Scobey Hoop Program Loving Three-Season Winning Streak

At 54 And Hopefully Growing!

What exactly does a 54game winning streak in high school basketball look like?

Glad you asked because we have the answer, or, shall it be said, the answers.

What began on Friday, March 8, 2019 at Metra-Park Arena in Billings during the 70th annual Class C Boys’ State Tournament is still alive and well for the Scobey High School varsity team. It will remain active until at least the conclusion of the 2021-22 season opener in December of this year or January of next, depending on when the Montana High School Association (MHSA) says it is go-time.

The 54 straight victories by the Spartans match the 54 consecutive won by the Class B Choteau Bulldogs, whose streak lasted from 2014-16. The all-class record in MHSA history for the boys is 56 in a row from 1962-65 by Missoula County, which now goes by the name Missoula Sentinel Spartans.

To reiterate what was written in the March 18, 2021 issue of the Leader: The 2021-22 Scobey boys’ basketball schedule will be the most anticipated in the history of the program (and all Scobey sports)!

Other than just saying the Spartans have won 54 in a row over the course of three separate seasons, a deeper dive was certainly due.

For starters, in those 54 games for head coach Jason Wolfe (305-89, .774, 200521, state titles in 2011, 2020, 2021) and assistants Tanner Trower, Cale Handran, Peyton Nieskens (2019-20 season) plus this past season’s newcomer, Cooper Olson, is 54 games of statistics.

The Spartans connected on 1,443 total field goals for a 26.7 per game average and hit 379-614 (.617) free throws for 3,589 points, a 66.4 average. Threehundred and twenty-four of those field goals were the 3-point version. Jayce Tande hit the most in the streak with 107 followed by Parker Cromwell with 85, Aidan Fishell 59, Rio Booth 31, Addison Stentoft 8, Caden Handran 7, Kannon Ferestad 5, Hudson Kjos 5, Boen Tande 5, Zach Turner 4, Brayden Cromwell 3, Bo Anderson 2, Austyn Fishell 1, Jimi Jones 1 and Braxton Wolfe 1.

The leading scorer on a per-game basis during those 54 contests is Aidan Fishell with 22 followed by Handran at 13, P. Cromwell 7, B. Cromwell 5, J. Tande 5, Reagan Machart 3, Booth 1, Jeremy Handy 1 and Kjos 1 (this adds up to 58 because there was one game where there were three leading scorers for the Spartans and one contest with two).

In those 54 games Scobey was whistled for 663 fouls (12.2 average) and committed 523 turnovers (9.6).

The opponents in the 54 games made 697 total field goals, with 179 of them worth 3 points each, and 314-505 (.621) free throws for 1,887 total points for a 34.9 average.

There have been 23 total players involved in the 54-game run, six managers and one very reliable official bookkeeper named Cliff Hames.

Starting with the 201819 team (note: these are the tournament rosters of 12 suited up and two alternates): seniors Martin Farver, Austyn Fishell, Jeremy Handy, Colter Linder, Dakota Linder; juniors Brayden Cromwell, Kannon Ferestad; sophomores Parker Cromwell, Aidan Fishell, Caden Handran, Addison Stentoft, Jayce Tande. Alternates at the State C Tournament were Rio Booth and Reagan Machart. Managers were John Carney, Bram Handran, Boen Tande and Braxton Wolfe. Videographer was Thomas Weltikol. Cheerleaders, advised by Lynley Garner, were Makayla Hauk, Cara Hawbaker and Camilla Jensen. Activities Director was Logan Brower.

The 2019-20 team included: seniors Max Cole, Brayden Cromwell, Kannon Ferestad; juniors Rio Booth, Parker Cromwell, Aidan Fishell, Caden Handran, Addison Stentoft, Jayce

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Tande; sophomores Reagan Machart, Gage Southland; freshman Boen Tande. Alternates were Jimi Jones and Zach Turner. Managers were John Carney, Bram Handran, Evan Tande and Braxton Wolfe. Videographers were Tristan Fladager and Brooke Trower. Cheerleaders, led by Lynley Garner, were Kylee Anderson, Alexa Fishell, Cara Hawbaker, Camilla Jensen, Sage Kilgore, Jenna Linder and Lucy Villa. Activities Director was Shalice Maldonado.

The 2020-21 team included: seniors: Rio Booth, Parker Cromwell, Aidan Fishell, Caden Handran, Addison Stentoft, Jayce Tande; juniors Hudson Kjos, Reagan Machart, Cole Taylor; sophomores Bo Anderson, Boen Tande; freshmen Gage Hallock. Alternates throughout tourney time were juniors Jimi Jones and Zach Turner. Managers were Bram Handran, Blake Lekvold, Evan Tande and Reese Tande. Videographer was Camden Cromwell. Cheerleaders, advised by Lynley Garner, were Kylee Anderson, Alexa Fishell, Cara Hawbaker, Camilla Jensen, Sage Kilgore, Jenna Linder and Lucy Villa. Activities Director was Shalice Maldonado.

Here are the condensed 54 boxscores from The Streak:

1. Scobey (74) versus Plenty Coups Warriors (61), State C Tournament, MetraPark, Billings, Fri., Mar. 8, 2019, loserout — Leading scorer: Caden Handran 5 5-9 15. Team totals: 28 17-27 74. Three-point field goals: Parker Cromwell 1. Fouls: 20. Turnovers: 9. For you information (FYI): The game was tied six times at 13, 15, 17, 19, 22 and 24 before the Spartans pulled away early in the second quarter.

2. Scobey (47) vs. Melstone Broncs (42), State C Tournament, MetraPark, Billings, Sat., Mar. 9, loser-out — Leading scorer: Jeremy Handy 4 6-6 14.

Team totals: 16 10-10 47. Threepoint field goals: Jayce Tande 2, P. Cromwell 1, Aidan Fishell 1, Austyn Fishell 1. Fouls: 15. Turnovers: 7. FYI: Scobey’s largest leads were in the fourth quarter at 39-31 (5:50) and 41-33 (4:45).

3. Fairview Warriors (43) vs. Scobey (51), State C Tournament, MetraPark, Billings, Sat., Mar. 9, consolation — Leading scorer: Aidan Fishell 4 7-11 16.

Team totals: 16 17-24 51. Threepoint field goals: P. Cromwell 1, Ai. Fishell 1. Fouls: 9. Turnovers: 10. FYI: The Spartans...