Yellowstone Times

Bobcat Seniors Leave Lasting Imprint on Montana State Program

On the same court where a college basketball dream came true a year ago, one perished on Sunday afternoon when Portland State defeated second-seeded Montana State 77-65 to end the Bobcats' NCAA Tournament dreams in the second round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament.

 

Last March, MSU's season ended in a shower of confetti as the Bobcats won the Big Sky Championship. A downpour of Vikings three-pointers – PSU shot 15-of-32 from the arc – spoiled Montana State's hope of a repeat, and the outcome may have ended the careers of Darian White, Kola Bad Bear and Madison Jackson, the winningest four-year class in school history, along with transfer Grace Beasley.

 

"We didn't have answers on the three-ball today," said Bobcat coach Tricia Binford. "We didn't have answers (on that) a lot this year. The three-ball's been a tough one for us. We've done a really good job of protecting the paint this year, but the three-ball has been one of those areas (where the team has struggled)."

 

The onslaught came early, with the Vikings hitting four three-pointers in the first quarter and five more in the second. Esmerelda Morales poured in six triples on her way to 28 points, while Jada Lewis (five triples) and Alaya Fitzgerald (three from deep) added ample support. The Vikings opened tournament play by draining 25 three-pointers in a 73-58 win over Idaho State on Saturday, and 15 more on Sunday extended their season.

 

"(The Vikings) were super loose, they were hot early and we talked about weathering that storm because they were hot early yesterday, as well," Binford said. "We had some open looks, we just couldn't hit the shot to counter, we couldn't get those threes to go in."

 

The game's first basket didn't come until three-and-a-half minutes had expired, and MSU scored the first five points. But the Vikings scored the next 15 and the Cats never got closer than seven points the rest of the way. With about a minute remaining, White and Bad Bear and Jackson and Beasley exited a Montana State basketball game for likely the last time.

 

"Not long enough," veteran Bobcat coach said when asked about the final embraces with foundational players from the program's must successful era. "Not enough time to give a great hug."

 

Once the tears dried all that was left was to begin sorting out the legacy of Montana State's amazing senior class of 2023. And what a legacy it is.

 

The trio of four-year stars won 84 games together, the most by any class of Bobcats, and the first was truncated by the Covid pandemic. That 2019-20 team was cheated of the opportunity to follow its regular season Big Sky title with a tournament crown and the accompanying trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Cats finished another Covid-altered year with a 17-7 mark, then won 22 games in 2021-22. White, the best player in the Big Sky for the past three seasons in spite of misguided decisions not to formally present her with a regular season MVP award, led the Cats to the conference tournament title in her hometown a year ago and was rightfully awarded MVP honors. Had that not happened, it would have been awarded to Bad Bear.

 

White has been the program's driving force for four seasons, starting 120 games. She was twice the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and before that was the league's top freshman, and is the program's second-leading all-time scorer with 1,716 points. She is the Big Sky's only player to record over 1,700 points, 600 rebounds, 400 assists and 200 steals. Bad Bear finished with 843 points and 453rebounds, and became one of the most admired members of the MSU campus community for giving voice to Native victims of violence by advocating for missing and murdered indigenous women. Madison Jackson drew praise from everyone around the Bobcat program for her relentless positive spirit, and Grace Beasley energized the Bobcats during her three semesters at MSU.

 

Regardless of Sunday's outcome, Binford was proud of her program and her seniors. "There was a lot of fight in this team today," she said.

 

She also acknowledged the strong bond between this year's senior class and the communities it occupies. "I think this class knows that they're appreciated," Binford said. "They had a huge crowd (for Senior Night), they had a huge crowd (at Sunday's game), Bozeman draws extremely well and (the fans) love these young ladies, and (the players) have done so much."

 

The harsh reality of college athletics, of sports in general, is that careers end. But legacies last. "The three that came in for four years, they're the winningest class in Bobcat history," Binford said. "I think that speaks for itself, the legacy they're going to leave here, and I'm extremely proud of them."

 

No Bobcat will ever forget the four thrilling years that White, Bad Bear and Jackson gave to the program. "Endings are hard, but the journey's amazing," Binford said. "And this journey has been amazing."

 

Original source can be found here.