Basketball Players Recognized for Their Efforts

At the conclusion of the Montana high school basketball season, coaches submit their ballots to recognize all-conference and all-state athletes. Each district and division compile their own all-conference and all-state teams.

When the 2024-2025 District All-Conference selections were released on Monday, March 17, some may have credited the luck of the Irish backing those chosen. However, several Blaine County youth discovered their names on the award rosters for their genuine athleticism.

On the Girls' 1st Team from District 9C, Bridget Reed, a junior at Turner Public School, found her name, as did Kelcie Mount, another junior from Hays/Lodge Pole (HLP). A second HLP athlete, sophomore Shaydyn Blount edged her way onto the Girls' 2nd Team. With her stats, Reed also made the All-State Team.

On the boys' side for 9C, senior Carson Maloney earned a spot with the Boys' 1st Team, while two more seniors from Turner, Tate Beck and Caleb Zellmer achieved Boys' 2nd Team status. For their overall stats, Maloney and Beck additionally won All State Team honors.

In District 1B, senior Alexus Seymour from Chinook made the All-State Team, as well as All-Conference. Her teammate Hannah Schoen, another senior ball player, earned All-Conference First Team honors.

On the boys' side for 1B, All-Conference First Team honors went to Ryan Bell, a sophomore from Chinook.

Meanwhile from District 2B, two seniors won the vote. Aaraya Mount from Harlem attained First Team All-Conference status, and her teammate Gracie Sanchez made the Second Team.

For the boys in 2B, First Team All-Conference honors were bestowed upon Cody McCabe, a junior who plays for the Harlem Wildcats. His teammate, sophomore Tayden Cauliflower found himself on the list of Second Team picks.

In Montana, being selected to an "all-conference" high school basketball team means a player is recognized as one of the best players in his or her conference, chosen by opposing coaches based on their performance during the regular season.

Upon hearing of their selection, some of the athletes shared their thoughts. All three of the male athletes from the 9C considered their selection an honor, given the talent present in the 9C.

"When I first heard about being selected for the All-Conference and All-State Teams, I was shocked that I had won the award. Being awarded first team All-Conference as well as All-State is a pretty big honor to me because our district is pretty talented this year," Maloney said.

For his part, Zellmer stated: "My first thought when I learned about my All-Conference second-team selection was a mix of surprise and thankfulness. I was first surprised because of the vast amount of talent that the 9C boasts, so it is an honor to be selected among such talented athletes. I also am thankful because it marks a good closing to the end of my high school basketball career."

He went on to add, "It honestly means the world to me to be selected for an award that is so sought-after in a conference that has as much talent as it does. I am very grateful for the opportunity to compete in such a talented conference as the 9C."

Beck's sentiments echo those of the preceding Turner basketball players: "My thoughts upon hearing of my selection to the All-Conference 2nd Team once I found out was exciting and surprising because there are a lot of other talented 9C players that could have been picked as well. Being a senior and getting recognized for this achievement is an honor because it rewards all the time that I have put into the gym from when I was young to where I am now."

Finally, Reed expressed multiple emotions upon hearing the award news. "I was very excited and relieved to hear I had made first team All-Conference and even more excited discovering I had made All-State. This is my first time making it on the All-State team, and I am so grateful! This selection will motivate me to work hard this summer and next season to possibly earn this honor again."