Friday marked the first day of the two-day King/Queen of the Hill Summer Classic Tournament at Manhattan School, which concludes tonight with three final games at 6:00 p.m.

I took in 17 basketball games yesterday! I was able to see some good basketball mixed with moments of spectacular play. Every Class was represented by JV teams from Class AA Bozeman and Gallatin, and varsity teams from Class A Park High, Class B Jefferson, and Class C featured Gardiner, Shields Valley, West Yellowstone, and the host team, Manhattan Christian, among others.

I was excited to see Liam Edwards, Park High’s incoming senior, on the court again, as he missed his junior year while rehabbing an injury. Perhaps no athlete is more coachable and genuinely wants to get better in any sport than Edwards. He’s part of a trio of athletes whom I have written about going on five years (Coen Braham and Weston Vincent), and I always want the best for those three.

Markelle Johnson, a sophomore at Manhattan Christian who made a significant impact during her freshman year for the Lady Eagles, attended the tournament, helping to run the score clock while wearing a large brace on her right leg following knee surgery. She faces a long year of rehab once she has her left knee operated on in July and will miss her sophomore year. However, her spirit and smile remain bright, and she is quick with a laugh, as we look forward to seeing her return and play.