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Welcome to that pressure cooker they call the Western C divisional basketball tournament, where only the very best teams are even allowed through the gym door.

Battling gamely against the best of the west in Montana, the Hot Springs Savage Heat girls won one of three games and were still playing Saturday in the Western C divisional tournament in Frenchtown last week.

Coach Richard Jackson and his powerful Savage Heat, who completed season play with a sparkling 18-5 record (believed to be one of the best marks ever posted by a Hot Springs team), opened the tourney Thursday with a 69-55 loss to District 11C champion West Yellowstone, came back to eliminate Twin Bridges 52-43 Friday and then fell to Charlo for a fourth time this season, 38-32 in loser-out play Saturday morning.

Seeley-Swan won the Western C title, defeating West Yellowstone 39-37 in overtime in the chipper, and West went on to lose 47-36 to Manhattan Christian in a challenge game Monday night, meaning Seeley and Christian now move on to the State C tournament in Missoula March 12-14.

Manhattan Christian had defeated Charlo 41-28 in the consolation game. Charlo, which came into the tourney with a 20-0 record, defeated Manhattan Christian 31-29 in the first round Thursday but lost 45-40 to Seeley-Swan in the semifinals Friday night, leading to the loser out game with Hot Springs Saturday morning.

The Lady Vikings complete play with a 22-2 record, including a regular season win over 22-2 Seeley-Swan. Interestingly, Seeley's only other loss this season was to Hot Springs in the Spa City way back on Dec. 20.

Although it hurts to be put out and not reach your dream of playing in the State C tournament, the Savage Heat girls still had an incredible season, with their only losses of the season to Charlo and West Yellowstone, two of the top four teams in the division, plus owning the win over Seeley.

"We did have a great year," Jackson said. "The teams that beat us were the elite teams, the best teams in the division. We were right there with them but just could not quite get over the hump."

One factor that Jackson rues is the loss of his senior daughter Sage Jackson to a knee injury several weeks ago. Her absence in the lineup had a ripple effect, her father-coach said.

"I know that these things always happen in sports, but losing Sage like that really hurt us," he said. "We relied on her a lot more than we realized after she went down, having her could have given us that little added punch that we needed."

Jackson sees a different looking Savage Heat coming down the basketball pike next season. "We have a bunch of seniors, we are going to be down to eight players next year and look like we will not get any eighth graders," he said. "It could be a little different ballgame next season."

Still, the outstanding season the Heat just turned in should be duly appreciated and savored.

In the Western C opener with West Yellowstone, the Wolverines roared out to a 21-11 lead after one quarter and never looked back. "They surprised us, played much better than we saw on film," Jackson said, "and they shot very well."

Super sophomore Katelyn Christensen paced the Savage Heat against West with 15 points, Sydney Jackson added 11, McKennzie Cannon nine, Lizzy Fisher and Lily Winn eight apiece and Irene Bravo two. The Wolverines were led by Rebekah Everest (22 points), Donna Ochoa (17) and Ashlyn Roos (13).

The Heat kept their season alive with the win over Twin Bridges. "We controlled that game from the start," Jackson offered. "We didn't play great but managed to get through it."

Christensen canned 17 points to pace Hot springs, Cannon went off for 13 more, Winn added 10, Sydney Jackson and Fisher four apiece, and Bravo and Brianna Gray two apiece.

Ashley Guinnane led Twin with 15 points but no other Lady Falcon managed more than five points.

In the fatal fourth meeting with the rival Charlo Vikings, the Heat trailed only 28-25 heading into the fourth quarter but could not solve Bret Thompson's Vikings and ended up falling 38-32. "It's never fun to lose, but that is a very good team," Jackson grudgingly admitted.

Cannon completed her Hot Springs career with 11 points to lead the Heat against Charlo, Fisher scored seven, Winn six, Christensen five and Bravo three. Carlee Fryberger collected 13 points to pace Charlo, Liev Smith added 11 and Destiny Manuel seven.