GREAT FALLS — When the Great Falls High boys basketball team is successful, it’s a safe bet you can find the name Torgerson all over the box score.
Last year, it was oldest brother Kody running point for the Bison. He’s now playing football at Montana Tech. This year his younger brother Kyle is starting for Great Falls High and running the offense.
“Kyle’s done a great job for us,” said Bison coach Bob Howard. “He started off the year as everyone did, trying to get used to playing all the time. He competes, gets as many offensive rebounds as anyone on our team. He’s been shooting the ball pretty well and he’s been really taking care of it.”
Kyle, a junior who is averaging 11.2 points over the last eight games, is loving his first season a full-time varsity player.
“It’s been a really good experience so far,” he said. “We play good as a team and I think everyone stepped up in their roles and positions, and I thought we’ve been doing well so far. And our coaches do a good job of getting us together and planning out our game plan and what we’re going to do – and we’ve executed it pretty well so far.”
And the Torgerson pipeline doesn’t stop there. Youngest brother Levi has cracked the varsity roster as a freshman, and if you’ve heard the name before, it might be connected to a 2017 viral video from a Teacher/Student game at North Middle School.
🗣 EXPOSE HIM pic.twitter.com/gxBnsN7OWX
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) April 16, 2017
The play went viral on social media, making Levi an internet star before ever setting foot in high school.
“It was my study hall teacher and he was guarding me and he said he was going to guard me and he was a pro soccer player and I didn’t even try to cross him up,” recalled Levi. “I just crossed over and he fell over a little bit and I made a shot and I just saw everyone go crazy and was just like, ‘Wow.’”
Several national outlets shared the video on social media.
“I had a big smile on my face,” Levi said. “It was a really weird feeling, I’d see someone else go viral and see a million people see that video and the fact that it was me was crazy.”
No question the Torgersons are talented, but their skills come from a lifetime of going up against each other in an extremely competitive, and supportive, household.
“Kody pushes us,” said Kyle. “He’s been to all of our games so far. He’s probably one of our biggest fans. … Levi does a really good job, as well. He practices really well and he pushes himself, and Kody pushes us to be better.”
But the ultimate goal is to be known for more than just a last name or viral fame.
“That’s my high school goal, is to win a state championship,” Levi said. “That would be one of the biggest accomplishments of the Torgerson family at home. Hopefully next year or even this year, we’ve been having a good season. I think we have a chance at it.”
