The 2026 Montana Class C boys basketball divisional tournaments are underway, setting the stage for the state tournament. Teams across the state are battling for a coveted spot, with intense competition unfolding in Miles City, Great Falls, and Lewistown. The divisional tournaments, crucial stepping stones for aspiring state champions, began February 25th and will continue through March 7th in Miles City, with other locations concluding February 28th.
These tournaments represent a significant moment for smaller Montana schools, offering a platform for their basketball programs to shine. Two teams from each divisional tournament will advance to the state tournament, making every game a high-stakes affair. The Class C tournament format, a single-elimination bracket, demands consistent performance and resilience from each participating team. Fans are eagerly following the action, anticipating thrilling matchups and potential upsets as teams vie for a chance at the state title.
Northern C Divisional Tournament – Great Falls (Feb. 25-28)
The Northern C Divisional in Great Falls kicked off on Wednesday, February 25th, with a play-in game between Highwood and North Star. The first round featured matchups between Belt and Sunburst, as well as Box Elder versus Heart Butte, and Considerable Sandy against Cascade. Chester-Joplin-Inverness will also compete, facing the winner of the Highwood/North Star play-in game. The tournament schedule progresses through a loser-out bracket on Thursday and Friday, culminating in the championship game on Saturday, February 28th. A challenge game is scheduled for Monday, March 2nd, if necessary, according to Montana Sports.
Here’s a breakdown of the key games in Great Falls:
- Wednesday, Feb. 25: Highwood vs. North Star (play-in, 4 p.m.)
- Wednesday, Feb. 25: Belt vs. Sunburst (first round, 5:30 p.m.)
- Thursday, Feb. 26: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser (loser out, 8 a.m.)
- Thursday, Feb. 26: Box Elder vs. Heart Butte (first round, 9:30 a.m.)
- Thursday, Feb. 26: Big Sandy vs. Cascade (first round, 4 p.m.)
- Thursday, Feb. 26: Chester-Joplin-Inverness vs. Game 1 winner (first round, 5:30 p.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 27: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser (loser out, 8 a.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 27: Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser (loser out, 9:30 a.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 27: Game 2 winner vs. Game 4 winner (semifinal, 4 p.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 27: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner (semifinal, 5:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 28: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 loser (loser out, 8 a.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 28: Game 7 winner vs. Game 10 loser (loser out, 9:30 a.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 28: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner (winner third place, 4 p.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 28: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner (championship, 5:30 p.m.)
- Monday, March 2: Challenge game, if necessary (TBD)
Southern C Divisional Tournament – Lewistown (Feb. 25-28)
In Lewistown, the Southern C Divisional tournament is also fiercely contested. The tournament began on Thursday, February 26th, with games featuring Winnett-Grass Range against Absarokee, Forsyth versus Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine, Roy-Winifred taking on Park City, and Melstone battling Bridger. Similar to the Northern Divisional, the Southern C tournament employs a single-elimination format, with loser-out games on Friday and semifinal matchups on Friday evening. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, February 28th. Montana Sports provides the full schedule.
Key matchups in Lewistown include:
- Thursday, Feb. 26: Winnett-Grass Range vs. Absarokee (first round, 3 p.m.)
- Thursday, Feb. 26: Forsyth vs. Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine (first round, 4:30 p.m.)
- Thursday, Feb. 26: Roy-Winifred vs. Park City (first round, 6 p.m.)
- Thursday, Feb. 26: Melstone vs. Bridger (first round, 7:30 p.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 27: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser (loser out, 1 p.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 27: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser (loser out, 2:30 p.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 27: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner (semifinal, 7 p.m.)
- Friday, Feb. 27: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner (semifinal, 8:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 28: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser (loser out, 11 a.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 28: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser (loser out, 11 a.m.)
- Saturday, Feb. 28: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner (winner third place, 5:30 p.m.)
Eastern C Divisional Tournament – Miles City (March 4-7)
The Eastern C Divisional tournament in Miles City will run from March 4th to 7th, completing the divisional round of the Montana Class C boys basketball tournament. Details regarding specific matchups for the Eastern C Divisional were not available at the time of publication, but Montana Sports will provide updates as they become available.
The Montana High School Association (MHSA) is responsible for overseeing the postseason brackets and results, updating the website as information is received from tournament managers. Fans can also locate updates on 406mtsports.com, which is updating brackets for district tournaments. The Montana Class C Basketball Tournament is an annual event showcasing the best high school basketball talent in the state, as noted by Schedule2026.com.
As the divisional tournaments conclude, all eyes will turn to the state tournament, where the top teams from across Montana will compete for the ultimate prize. The intensity and excitement surrounding these tournaments highlight the passion for high school basketball within the state. Stay tuned for further updates as the tournament progresses and the state champion is crowned.
What are your predictions for the Class C state tournament? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to share this article with fellow basketball fans!
