Johnston, Winslow, Kehr, Whitcomb co-MVPs of Northwestern A hoops

by The Daily Inter Lake
| March 29, 2019 11:19 PM

Libby’s Ryggs Johnston and Jayden Winslow, Ryley Kehr of Columbia Falls and Tyree Whitcomb of Browning are the co-Most Valuable Players for Northwestern A basketball for the 2018-19 season.

All four also were named to the Class A all-state and first-team all-Northwestern A conference teams in balloting by league coaches.

The other all-state and all-Northwestern A conference first-team selections are: (boys) Lee Walburn of Whitefish; (girls) Trista Cowan of Columbia Falls and Tamika Guardipee of Browning.

Also named first-team all-Northwestern A conference are: (boys) Dillon Botner of Whitefish, Riley Spoonhunter of Browning; (girls) Dulci Skunkcap of Browning.

Spoonhunter, Guardipee and Skunkcap are juniors, the other players are all seniors.

Johnston is a three-time all-state selection and a four-time first-team all-conference pick.

He was also the Northwestern A MVP last year.

Johnston scored 1,735 career points in four seasons, averaging 19.5 points per game. He is listed in the Montana High School Association records for:

n Most career 3-point field goals made (304) — the previous mark was 293.

n Best career free-throw percentage (84.5%) — the previous record was 83.7%.

n Second in free-throw percentage for a season (89.5%) — achieved during his junior year.

n Tied for third with most 3-point field goals in a game (11) — achieved that his sophomore year versus Missoula Loyola.

n Eighth in free throws made in a career (389).

n Ninth in free-throw percentage in a season (85.7%) — achieved that his senior year.

Walburn averaged 18 points per game this season, Botner 12 points and 10 rebounds, Whitcomb 18 points and 10 rebounds and Spoonhunter 13 points.

Winslow scored 1,033 points in her prep career.

Cowan averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds per game, Guardipee checked in with 15 points and 10 rebounds and Skunkcap averaged eight points and five rebounds.

Kehr averaged 17 points, seven rebounds, four assists and she led the state with 4.5 steals a game.

“She’s one of the best players, most complete players I’ve ever coached,” Columbia Falls veteran coach Cary Finberg said.

“She did a lot for us, The best part, she did it very efficiently.”

Northwestern A Basketball

Postseason Honors

Boys

First Team

Tyree Whitcomb*, sr., Browning (co-MVP); Ryggs Johnston*, sr., Libby (co-MVP); Lee Walburn*, sr., Whitefish; Riley Spoonhunter, jr., Browning; Dillon Botner, sr., Whitefish.

Second Team

Drew Morgan, sr., Columbia Falls; Colton Graham, fr., Polson; Keith Johnson, jr., Libby; C.J. Smith, sr., Browning; Ethan Running Crane, sr., Browning.

Honorable Mention

Anthony Camel, sr., Ronan; Robin Erickson, sr., Polson; Sam Menicke, jr., Whitefish; Sam Hovde, sr., Columbia Falls; Ryan Kemm, sr., Whitefish; Bubba Bush, sr., Ronan.

Girls

First Team

Ryley Kehr*, sr., Columbia Falls (co-MVP); Jayden Winslow*, sr., Libby (co-MVP); Tamika Guardipee*, jr., Browning; Trista Cowan*, sr., Columbia Falls; Dulci Skunkcap, jr., Browning.

Second Team

LaKia Hill, so., Columbia Falls; Jaylea Lunceford, so., Ronan; Taylor Jordan, sr., Browning; Josie Windauer, jr., Columbia Falls; Walker Running Crane, so., Browning.

Honorable Mention

Tiana Ulutoa, sr., Ronan; Alli Collins, sr., Libby; Chaslin Kipp, sr., Browning; Chalissa Kipp, so., Browning; Marlee Bender, sr., Whitefish; Sammee Bradeen, sr., Libby.

*All-state selection