CHICAGO — Missoula Sentinel senior Sam Beighle has been named the Montana Gatorade boys basketball player of the year, the organization announced Thursday.
Beighle, a 6-foot-3 guard/forward, has helped lead the Spartans to a 17-3 record this season, including a win in last week’s Western AA divisional tournament. Sentinel opens up the state tournament against Billings Senior at 8 p.m. Thursday at Rimrock Auto Arena.
Beighle averaged 22.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals through the regular season and divisional tournament. A four-time all-conference selection, Beighle was named MVP of the divisional tournament. He was an all-state choice last season.
“Beighle has dominated this basketball season, leading AA in scoring and shooting a high percentage,” said Kalispell Flathead coach Ross Gustafson. “He’s also a great rebounder, passer and defender. There’s no more complete player.”
Beighle will continue his career at Carroll College, where Sentinel assistant coach Andy Garland starred from from 2008-11. Garland is the only other Sentinel player to receive the Gatorade award.
Brendan Howard of Great Falls High won the award the past two years.
