Jonathan McNiven
Well, Folks, here’s my cliff notes for this week: MT legislature and high school basketball.
1. The Montana Legislature is underway, and I was able to get time to go up to Helena last week in between and get a Yellowstone County Delegation 2025 photo. Getting a picture with everyone is a big feat, but to get the majority of them minus a few is incredible, in my opinion. So, the front page of this week’s paper is this legislative session’s delegation from Yellowstone County. I hope you take the time to see if you recognize your state rep and state senator. In addition, how many of them from Yellowstone County do you recognize?
2. Go, Paige, Go! Huntley Project’s Senior Paige Lofing has now surpassed the highest school career points at now 2,034 and is on track to pass the 9th place Marti Kinzler at 2,053. At the rate Paige is going, she is well on track to pass the number five spot on conservative projections. That’s not even including the post season tournament games that will be at the very end of the season, so she has even more potential. She’s already committed to Gonzaga. I mentioned on our YCN Sports & Radio broadcasts that the “Paige Lofing Watch” and “Paige Lofing Warning” is in effect as she continues making history. “Paige Lofing Watch” means that Paige is in the house and on the bench. “Paige Lofing Warning” means that she has checked into the game and the warning of her scoring some more points is now in effect. I hope fans will continue the support as she scores points to chant “Go, Paige, Go!” As she climbs the Montana historic records book for the rest of this season. From three pointers to buckets and five finger discounts (steals), Paige is on a historic run, and we all get to be a fly on the wall cheering “Go, Paige, Go!”
3. In other basketball news, it’s been fun following and watching my son Anderson McNiven play as he scored 33 points in the last game making his average points per game at 22 this season. As a senior for Huntley Project, the 33 points last weekend was his PR so far, and he also got some recognition and shout outs on Rocky Erickson’s Sports segment this week. As Anderson was the team’s defensive MVP last year and had an average of 17 points per game, I hope he does not get passed up and overlooked again this year for all-state and all-conference recognition. Even other broadcasters like Mike Long at the Mountain Radio Station 99.3 FM in Red Lodge has coined the term Anderson “Pete Maravich” McNiven that seems to be resonating this season. His dribbling skills through traffic on the court is sure fun to watch him thread that needle while he plays. Either way, on a personal note, it’s been fun to watch and follow our YCN Sports Broadcaster and Senior Anderson McNiven display what he’s been broadcasting for the last six years on ycnsports.com.
It’s these kinds of things that Paige and Anderson are accomplishing that add to the hype of following personal accomplishments and watching history in the making.
Good luck to Huntley Project, both boys and girls, as this week’s games are going to be epic as both games are rival showdowns and deemed “black out games.” Make sure to tune in as we’ll have you covered on YCN Sports & Radio. www.ycnsports.com
Until then, “Go, Paige, Go!
JDM
