MCAA Basketball: Foothills girls in championship game

Adair Henning comes from a family familiar for its basketball talent, but that’s not why the high school junior enjoys Foothills Community Christian High so much.

“It’s because you know everyone in school,” she said. “Everyone has a personal reason to care about you, and that’s nice. Also there’s a long history here, so it’s all good.”

Henning’s family has a long legacy with Foothills basketball, which this weekend is the host program for the Montana Christian Athletic Association tournament. On Friday afternoon at Paris Gibson Education Center, the 6-foot-2 Henning scored 13 points as the Foothills girls defeated Yellowstone County Homeschool 48-32 in a semifinal game.

“It means a lot,” she said. “Our life revolves around basketball, especially in the winter, so it’s very important to us.”

The Foothills girls will meet Flathead Valley Homeschool of Kalispell, which defeated Billings Christian 62-37 in the other tournament semifinal Friday night. Forwards Lexi Ehlers and Karissa Williams scored 26 and 22 points, respectively, for Flathead Valley.

The championship game is slated for Saturday afternoon at 3 as the competition concludes at Paris Gibson.

Lissy Willekes had 13 points and Josey Lindseth added nine on Friday for the Foothills girls of coach Sydnie Fulbright. The Falcons improved to 22-1 this season.

“I’m so excited to be in the state championship,” Adair said.

For sure, the Henning family has provided many thrills for Foothills hoop fans over the years.

Adair’s older brother Emery Henning is a former Foothills and college basketball standout. He works for the U.S. Postal Service in Great Falls and serves as an assistant coach for the Falcon boys’ program.

Emery, 25, was a 6-foot-10 center who starred at Foothills and Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College before accepting a scholarship to play at NCAA Division II Montana State-Billings.

How did Foothills benefit his development?

“As a person it’s obvious, because it’s a Christian school,” Emery said. “You get the freedom to participate in a lot of things in a safe environment, which is probably the biggest thing when you’re at Foothills. Basketball-wise, I was able to get all the attention I wanted. And it was really good for a lot of other guys who might not have had the chance to play otherwise.”

Emery did not hesitate when asked whether he’d ever wondered about attending a larger school with more fanfare and fans, like Great Falls High or C.M. Russell High.

“Sometimes, yes,” he said. “Maybe it would have made a difference. Who knows? Maybe I wouldn’t have made it. There would have been a lot of competition, instead of me being 6-10 and guaranteed a spot at Foothills.”

Did Emery ever approach his folks, Bill and Lynda Henning, with a request to transfer?

“No,” he smiled. “I didn’t know any better at the time and I just loved Foothills so much.”

Emery and his younger brothers Baird, a former Montana State-Northern basketball player, and Claus played for the Falcons. So did sisters Brice, who is now on the women’s hoop team at the University of Great Falls, and Adair.

For two decades, Falcon head boys’ coach John Fried has been associated with Foothills basketball.

“I’ve been here since the program started 19 years ago,” Fried said. And then he smiled.

“This is the first year I haven’t had a Henning on my boys’ team.”

The family has contributed much more than points and rebounds.

“They’ve all had such great positive attitudes,” Fried said. “And great work ethics. When you needed something, they’re always there.”

Fried said young students – and student-athletes – are not left wanting by attending a small Christian school such as Foothills.

“It’s a great alternative or option,” Fried said. “It’s small. Classroom sizes are not over-crowded and the kids receive much individual attention. And our sports programs … well, you don’t take a penalty by being here. The kids get a lot of great options to grow and mature in both sports and academics.”

The Foothills girls will try to win a state championship on Saturday, capping a season that has included just one loss. Suffice it to say this is a weekend, and a season, that Falcon basketball fans won’t soon forget.

“No kidding,” Adair said with a huge smile.

The competition continues Saturday, starting with loser-out games at both Paris Gibson and Montana School for the Deaf and Blind.

“The good Lord gave us good weather so all the teams could get here and enjoy it,” Fried said. “We’re happy to host it and just hope more people come out and take advantage of it. We’ve got some great basketball teams here.”

Stillwater Christian 57, Heritage Christian 50 (lo)

Stillwater…15 15 16 11 - 57

Heritage…10 5 8 7 - 30

Stillwater: Serena Koch 16, Haleigh Schwartz 2, Adrianna Lambert 1, Dori Smith 17, Alicia Warricks 3, Lulu Neumann 3, Alisa Venman 2, Ramey Metzger 1, Helena Hashley 12. Totals: 23 9-21.

Heritage: Jordan Nuss 2, Taylor Remely 6, Nicole Shepherd 16, Beryl Wytcherley 6. Totals: 10 9-24.

3-pointers: Koch 2, Remely. Fouls: Stillwater 17, Heritage 20. Fouled out: Shea.

Helena Christian 53, Gallatin Valley Homeschool 35 (lo)

Helena…13 10 18 12 - 53

Gallatin…5 15 15 0 - 35

Helena: Haelynne Harlan 4, Faith Dobyns 1, Emma Kerttula 24, Noa Criddle 8, Leanne Johnston 1, Shelby Austin 15. Totals: 18 15-24.

Gallatin: Glenna Jacdos 3, Courtney Lieurance 18, Alina Jacdos 4, Mariah Flook 10. Totals: 10 15-17.

3-pointers: Kerttula 2. Fouls: Helena 18, Gallatin 19. Fouled out: Lieurance, Flook, Blair.

Foothills Christian 48, Yellowstone County Homeschool 32 (sf)

Foothills…7 12 11 18 - 48

Yellowstone…3 6 7 16 - 32

Foothills: Josey Lindseth 9, Janessa Willekes 7, Lissy Willekes 13, Keileigh Fulbright 4, Kenzie Houston 2, Adair Henning 13. Totals: 10 28-42.

Yellowstone: Molly Lundby 8, Hannah Thom 10, Rose Jones 7, Sophi Gillespie 7. Totals: 12 3-6.

3-pointers: Lundby 2, Thom 2, Gillespie. Fouls: Foothills 10, Yellowstone 21. Fouled out: Thom, Watson.

Flathead Valley Homeschool 62, Billings Christian 37 (sf)

Flathead…13 17 12 20 - 62

Billings…9 8 11 9 - 37

Flathead: Victoria Hansen 6, Heidi Schneller 3, Britney Howery 2, Karissa Williams 22, Lexi Ehlers 26, Priscilla Rajkowski 3. Totals: 27 4-10.

Billings:

3-pointers: Williams 2, Ehlers 2, Taylor, Wilmot, Bell 5. Fouls: Flathead 13, Billings 9. Fouled out: none.