Warriors win state championship crown

By Bill Vander Weele

Sidney Herald Perfection.

Fairview’s girls basketball squad capped off a 27-0 season with a 58-42 win over Saco-Whitewater in the Class C state championship game held in Great Falls Saturday.

“I’m so proud of these girls,” Fairview Coach Mark Thompson said after winning the championship. “They have come such a long way.”

After seeing their season come to an end in heartbreaking fashion at the divisional level in recent seasons, the Warriors posted a 9-0 mark in the post season this time around.

“I think the difference was we came together as a team,” Fairview’s senior standout Katie Hardy said. “There’s no ‘I’ in team.”

One individual stressing the team approach was Stephanie Murphy, a transfer student from Charlo. “Her experience really helped us,” Hardy said. Another who helped lead the Warriors was senior Erica Riedel.

After not having been to a state tournament before, Hardy explained the state title was especially sweet.

“It means so much that we can bring it back to our town and our community,” Hardy said.

The Warriors took control in the championship game by scoring the final 17 points of the second quarter for a 30-10 half-time advantage.

“Our defense and our intensity were the keys,” Thompson said. “Katie (Hardy) started to hit shots. Morgan (Klose) started to hit shots. And when they got it going, they got in going.”

The Warriors led by an 8-6 margin at the end of the first quarter thanks to a three-pointer by Jordan Gifford. After a basket off a rebound by Murphy and a three-pointer by Klose, the Panthers battled back to 13-10 with 6:11 left in the half.

Fairview’s man-to-man defense, however, held Saco-Whitewater scoreless the rest of the half.

Five straight points by Hardy put the score at 18-10. After a short jumper by Murphy, Klose nailed a three-pointer for a 23-10 lead at the 2:49 mark.

Hardy then scored again, this time off a pass from Gifford. After a steal and layup by Klose, Hardy connected from three-point range for a 20-point lead.

The full-court pressure by the Panthers caused some problems for Fairview in the third quarter. The margin was cut to 36-21 midway into the period. The Warriors responded with two free throws by Hardy and a hoop by Gifford off a pass from Hardy. The Warriors went on to take a 44-26 lead at the end of the third quarter.

A three-pointer by Jessica Davis pulled the Panthers to 46-31, but Fairview put the contest and the title away with seven of the next nine points including four by Gifford.

Klose led with 17 points followed by Gifford with 15, Hardy with 14 and Murphy with 10. Tiffany Kittleson celebrated her birthday with two points.

Hardy finished with 13 rebounds, and Murphy added nine. Klose finished with four assists.

Leading the Panthers were Macey Cox and Brianne Depuydt with 10 points each.

The victory marks Fairview’s second girls basketball state championship. The first came in 1984.

editor@sidneyherald.com