The Lady Blackhawks celebrate their victory over Twin Bridges that set them up to challenge Plains for second place and a ticket to State. The Ladies beat Plains in the challenge game 35-31 Monday night. Pictured (L-R): Marisol Caro, Elizabeth Done, Delaney Holzworth, Cera Strumpfer, Tessa Grimes, Alex Bohlman, Mary Strumpfer, Ashley Miller, Eliana Robinett, Stephanie Robbins, Paige Holmes and Head Coach Shawn Holmes. Not pictured but part of the team, Stevi Meade.
Junior Alex Bohlman gets in the air for two of her 15 points against Twin Bridges.
Senior Delaney Holzworth takes a three-point shot. Holzworth hit 2, three-pointers on her way to 12 game points against Twin Bridges.
Senior Paige Holmes shoots for 3 against Ennis. Holmes sank 2, three-pointers on her way to scoring 16 game points.
Senior Marisol Caro puts up 2 of her 9 points against Ennis.
Junior Mary Strumpfer puts in a three-pointer in the game against Ennis.
HAMILTON - The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks are heading to State C Tournament after taking the long road to second place at the Western C Divisional Tournament last weekend.
The Lady Blackhawks won their opening game against White Sulphur Springs and advanced to the semifinals to face Arlee.
Arlee defeated the Lady Blackhawks in a close game and sent the Ladies to the losers' bracket.
The Lady Blackhawks started sending teams home. Ennis became their first victim. Then Twin Bridges, who has given the Lady Blackhawks losses in the previous four years of divisional tournaments, succumbed to the Ladies.
The victory over Twin Bridges guaranteed the Lady Blackhawks third place but more importantly, it opened up the possibility to challenge second place. The Lady Blackhawks' hopes were in the hands of Arlee.
Arlee did its part by defeating Plains in the championship game, 37-31, setting up the challenge game for second place.
The Lady Blackhawks prevailed over Plains. They earned a spot at the State C Girls Tournament and turned the losers' bracket into the scenic route.
The Ladies head to State sporting a 24-2 record.
Head Coach Shawn Holmes explained that at divisional and state levels all of the teams are good enough to win and it comes down to how they land in the brackets and how they play that day.
"At this point everyone is a good shooter," said Holmes. "It's about making the right basket at the right time."
This year's trip to State marks the first time the Lady Blackhawks have made it to State since the 2004-2005 season as a B school. Seeley-Swan High School reverted back to a C school in 2009.
For Holmes, in his tenth season as Head Coach, it is the first trip to State as Head Coach of the Lady Blackhawks.
The Lady Blackhawks will face Plentywood, the top team from the Eastern Division, in the opening round of the State Class C Girls Tournament in Great Falls March 10 at 8 p.m.
Versus White Sulphur Springs
The Lady Blackhawks took on White Sulphur Springs in the opening round of the divisional tournament Feb. 25.
The Ladies took an early lead in the game only to give it all back by the half. They headed into the second half trailing by one. The Lady Blackhawks retook the lead with a narrow margin in the third but were able to extend it to a 50-44 victory.
Paige Holmes led the Lady Blackhawks with 18 points. She made 2 of the teams 3, three-pointers.
Also scoring: Delaney Holzworth 7; Marisol Caro 6; Tessa Grimes 6; Stephanie Robbins 5; Alex Bohlman 4; Mary Strumpfer 2 and Eliana Robinett 2.
Versus Arlee
The Lady Blackhawks came up against Arlee in the semifinal round of the divisional tournament Feb. 26.
The teams went point for point most of the game with neither being able to build more than a four point advantage.
The Lady Blackhawks were having a hard time making shots stick. Shot after shot bounced off the rim. Even layups were bouncing out. The Ladies made less than 25 percent of their shots throughout the game and only hit one of more than a dozen three point attempts.
With just minutes to go, the Lady Blackhawks were trailing by two. Arlee started to slowly pull ahead forcing the Lady Blackhawks to start fouling in attempts to get the ball back.
The strategy didn't work as Arlee nailed their free throws and the Lady Blackhawks missed opportunities on their own possessions. Arlee hit 15 of 21 free throws in the final frame, pulling out of reach giving the Lady Blackhawks a 29-42 loss.
The Ladies were led by Alex Bohlman with 10 points. Paige Holmes added 8 while Delaney Holzworth had 7. The remaining 4 points came from Stevi Meade and Tessa Grimes.
Versus Ennis
The Lady Blackhawks' first loser out opponent was Ennis Feb. 27. The Ladies took an early lead, extended it to 14 by the half and never looked back. Ennis was sent home with the Lady Blackhawks' 51-35 victory.
Paige Holmes had 16 points to lead the Lady Blackhawks followed by Marisol Caro's 9 points and Delaney Holzworth's 8 points.
Also scoring: Alex Bohlman 7; Mary Strumpfer 4; Stephanie Robbins 2 and Tessa Grimes 2.
Versus Twin Bridges
The Lady Blackhawks faced Twin Bridges in the consolation game Feb. 27.
The Lady Blackhawks struck first with Delaney Holzworth sinking a three-pointer just over a minute in. The rest of the game Twin Bridges would spend playing catch up. They managed to tie it a couple of times but never could overtake the Lady Blackhawks.
The game went down to the wire with Twin Bridges trailing by only one in the final minute of play.
The Lady Blackhawks held on to the end for a 39-35 victory and a chance to challenge second place in the tournament.
Alex Bohlman led the Lady Blackhawks with 15 points followed by Delaney Holzworth with 12. Paige Holmes added 8 of her own while Tessa Grimes and Stevi Meade each had 2 points.
Versus Plains
The Lady Blackhawks challenged Plains for second place in the divisional tournament Feb. 29 after working their way up through the loser's bracket.
Plains jumped to a four-point lead in the first quarter but Lady Blackhawks were able to fight back to within one by the half and were tied up going into the final quarter.
The Lady Blackhawks overtook Plains and in the closing minutes were able to hold them off. The final score was 35-31 and earned the Lady Blackhawks a spot at State.
Delaney Holzworth led the Lady Blackhawks with 11 points. She hit a pair of three-pointers and hit 3 of 4 free throws.
Also scoring: Tessa Grimes 6; Paige Holmes 6; Marisol Caro 4; Alex Bohlman 4; Eliana Robinett 2 and Stevi Meade 2.
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