (2-1) won their second straight, sending the Scouts to 0-3. MacKenzie Griffin led the Scouts in defeat with 14 points. Abby Schwend and Sidney Frank tallied nine points apiece, and Delaney Klaassen netted eight. No stats were reported for Broadus.

• Plevna 37, Absarokee 31: Brylee Swarts did the heavy lifting on offense for the Cougars, pouring in 20 points. Emma Thielen provided six points and Hayden Lane added five.

• Fort Benton 50, Hobson-Moore 33: The Longhorns opened their season with Lilly Ferris earning top scoring honors with 16 points. Alexis Clark hit for 12 points, Ang Riener nine and Addison Reichelt eight. Peyton French netted 16 points to lead the Titans. Kate Martin provided nine points and Lauren Deegan four.

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• Plentywood 44, Scobey 40 (OT): Mallory Tommerup scored 24 points as the Wildcats took down the Spartans in overtime. April McCabe scored 11 to help. Scobey’s Kennadi Cromwell scored 13 points to lead the Spartans.

• Lustre Christian 40, Manhattan 30: Kencia Brown scored 21 points to lead the Lions past the Class B Tigers. No stats were reported for Manhattan.

Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale 72, Centerville 20: The defending champions took down the Miners in Lewistown. Shelbi LaBrie led the Mavericks with 21 points and Emerson Downing chipped in 14 as 10 players found the scoring column. No stats were reported for Centerville.

• Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine 57, Circle 50: The Bearcats earned their first win of the season by taking down the Wildcats in Lewistown. Madeline Moline scored 28 points and Allie Kountz chipped in 15 for Circle. No stats were reported for DGSG.

Chester-Joplin-Inverness 54, Augusta 21: Bynn Kammerzell led the Hawks with 20 points as the Hawks took down the Elks. Brie Mattson added 11. No stats were reported for Augusta.

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Reed Point-Rapelje 40, Roundup 33: Carlie Hertweck scored 15 points to lead the Renegades past the Class B Panthers. No stats were reported for Roundup.

Manhattan Christian 57, Whitehall 35: The Eagles used a balanced effort across all four quarters as they took down the Class B Trojans. Bella Triemstra scored 24 to lead all scorers as Emily Strootman added 14 and Madelyn Skillman added 11 for the Eagles. Hope Nieskens and Julia Hoagland led the Trojans with 11 points each.

West Yellowstone 61, Seeley-Swan 28: Ari Spence scored 20 and Brookelyn Hales scored 16 to lead the Wolverines past the Blackhawks. No stats were reported for Seeley-Swan.

20-Point Club

37: Lex LaFrombois, St. Ignatius

32: Jolisa Pond, Stillwater Christian

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29: Laney Ketcham, Big Timber

29: Marisa Snider, Ennis

28: Ben Hales, West Yellowstone

28: Madeline Moline, Circle

27: Tamryn Bauer, Brockton

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27: Canaan Magness, Hamilton

27: Alexus Seymour, Chinook

26: DeonDray Ellis, East Helena

26: Kevee Rogers, Hardin

26: Ryland St. John, Chester-Joplin-Inverness

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25: Bohdi Brenden, Malta

25: Connor Glennie, Broadivew-Lavina

25: Lex LaFrombois, St. Ignatius

24: Ben Broyles, Reed Point-Rapelje

24: Hadley Heiland, Darby

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24: Kason Brown, Lewistown

24: Deron Lear, Fairfield

24: Hunter Sanders, Savage

24: Micah Strobel, Stillwater Christian

24: Mallory Tommerup, Plentywood

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24: Bella Triemstra, Manhattan Christian

23: Brock Johnson, Big Timber

23: Elijah Linn, Stillwater Christian

23: Paige Lofing, Huntley Project

23: Katherine Paolini, Stillwater Christian

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22: Spencer Laird, Missoula Loyola

22: Wyatt Kirby, Custer-Hysham

21: Kenecia Brown, Lustre Christian

21: Layne Duncan, Custer-Hysham

21: Antonio Espinoza, Hardin

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21: Shelbi LaBrie, Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale

21: Quintana Young, Brockton

20: Brynn Kammerzell, Chester-Joplin-Inverness

20: Brylee Swarts, Plevna

20: Ari Spence, West Yellowstone

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20: Ella Varner, Corvallis

20: Jace Bantz, Winnett-Grass Range

20: Kyler Kossman, Eureka

20: Jaxon Gallagher, Absarokee

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Montana

Montana’s youth climate activists aren’t stopping at their landmark court win – High Country News

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Montana’s youth climate activists aren’t stopping at their landmark court win – High Country News


Ripley Cunningham took the microphone and looked out at an audience of about 350 people in the echoey, ornate rotunda of Montana’s state Capitol, her favorite thrift-store flower pendant around her neck. It was January, the start of the legislative session, and the high school senior, a speech and debate star, was emceeing a statewide climate gathering. “I am comforted in knowing that we have an interconnected community of people fighting for the future of our home,” she said. Cunningham, who’d just turned 18, added that she’d not yet been able to vote in an election, but “being here today helps me realize the power that my voice carries and the change that it can create.” 

Cunningham and five other members of Green Initiative, a student climate club at Park High School, a public school in Livingston, Montana, had driven hours along icy, wind-drifted roads to get here. Just weeks earlier, Montana’s Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling in favor of a group of young people who sued the state over its climate inaction in Held v. Montana. Now, state lawmakers had to implement that decision. As Cunningham spoke, the Green Initiative members who were in the audience hoisted a massive sign: “PROTECT OUR HOME.”

Livingston, population about 9,000, is located in a fossil fuel-driven, Republican-led state whose leaders are working to quash any action to slow climate change. But Park High’s Green Initiative is an incubator for climate action, and these students aim to show those in power that there’s still a groundswell of resistance. 

“I am comforted in knowing that we have an interconnected community of people fighting for the future of our home.”

Nearly 50 students have come through Green Initiative since the program began in 2017. Former science teacher Alecia Jongeward — who still sponsors the club, though she’s left teaching — started it by sorting through the school’s trash for recyclables with students. They won a small grant to get recycling bins at the school. Then they won more grants and awards, including one for a feasibility study from the state for solar panels on the school that led to the installation of the panels themselves. Members have performed climate-related monologues and held “trashion” shows to highlight sustainable clothing. They’ve served on a state-appointed committee to help Montana review its environmental policies and organized and attended protests. The inaugural statewide climate summit they hosted drew dozens of students from across Montana. Last year, they even won a $400,000 grant from the federal government for electric school buses.

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Perhaps most visibly, a Green Initiative participant was one of the 16 plaintiffs in Held who alleged that, through its fossil fuel-centric policies, the state was violating their constitutionally enshrined right to “a clean and healthful environment.” In particular, they challenged a rule related to the Montana Environmental Policy Act, or MEPA, that excluded the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions from environmental reviews. 

In summer 2023, the case went to trial. Over the course of a week, young people and climate experts took the stand. Home-schooled Green Initiative participant Eva Lighthiser recalled recent climate-related catastrophes that affected Livingston: a parasite outbreak on the Yellowstone River, a historic flood, and oppressive, depressing smoke from wildfires summer after summer. “I felt like I needed to take action, and this felt like a way to do it,” she testified. 

In August 2023, the judge ruled against the state, which appealed to the Montana Supreme Court. When the court affirmed the ruling in December, Held became the first case in the country in which youth sued the government over climate change — and won.

“IT GAVE ME a lot of hope that we are going to be able to make independent change within our community and, hopefully, within the state,” said Jorja McCormick, a Green Initiative member who loves hiking and embroiders her own shoes. But the pushback came fast. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and Gov. Greg Gianforte, both Republicans, released statements saying the Supreme Court decision would hurt Montana’s economy and lead to endless litigation.

Now, lawmakers have to figure out how to incorporate the decision into the state’s environmental reviews. Republican legislators introduced a suite of bills to reshape such reviews in this year’s legislative session. Proposed laws would exclude whole categories of projects from MEPA, remove language that requires reviews to analyze long-term impacts, strike a sentence that connects MEPA to protecting Montanans’ right to a clean and healthful environment, and prevent the state from implementing air quality standards stricter than the federal government’s. Another bill tackled the Held decision head-on, mandating that environmental reviews consider only “proximate” impacts. Imagine, say, a coal project on state land: The environmental analysis could include only emissions associated with the mining project itself, not the transport or burning of that coal. 

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“I felt like I needed to take action, and this felt like a way to do it.”

At the time of writing, the MEPA bills have strong Republican support and seem likely to pass. Asked about the bills at a press conference in February, Gianforte said, “I’m looking forward to getting them on my desk.” Montana Republicans also put forth dozens of bills designed to check what they describe as judicial overreach, in part inspired by the Held decision. In press conferences and podcasts, lawmakers dismissed the students behind the case as “activists” and “a bunch of little Greta Thunbergs.” 

The rhetoric and legislation in Montana echo the current federal approach to climate change. But Held paved the way for even larger, nationwide action: Our Children’s Trust, the nonprofit law firm that represented the Held plaintiffs, has active youth climate cases in Alaska, Hawai’i, Utah, Florida and Virginia, with the Held decision providing precedent that these cases can make it to trial, and win. And late last year, the young people pursuing Juliana v. United States appealed directly to the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their claims against the federal government. 

The Held case, Jongeward said, fueled the Green Initiative students’ commitment to local environmental action. One member, Oliver Zeman, is an avid kayaker focused on cleaning up local rivers. Home-schooler Anders Harrison is planning an upcoming community hiking trip. Cunningham, the speech and debate standout, is helping students across the state learn how to get involved in the legislative process. Green Initiative alumni have been valedictorians and received full-ride scholarships to college. “They’re amazing,” Jongeward told me. “It’s incredible to see the drive that young people can have if you just give them the platform.” 

At a recent meeting, Jongeward started things off with some tough news. The federal grant they’d been awarded for electric school buses was facing some school board opposition. The students, though, were ready to fight.

“I’ll go speak. I’ll go chew ’em out, Ms. J.,” Cunningham said. 

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The group was overflowing with ideas: They could write a letter, maybe submit it to the local newspaper, and compile air quality data on what the diesel emissions from the current buses mean for the area outside the school. The battle was far from over. (In fact, just before this story went to print, the school board approved the grant.)

McCormick reflected on the Held decision and the kids behind it. “I can get electric buses in our school system; that’s easy, compared to what they did,” she said. “(The case) set the bar, and now we just have to reach it.”   

Student members of the Green Initiative climate club meet in a Park High School classroom in Livingston, Montana, in March.
Student members of the Green Initiative climate club meet in a Park High School classroom in Livingston, Montana, in March. Credit: Louise Johns/High Country News

We welcome reader letters. Email High Country News at editor@hcn.org or submit a letter to the editor. See our letters to the editor policy.

This article appeared in the April 2025 print edition of the magazine with the headline “Checking in with Montana’s youth climate activists.”

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Montana

Weather Forecast: Heavy snow tonight in Southwest Montana

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Weather Forecast: Heavy snow tonight in Southwest Montana


MISSOULA — We are looking at an active weather pattern this week with scattered valley rain/snow and mountain snow each day through Thursday.

A strong system will bring widespread mountain snow to both mountains and valleys especially along and east of the Divide tonight into Tuesday.

Those with travel plans along I-90 east to Butte and Bozeman, MacDonald Pass to Helena and Rogers Pass to Great Falls should prepare for winter driving conditions tonight into Tuesday.

The valleys of Western Montana such as the Flathead, Mission, Missoula and Bitterroot will see mostly rain or a rain-snow mix each day through Thursday.

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High pressure builds to end the week as we transition into a warmer and drier weather pattern for the weekend.

Highs will be in the low to mid 50s Friday and Saturday then warm back into the mid and upper 60s Sunday into Monday of next week.

Watch the 24/7 StormTracker Weather stream below:





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Montana

Montana Lottery Lucky For Life, Big Sky Bonus results for March 30, 2025

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The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at March 30, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from March 30 drawing

19-20-27-36-39, Lucky Ball: 06

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from March 30 drawing

08-14-20-29, Bonus: 01

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Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
  • Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
  • Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

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Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us.



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