State C Girls: Belt, Cascade, Saco hope to contend

Saco-Whitewater is the last Class C team to beat Belt's girls in a state tournament.

That was 2011 — and since the Huskies have won three straight state titles — but Belt coach Jeff Graham remembers the Panthers. Even if Graham didn't recall, his memory will be refreshed Thursday when the Huskies play newly formed co-op Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale in the first round of the state tournament at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.

"Tough matchup," Graham said. "Obviously they were good last year and they were one of the preseason favorites."

Graham's Huskies beat the Panthers 44-34 in last season's semifinal before dispatching Hinsdale in the championship 63-18. But the coach of the three-time defending champs said expectations weren't as high for his girls this time around.

"I think we surprised a lot of people this year," Graham said. "A lot of people counted us out when we lost six seniors."

Despite the loss of all that experience, Graham said there are some facets of the game, such as consistent jump shooting, that this year's squad does better. And these girls, though young (Belt has just one senior), have cut their teeth against the best.

"These kids have practiced against state championship teams since they were freshmen," Graham said. "… I don't think people realize how tough our practices are."

Kerstyn Pimperton (11.1 ppg) can shoot the jumper or attack the basket. She's joined in the backcourt by Addy Martin (9.4 ppg), Dani Urick (11.9 ppg) and Sara Anderson (43 percent from 3-point range), all of whom can knock down the 3. Urick, Kassie Hoyer and Dakota Romero do the majority of the work down low.

As for Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale, coach Amber Erickson brings a team to Missoula that is looking to prove something. The Panthers fell to Circle in the Eastern C tournament final Friday night.

"I actually think that they are mad and are more focused than they were coming into this tournament," said Erickson.

And last year's state tournament run was a disappointment as well. Erickson's squad slipped past Harlowton in the first round only to fall in back-to-back games to Belt and Winnett-Grass Range.

"We didn't really feel like we played to our potential last year at state," Erickson said.

The Panthers have learned from those disappointments, according to their coach.

"In any of these game moving forward, we can't afford to have two or three mistakes in a row," she said. "We can't afford to not box out every possession. We can't afford to not play defense."

That said, Erickson knows a first-round date with Belt isn't ideal.

"We know that we have to play one of our best games to beat Belt," she said. "… It's going to be a great first-round matchup, for sure."

Perhaps the best part of the matchup is that both teams delve deep into their benches. Erickson throws in 10 or 11 girls routinely while Graham has been known to send 13 to the floor, even in close games. The Panthers are led by standout guards Tatum Moore (19.8 ppg) and Keira Simonson while Larimie Scheffelmear and Kourtney Simonson hold down the frontcourt.

On the other side of the bracket, Northern C runner-up Cascade will have a tall task in 6-foot-1 Carroll College signee Hannah Dean and Gardiner in the first round. Badgers co-head coach Robin McKnight said her team enjoys the underdog role, though.

"We've been using the phrase 'under the radar' all season," McKnight said.

The District 10C champions ran through favored opponents in the divisional tournament, knocking off Roy-Winifred and Winnett-Grass Range in back-to-back days. A win over Chinook in Saturday's challenge game sent the Badgers to Missoula.

"A lot of it has to do with the type of kids we have," co-coach Roger Hatler said. "They get along well, and they do a lot of what it takes to be successful."

Cascade is led by four seniors in the starting lineup, highlighted by Elsie Carpenter, a workhorse in the post on both sides of the ball. Her mate in the frontcourt, sophomore Ember Schwindt, can also fill it up. Point guard Calies Ludvigson leads a strong corps of jump shooters.

The first-round date with Gardiner won't be an easy task, Hatler said.

"They also have some good perimeter players," he added. "… It's not just the Hannah Dean show."

The plan, like it was in Great Falls the weekend prior, will be to make the most of opportunity.

"Whatever they give us, that's what we're going to try to take advantage of," McKnight said.

That game tips off at 2 p.m., following the tournament opener of Eastern champ Circle and Southern runner-up Broadview-Lavina.

Southern division champion Park City takes on Twin Bridges at 6:30 p.m. to kick off the second session. Belt and Saco-Whitewater-Hinsdale follow at 8 in Thursday's finale.