The 2018 Seeley-Swan High School Lady Blackhawks. Back (L-R): Sariah Maughan, Olivia Reinitz, Jayla Kauffman, Autumn Morse, Klaire Kovatch, Ashley Miller, Madison Hinchey and Nicole Williams. Front (L-R): Bethany Hoag, Jordan Johnson, Taylor Dillree, Emma Stevenson and Trista Wendel.
Sophomores Bethany Hoag and Klaire Kovatch attempt to block a shot from Clark Fork in the first championship match. Kovatch had 16 stuff blocks in the tournament with 3 in each of the championship matches and she averaged 4 blocks per match peaking with 7 in the final match. Hoag's best match for blocking was the second match with Valley Christian where she had 6 blocks.
Senior Ashley Miller goes for one of her 10 digs against Clark Fork in the first championship match.
Senior Madison Hinchey gets under the ball for a dig in the first championship match. She had 9 digs in the match and averaged 8 digs per match throughout the tournament.
MISSOULA - The Seeley-Swan Lady Blackhawks punched their ticket to the Western C Divisional Tournament by taking second at the 13-C District Tournament last week. It was easier said than done as the Ladies took the long road after dropping their opening match to Valley Christian 25-16, 25-18, 17-25, 19-25 and 5-15.
Lady Blackhawks Head Coach Tammy Lewis said the loss to Valley Christian was a disappointment for the team. Instead of tearing each down over the loss, the girls pulled together and did something that doesn't happen very often. They fought their way up through the loser's bracket defeating Lincoln 25-17, 25-16 and 25-18, Darby 25-15, 25-15 and 25-13 and then Valley Christian 25-18, 25-21 and 25-19 for a shot at the championship.
The Ladies faced the number two seed Clark Fork who defeated Darby and Valley Christian to earn its place in the championship match.
The Lady Blackhawks were on a roll defeating every team in the losers' bracket in just three games each. They rolled right over Clark Fork in what would be the first championship match 25-15, 25-17 and 25-15.
With both teams having one loss each they had to play a second championship match just one hour later. It was the fourth match for the Lady Blackhawks that day. Despite that, Lewis said the team nearly pulled it off but ultimately had to settle for second after losing to Clark Fork in four games 18-25, 25-14, 22-25 and 17-25.
The Lady Blackhawks didn't go down without a fight and the stats show it. The Ladies had 92 digs and 43 kills, more than double the number of digs and kills of the first championship match. The team also had 15 blocks and 6 stuff blocks.
"In the locker room after the last championship match, they were exhausted. Bloody toes, bumps and bruises, taped up knees and ankles, these young women were warriors this weekend," said Lewis. "I could not have asked for anything more of them."
This week's tournament bracket is printed in the Cory's Valley Market ad on the back page of the Pathfinder. The Lady Blackhawks will face Gardiner in their opening match of the Western C Divisional Tournament at 4 p.m. Nov. 8 at Manhattan Christian in Manhattan, Mont.
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