We spent some time last week blogging about basketball stories from other states, and missed the one in our own backyard. Our only excuse – we actually weren’t in our own backyard, but were on vacation.

Still, we’re sorry to have been away when the boys’ basketball team from Rocky Boy High School finished a perfect season – their first in Class B – by winning the championship game, 58-49, over Shelby.

Eric Schildt’s 17 points included the three-point play that put Rocky Boy ahead for good, the Missoulian’s Fritz Neighbor reported here:

It was Schildt who hit two free throws to tie the game 44-all at the 4:17 mark, and it was a host of teammates who made his go-ahead bucket possible.

After Shelby committed a turnover, Leisen Oats had two attempts swatted away, sandwiched around an errant drive by JC Hawk.

The Stars rebounded each time, before Oats drove and dished to Schildt, who scored and drew the foul. His free throw made it 47-44 with 3:10 remaining.

White hit another free throw to bring the Coyotes within two, but then Hawk converted another three-point play for Rocky Boy with 1:59 left, making it 50-45.

Shelby missed a quartet of 3-pointers from there, and the Stars hit eight straight free throws in the final minute.

Oats and Jerod Parker scored 13 points each for Rocky Boy, which had fallen in the last two State C championship games. It’s the first title for the Stars.

Gwen Florio

Tags: buffalo post, Gwen Florio, Montana Class B basketball, Native American news, Rocky Boy High School, Rocky Boy Northern Stars, Shelby Coyotes, Shelby High School