Conference play is in full gear on Montana’s high school basketball courts with most of the non-conference schedule already in the books. While many teams have established themselves as contenders during the first third of the season, the conference slate further separates those contenders from the pretenders.
Zero undefeated teams remain in Class AA and just two remain in Class A (Hamilton and Hardin) and Class B (Bigfork and Colstrip). Class C features five undefeated teams in Arlee, Gardiner, Heart Butte, Melstone and Scobey.
Records don’t tell the whole story, though. Strength of schedule and margin of victory matter, so MontanaSports.com is unveiling its first power polls of the season. Updated rankings will be released every Sunday through the rest of the regular season.
The first rankings of the 2017-18 season are below. The girls power polls can be found here.
*Records as of Jan. 8
Class AA
1. Bozeman (6-1)
2. Missoula Hellgate (4-1)
3. Missoula Sentinel (5-1)
4. Billings Senior (4-2)
5. Great Falls High (6-1)
Class A
1. Hamilton (9-0)
2. Hardin (8-0)
3. Billings Central (5-2)
4. Butte Central (7-1)
5. Livingston (6-2)
Also receiving votes: Lewistown, Browning.
Class B
1. Bigfork (8-0)
2. Colstrip (9-0)
3. Rocky Boy (6-1)
4. Florence (6-2)
5. Roundup (7-1)
Also receiving votes: Three Forks, Anaconda, Big Timber.
Class C
1. Arlee (8-0)
2. Manhattan Christian (7-1)
3. Melstone (8-0)
4. Scobey (8-0)
5. Heart Butte (8-0)
Also receiving votes: Fairview, Sunburst, Chinook.
