Circle Wildcats Pursue Rare Volleyball and Basketball Double Championship

Miles City, MT – The Circle Wildcats girls’ basketball team is on the verge of achieving a rare feat in Montana Class C athletics: winning both the state volleyball and basketball championships in the same academic year. If successful, Circle would be the first school to accomplish this since Belt High School in 2016-17.

Dominating Performance in Eastern C

Circle secured the 2026 Eastern C girls’ divisional basketball title with a hard-fought 25-23 victory over Scobey. This win adds to their recent success, following a state volleyball championship and district and divisional titles in basketball this winter.

Impact on the Community

The Wildcats’ success is inspiring a new generation of athletes in Circle. Senior Madeline Moline noted the increased interest from younger girls, stating, “I think it really, really shows they know they wish to get here. All the little girls, like state volleyball, I hope they’re coming to basketball now. I think it really gives them a lot of motivators. I spot them all approach hang and sit behind our bench at games. It’s great.”

Building a Winning Culture

Coach Colby Loudon emphasized the program’s growth and the positive impact of the team’s achievements. “We’ve had a lot of young girls involved in our program doing stuff, and they can see this and be involved in this and soak in the atmosphere,” Loudon said. “The great games…pique their interest and gets them going with basketball.” He also highlighted the value of the volleyball experience in preparing the team for pressure situations, recalling that the last time the Circle girls reached the state tournament was in 2015, also in Missoula.

Beyond Volleyball: A Desire for All-Around Excellence

The team is focused on establishing a legacy of success across all sports. “We don’t want to be just known for volleyball. We want to be known for all sports,” Moline said. “We’re great athletes and we all know that, but we really want to show everyone else that’s true.”

State Tournament Matchup

Circle will face familiar opponents at the Class C state tournament in Missoula, including Scobey (whom they defeated four times this season), as well as Melstone and Denton-Geyser-Stanford-Geraldine. The Wildcats will open the tournament on Thursday with a game against Belt.