night belonged to the Rangers,” ….
night belonged to the Rangers,” reported Helena’s Independent- Record. With Nielsen in foul trouble, David Shields (20 points) Monte Solberg, and Kevin Bervik stepped up. The Rangers outpaced the Pronghorns, eventually winning for the sixth time, 65-45. Nielsen ended with 26 points and the tournament MVP.
Meanwhile in Butte, Poplar repeated as Class A champion. Medicine Lake had won the B title a week earlier in Billings. In 1976 Plentywood secured the Class A title, with Poplar third, and Flaxville winning in Class C. In 1978, Plentywood (whose best player was all-state Craig Guenther from Antelope), won the B, and Outlook topped the C ranks. And 1979 finalized the blizzard of northeast Seventies domination: Scobey defeated Plentywood for the B title, and Flaxville bettered Peerless in Class C.
Echoes of Antelope
Today, former Class A Plentywood and Class B Scobey have tumbled to C. Medicine Lake co-ops with Froid. Antelope, Peerless, Outlook, and Flaxville schools have evaporated. Westby co-ops with Grenora, N.D.
In June 1979, an ad appeared in a local paper. Antelope school district was requesting bids for, “cleanup of the burned school site.” Indeed, in the fall of 1978, Antelope school, grades one through 12, burned to the ground. Plentywood graciously allowed Antelope to use their facilities and finish as Antelope school, and more importantly, Antelope High, with 1979 sporting the last graduating class.
Because of the fire, the inconspicuous community never had a chance to properly bookend their history. In the fall of 1979, the students had the choice of attending either Plentywood, Westby, or Medicine Lake. And even though Plentywood was the closest, some, “weren’t going to the [big school] to save their souls,” remembered one Antelope alumni. As the students hopped in vehicles for one of the three locations, it signaled the end.
Today, farmers Keith Ueland and Kenny Nielson remember bucolic 1970s Antelope. They recall driving to school from their farms. They might pluck a couple of pheasants before the opening bell, leaving their shotguns in their unlocked cars and trucks. Given any chance throughout the day, they would sneak into the gym, and shoot a basket, or two.
Those days are gone. When the school burned, they knew there would be no second act. Kenny Nielson was on the 1977 team that won the Eastern C Divisional and was a state favorite. But their top gun, Craig Guenther, contracted measles. The Pronghorns were out in two games. And then Guenther transferred to Plentywood and led them to the B title in 1978.
And then came the fire. Today, the community cherishes the memories of the 1975 team, a year that brought the town out of obscurity.
With clasped arms, they traveled through time together. Gone is their rapid-fire offense.
And departed are the Pronghorn devoted styling in their altered Antelope Grain caps.
