Montana boys high school basketball rankings
From the roaring crowd to squeaking sneakers on the hardwood, high school boys basketball is a beloved American pastime.
The sport's school roots date back to its 19th-century beginnings. After all, James Naismith invented basketball as a physical education activity. The concept of a state championship for high school basketball soon followed. Illinois, for example, held a state championship as early as 1908. Other states with early high school basketball championships include Indiana (first championship in 1911) and Wisconsin (1916).
Now, the sport is etched into the ethos of the American high school. Over half a million boys play on their high school basketball team, according to 2021-22 school year data compiled by the National Federation of State High School Associations. That figure represents over 18,000 teams competing across all 50 states, grinding out games in high school gyms on dark winter nights.
But when not every team plays one another, how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? Luckily, the data-driven nature of sports means there are plenty of avenues for rating and ranking basketball teams.
Stacker compiled boys high school basketball rankings in Montana using MaxPreps. MaxPreps' rankings factor in win-loss record, win quality, and strength of schedule. Read on through to find out the best boys basketball schools in Montana.
Class A
1. Fergus (Lewistown): 24-0 (8-0 in A Northeast), 30.6 rating, 24 straight wins
2. Butte Central Catholic (Butte): 26-5 (11-2 in A Southwest), 26.0 rating, 2 straight wins
3. Frenchtown: 22-9 (8-6 in A Southwest), 21.0 rating
4. Hamilton: 21-7 (10-3 in A Southwest), 19.5 rating, 3 straight losses
5. Beaverhead County (Dillon): 23-11 (8-7 in A Southwest), 19.4 rating
6. Billings Central Catholic (Billings): 18-11 (7-1 in A Southeast), 15.9 rating
7. Columbia Falls: 17-10 (8-2 in A Northwest), 13.8 rating, 2 straight losses
8. Browning: 13-6 (7-2 in A Northwest), 13.6 rating
9. Lockwood (Billings): 12-7 (6-1 in A Southeast), 13.1 rating
10. Havre: 13-10 (5-3 in A Northeast), 11.7 rating
Class AA
1. Hellgate (Missoula): 19-4 (7-2 in AA Western), 21.4 rating, 6 straight wins
2. Billings West (Billings): 20-5 (11-3 in AA Eastern), 18.7 rating
3. Bozeman: 19-6 (12-1 in AA Eastern), 16.8 rating
4. Glacier (Kalispell): 17-8 (7-5 in AA Western), 15.5 rating, 2 straight wins
5. Helena: 14-7 (7-3 in AA Western), 11.9 rating, 2 straight losses
Class B
1. Loyola-Sacred Heart (Missoula): 25-1 (8-0 in B District 6), 25.5 rating, 14 straight wins
2. Malta: 19-7 (6-2 in B District 2), 17.3 rating
3. Bigfork: 22-5 (9-0 in B District 7), 17.1 rating, 2 straight wins
4. Wolf Point: 21-5 (7-0 in B District 2), 16.0 rating, 2 straight losses
5. Columbus: 18-6 (7-1 in B District 4), 14.4 rating
Class C
1. Manhattan Christian (Manhattan): 24-1 (5-1 in C District 12), 24.7 rating, 20 straight wins
2. Belt: 21-4 (9-0 in C District 8), 21.0 rating
3. Fairview: 19-3 (9-0 in C District 2), 19.3 rating, 3 straight wins
4. Box Elder: 16-2 (9-1 in C District 9), 18.0 rating
5. West Yellowstone (Yellowstone): 19-2 (11-0 in C District 12), 15.5 rating
6. Roy/Winifred (Winifred): 14-3 (7-2 in C District 8), 15.4 rating, 2 straight wins
7. Big Sandy: 22-6 (11-3 in C District 9), 14.4 rating
8. Lustre Christian (Frazer): 20-3 (7-0 in C District 3), 11.7 rating, 3 straight losses
9. Chester-Joplin-Inverness (Chester): 15-6 (8-3 in C District 9), 11.2 rating
10. Froid/Medicine Lake (Medicine Lake): 17-5 (8-1 in C District 2), 10.8 rating
Class MC
1. Stillwater Christian (Kalispell): 15-10 (7-1 in Region), 1.3 rating, 2 straight wins
