Monday’s Regional Briefs

Klinker, Bray named MVPs of HIT

HAVRE – Lizzy Klinker of Fairfield and Devin Bray from Missoula Hellgate were tabbed as the Most Valuable Players of the Hi-Line Invitational Basketball Tournament, which wrapped up Saturday night at the Montana State-Northern Armory.

Klinker, a 6-foot senior, scored 19 points to help the Class B girls to the tourney title with a 76-70 win over the Class C girls.

Other area girls on the All-Tournament Team include Lizzy’s sister, Natlaie Klinker of Fairfield, Gabby Fought of Great Falls High, Morgan Mazurkiewicz of Havre and Angie Murnion from Winnett-Grass Range. Fought was the tourney’s leading scorer and the 3-point winner, Mazurkiewicz led all players in assists, Belt’s Sara Anderson took the steals title, while Anderson’s teammate Kassie Hoyer was named Miss Hustle.

Bray, a 5-9 senior, had 39 points for Class AA in their 99-96 come-from-behind win over Class A, leading the large school team from a 21-point deficit with six minutes left.

Koltin Haugrose of Belt, Dane Warp of Havre, Jason Thibault of Glasgow and Great Falls High seniors Matt Wyman and Lukas Vining were tabbed to the boys’ All-Tourney Team. Belt’s Parker McCafferty won the Mr. Defense award and shared the rebounding title with Laurel’s Zac Allen, Thibault won the 3-point contest and Brandon The Boy of Box Elder was the assist champion.

Griz softball swept at SacState

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Montana Griz softball team lost 9-1 to the Sacramento State Hornets on Sunday, after dropping both games on Saturday.

Montana (5-25, 1-5 BSC) fell 9-8 and 9-1 to the Hornets (16-17, 6-0 BSC) in a twinbill Saturday.

The Griz finished Sunday’s game with only two hits, compared to Sacramento State’s nine. The Grizzlies also finished the game with three errors.

Even in the five-inning loss, which was due to an eight-run rule, the Grizzlies were able to tally the first run of the game in the top of the third inning, when Gabby Martinez singled to left field bringing home Madeline Merritt.

But in the bottom of the third inning the Hornets’ offensive came alive, where they scored seven runs, on five hits. Montana committed two errors in the inning.

Kenzie Cole (3-12) was credited with the loss for the Grizzlies after allowing six runs on four hits, in 2.1 innings pitched. Cole finished the game with two strikeouts. Meggie Reitz also pitched in the loss, allowing five hits in 2.0 innings pitched.

Montana will return home next weekend to face North Dakota, with two games on April 3 and one game on April 4.